Jollof Festival, Washington

The savory staple of West African cuisine, Jollof rice gets its moment in the spotlight during Jollof Festival. This event invites area chefs and restaurants to serve up their own renditions of the comfort food—a blend of rice, garnish, and tomato-based stew. Along with offering unique takes on the classic dish, it features "Jollof Wars," a blind taste test of dishes representing Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Liberia, and other countries. Meanwhile the fest entertains with music, dance performances, and even shopping (vendors will be on-hand selling unique cultural wares).