The 44th Annual Middle Eastern Festival Is This Sunday

meat-on-spit-lamb-st-george-antiochan-orthodox-church-portland-oregon

Dang that meat is good.

I’ve written about the Middle Eastern Festival before (2019, 2022) and can’t resist writing about it this year, as well. It’s my favorite cultural/food festival in Portland all year long and you better believe I’ll be there on Sunday. As the band Nu Shooz says, “I can’t wait.”

The festival, as always, takes place at St. George Antiochan Orthodox Church on the eastern edge of Portland city limits, from noon to 7pm on Sunday, August 27. This year there is a $5 admission charge for anyone 10 years and older, which is a change from years past. Realistically, this may deter some people from attending, but no doubt it will go to support producing this lovely festival and the church behind it—it is a fundraiser, after all.

A variety of Middle Eastern cookies.

There will be entertainment, church tours (orthodox churches are pretty beautiful), food and drink for purchase, and a variety of presentations relevant to the church and the culture of the congregation. More specifically:

Food: Roast lamb (spit roasted and lamb shanks), gyro, falafel, kebab, meat (sfiha) and spinach pies, a variety of pastries (kaek, ma’amoul, sesame twists, and I can’t imagine there will not be baklava for sale—and I am hoping there will be some Aysh El-Sarayya for sale this year), sweets, ice cream (topped with baklava crumbles), Italian sodas and Arabic coffee from Urban Grind.
Oregon International Market will be making fresh zaatar, cheese and mhamara flat pies. They will have a second tent at the festival offering pre-packaged pastries.
Lina’s Market will be there offering Middle Eastern groceries for sale.
For kids: a bouncy house, games, face painting.
Silent auction.
Bookstore.
Church tours throughout the afternoon.
Learn how to dance the dabke, a traditional Middle Eastern dance, with Caroline Abboud, (two sessions, starting a noon).
Meet and chat with Lee Ann of Anna’s Feast, who offers professionally prepared healthy dishes, focusing on ethnic food to clients in the Portland area.
Other presenters/tablers include Mona Yassine (real estate) and Michael Alyas (organizes pilgramages to the Holy Land).

I hope you’ll consider stopping by and enjoying this great festival on Sunday afternoon. See you there!

44th Annual Middle Eastern Festival
Sunday, August 27, 2023
St George Antiochian Orthodox Church
2101 NE 162nd Avenue, Portland
stgeorgepdx.org | Facebook Event Page