With a growing, diverse Indian community, the Mela moved on to the Cashman Center for the next few years. In the wake of the Cashman Center’s closure and with increasing participation each year, organizers decided to move the event to a larger downtown county facility. Moving to a downtown county facility and renaming it the Indian Food Festival was a natural progression, especially with all the cultural performances, food, and community involvement. The last festivities in 2019, which brought in over 6,000 attendees, showcased the rich diversity of India with a host of cultural performances from the local Indian community groups, multi-cuisine booths serving savory delights from the Indian sub-continent, Indian clothing & jewelry, Henna artists and children activities throughout the day. 

The evening always concluded with a live performance by a professional high-octane DJ who moved the community to Punjabi, Hindi, and American music grooves. Its quite an incredible journey, evolving from a small indoor event to a massive, vibrant celebration with thousands of attendees. While the event has undergone many changes over the years, one thing remains constant: the festival’s commitment to celebrating and sharing the cultural richness of India with all.