Phoenix’s Lebanese community is preparing to welcome thousands of visitors to the
24th Annual American Lebanese Cultural Festival, held at
St. Joseph Maronite Catholic Church from November 7–9, 2025.
Over three days, the church grounds at 5406 East Virginia Avenue will transform into a
mini Beirut: smoke rising from charcoal grills, Arabic music in the air and dabke lines
snaking across the courtyard.
The festival has grown into one of the most anticipated cultural weekends on Phoenix’s
fall calendar, offering a rare chance to taste authentic Lebanese home cooking, watch
live performances and introduce children to the rhythms and traditions of the Levant.
Three Days of Lebanese Culture in the Desert
Hosted by St. Joseph Maronite Catholic Church, the festival runs across an entire
weekend, with evening hours on Friday and Saturday and a family-friendly daytime
program on Sunday. Visitors can drop in after work, stay late for music and dancing,
or bring the family for a relaxed Sunday outing with plenty of shaded seating and
space for kids to play.
While the event is rooted in parish life, it is firmly open to the wider community.
Organisers emphasize that the festival is designed as a bridge between Lebanese
families in Arizona and their neighbours from every background, using food and music
as a universal language.
From Tabbouleh to Saj: A Street-Style Lebanese Menu
The heart of the festival is the food court, where volunteers and cooks prepare an
extensive line-up of traditional dishes from scratch. Visitors can expect all the
classics of a Lebanese street feast:
- Cold mezze such as tabbouleh, hummus and stuffed grape leaves
- Vegetarian favourites including crispy falafel and salads
- Grilled meats like kafta, chicken kabob and shish kabob fresh off the charcoal
- Saj bread baked on a domed griddle, topped with zaatar or melted cheese
Dessert stands complete the menu with golden slices of baklava, delicate maamool,
fragrant sfoof and rolled pastries such as znoud el-sit. It is the kind of spread
that usually requires a trip to Beirut or a family gathering; for one weekend, it is
all available in a Phoenix parking lot.
Live Entertainment: From Superstar Singers to Dabke Lines
As the sun sets, the festival shifts into concert mode. Evenings feature live
performances by Lebanese singers Pamela Adelbak and Marcel Badawi,
bringing a mix of classic repertoire and modern hits to the church stage.
Between sets, DJs keep the energy high with Arabic pop, dabke anthems and
sing-along favourites.
One of the most anticipated moments each year is the children’s dabke show,
when young dancers in traditional outfits perform choreographed routines they have
spent weeks rehearsing. Their performance usually spills into an open dabke line,
where older dancers and first-timers link hands and stomp along together.
Family Festival: Hookah for Adults, Free Play Area for Kids
The organisers have designed the layout so that every age group finds a corner of
the festival that feels like home. Adults can unwind at a dedicated
hookah bar and enjoy beer and other beverages while listening to
live music. Families with younger children will find a free kids’ play area
with supervised activities, games and rides.
Combined with the modest $5 admission fee—with children under 10
admitted free—the event is positioned as an accessible weekend outing rather than
a luxury experience. Many visitors return every year, treating the festival as an
unofficial reunion for friends and extended family across the Valley.
Why This Festival Matters for the Lebanese Diaspora
For the Lebanese community in Phoenix, the festival is about far more than food and
entertainment. It is a way to keep language, traditions and faith alive in a new
country—through music that grandparents recognise, recipes passed down through
generations and dances that every child learns by watching their elders.
For non-Lebanese visitors, it offers a vivid introduction to a culture that is often
reduced to headlines rather than hospitality: the generosity of endless mezze plates,
the communal energy of dabke and the warmth of a church hall that feels like a village
square.
As the festival enters its 24th year, it stands as one of the most enduring Lebanese
cultural events in the American Southwest—a reminder that even far from the Mediterranean,
a sense of home can be rebuilt with charcoal smoke, shared plates and a drum beat that
pulls everyone to their feet.
If You Go
- Event: 24th Annual American Lebanese Cultural Festival
- Dates: Friday–Sunday, November 7–9, 2025
- Location: St. Joseph Maronite Catholic Church / Festival Fence,
5406 East Virginia Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85008 - Hours: Evenings on Friday and Saturday; daytime program on Sunday
(check organisers’ latest schedule) - Admission: $5 for adults; children under 10 free
- Highlights: Homemade Lebanese cuisine, baked goods, live music by
Pamela Adelbak and Marcel Badawi, children’s dabke performances, hookah bar,
free supervised kids’ play area
Leave a Reply