Halal Guide Food Festival Draws Record-Breaking 40,000+ Attendees to Nassau County

NASSAU COUNTY, NY: September 13, 2025. The Halal Guide Food Festival made history this year, drawing over 40,000 attendees to Nassau Community College. The event is now recognized as the largest festival in North America, the largest in Halal Guide’s history, the largest ever held at Nassau Community College, and one of the biggest gatherings in Nassau County’s history.

Leadership Behind the Festival

The success of the event is credited to Ammad Sheikh and Raza Dastagir, the driving forces and owners behind the Halal Guide Food Festival. Their vision and leadership have transformed the festival into one of the continent’s most anticipated cultural gatherings, attracting families, businesses, and international attention.

Performances & Entertainment

The program featured a dynamic blend of cultural showcases, nasheed performances, and family activities. Early in the afternoon, guests enjoyed a book reading by Fyza, followed by a lively meet-and-greet with Adam Saleh, which drew massive crowds.

On stage, audiences were treated to:
• Ammar Charaf and Umer Zaman delivering stirring nasheeds, including a special children’s concert.
• A show-stopping Palestinian Dabke performance by the Al Baydar Group, which drew in families and children alike and became one of the day’s most celebrated highlights.
• A powerful finale with Qawwali master Asif Ali Khan Santoo, whose performance closed the night on a spiritual and musical high.

Beyond the stage, the Children’s Fun Zone stayed packed, adults enjoyed axe throwing, and the festival grounds featured a massive car show hosted by The Car Guys Motorclub, proud sponsors of America’s Muslim Network (AMN).

Prayer as the Centerpiece

As with past years, prayer remained at the heart of the festival. Dhuhr and Asr prayers were observed earlier in the day, but the defining moment came with Maghrib prayer.
• The Adhan was delivered by Muezzin Abdullah Popal.
• The prayer was led by Qari Nazrul Islam.
• At the sound of the call, people poured in from every corner of the festival grounds, forming what witnesses described as an “ocean of people.” The massive turnout resembled a mini Eid, uniting thousands in one of the most powerful moments of the event.

A Landmark Event

The evening also featured an award ceremony, a charity appeal by Droplets of Mercy, and a festival giveaway announcement that delighted attendees. By the time the final Qawwali performance concluded, the Halal Guide Food Festival had firmly established itself as the largest festival in North America and a landmark event for the Muslim community on Long Island.

Thanks to the leadership of Ammad Sheikh and Raza Dastagir, along with the support of community partners and AMN sponsors like The Car Guys Motorclub, the festival has become more than an annual event, it is now a symbol of unity, cultural pride, and community celebration.

America’s Muslim Network will continue covering the impact of this historic gathering and what it means for future events across the region.