Lebanese Festival

ST. ELIAS LEBANESE FESTIVAL June 3, 4, & 5, 2016

– FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The 18th annual Lebanese Festival will be held June 3, 4, & 5 at St. Elias Maronite Catholic Church, 4730 Cove Road, N.W., Roanoke, and everyone is invited.

By now a Roanoke Valley tradition, the popular festival features delicious Lebanese food, including new items this year, along with live Lebanese music by professional musicians of the Samer Jazrawy Band, and traditional Lebanese folk dances in full costume.

As it has for the past 11 years, WDBJ7 will again sponsor the festival, which will be held rain or shine. Hours are Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., and 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. on Sunday. Admission and parking are free with a moderate charge for food and children’s activities.

Menu offerings include hummus, spinach-feta pies, falafel, and a wide selection of other vegetarian dishes, grilled lamb and beef kabobs, kafta (spiced ground beef) wrap, new “Feature Dishes”, and various desserts including baklaweh and cheesecake.

There will be takeout available for food orders (forms on the website can be faxed to 540-562-1300) and select items in limited quantities will also be available frozen in bulk as “Frozen to Go” food to take home and enjoy at a later time.

Children may enjoy an inflated obstacle course, face painting, and a cake walk among other activities. The festival features a Silent Auction with items from local businesses, gift baskets and restaurant gift certificates. Samer Jazrawy, a parishioner from Iraq who is a professional musician, will provide the toe-tapping Lebanese music that gets folks up and dancing.

Tours of the church will cover the rich history of Maronite Catholicism, one of the oldest churches within Christianity and include a display of stained glass windows and icons. “A Taste of Lebanon” area will display unusual musical instruments, colorful rugs, a hookah and other ethnic items and facts about Lebanon.

For more information, contact St. Elias Church at 540-562-0012 or visit the website: www.LebaneseFestival.StEliasChurch.org.