St. Elias Food & Cultural Festival
April 21-22, 2023
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April 21-22, 2023
St. Elias will celebrate its 25th Annual Lebanese Food and Cultural Festival from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Friday and Saturday, April 21 – 22, 2023!
Admission is FREE! Come try homemade Lebanese food, watch traditional Lebanese dancing demonstrations by our youth, bid on a premium item at the Silent Auction, participate in an informative Church tour, and dabke like no one is watching to a live Lebanese band!
Don’t forget, supporting us helps to support others as well, as we continue to give 25% of all proceeds to local and national charities.
FESTIVAL HOURS:
10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Friday and Saturday, April 21 – 22, 2023.
LOCATION:
St. Elias Maronite Catholic Church, which is located at 836 8th Street South, Birmingham, AL, 35205.
TAKEOUT:
There will be an option available for walk up/ takeout orders located on the south side of the Church (just follow the signs)! **No Pre-Orders Accepted**
DELIVERY:
For those living/ working in the downtown or southside areas, we will offer FREE DELIVERIES of food orders of $150 or more on Friday (April 21). Coordinate with your coworkers and order online using this link (starting Monday, April 17 and ending Thursday, April 20 at 5PM) for the most authentic Lebanese Friday lunch!
PARKING:
Parking is available both at the Church and surrounding the premise. A FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE will run Friday from 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM and Saturday from 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM from UAB Parking Lot R-1 on 8th Street South (next to Stivers Collision Center – look for the signs)!
MENU:
We are happy to be able to offer our FULL MENU of your favorite Lebanese plates, a la carte items, desserts, and more this year! Delicacies offered during the two-day event include baked kibbee, grilled lemon chicken, rolled grape leaves, spinach pies, meat pies, baked kibbee and falafel sandwiches, tabouleh, loobia (Lebanese-style green beans), rice, homous and pita bread, baklawa, Lebanese ice cream, and zlaybeh (Lebanese donuts).
SPECIAL 25th ANNIVERSARY FOOD ITEM
Baklawa 25th Anniversary Sundae
Lebanese Ice Cream with Pistachio Baklawa Pieces
PAYMENT:
ONLY CREDIT/ DEBIT CARDS will be accepted for payment.
ENTERTAINMENT:
We are excited to welcome back the New York based Amin Sultan Lebanese band, which will be playing outside, on stage, under a large tent from 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM nightly. Additionally, traditional Lebanese dances will be performed by the youth of the Church on an indoor stage beginning at 6:00 PM Friday and at 12:30 PM Saturday that will continue throughout the afternoon and evening both days.
CHURCH TOURS:
Hourly guided tours starting on the front steps of our historic Church will be offered from 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM, with self-guided tours available from 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM, both days, with a 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM exclusion on Saturday during the Saturday Vigil Liturgy, which all are welcome to attend.
SILENT AUCTION:
Visit our Silent Auction Room at the Church during festival hours to place your bids on a variety of interesting items! The Silent Auction will close on Saturday, April 22, at 8:00 PM.
5K/ FUN RUN:
The 10th annual St. Elias Cedar Run 5K and Cedar Shake Fun Run will take place the morning of Saturday, April 22. All proceeds of the 5K and Fun Run will benefit the non-profit organization Just Keep Smiling of Gardendale, AL. For more information or to register, visit steliascedarrun.org
OTHER CHARITIES BENEFITED:
Since the beginning in 1999, 25% of all festival proceeds go to charities other than St. Elias Maronite Catholic Church. To date, over $653,000 has been donated to local and national charities. List of charities supported through the years is available online.
We look forward to celebrating our faith, food, and culture with you this year! For more information, be sure to visit www.stelias.org and follow us on Facebook/Instagram @stelieasfestival!
Media or others seeking contact information, please reach out to our festival media contact person Michelle Adams by email or phone – dubois.michelle@gmail.com





LITURGY SCHEDULE
Mon., Wed., Thurs., & Fri.: 12:00 Noon
Tuesday: 8:00 am
Saturday: 5:00 pm
Sunday: 8:00 am and 10:30 am
Holy Days: 6:00 pm (eve) and 8:00 am
Confessions: Saturday: 4:00 pm
or anytime upon request
CONTACT
Rectory/Office: 205-251-5057
General: info@stelias.org
Abouna Peter Zogbi, Parish Administrator: abounapeter@stelias.org
Rosa-Marie Sacco, Office Manager: rosamarie@stelias.org
Chorbishop Richard Saad, Pastor Emeritus: chorbishoprichardsaad@gmail.com