St. Mary's Church Announces the Fourth Annual Sahara Fest

posted on: May 18, 2011

The Basilica of St. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church announces their Fourth annual “Sahara Fest,” featuring Arabic food, music and culture. The Sahara Fest will take place on June 2-5, 2011 at St. Mary’s Church grounds, 18100 Merriman Road (between Six and Seven Mile Roads), Livonia, Michigan, 48152.

The Sahara Fest features authentic Arabic food, including falafel, beef and chicken shawarma, kafta, hummus and fattoush. Featuring musical performances by Usaama Baalbaki, Nasser Deeb, Joseph Bashara, Zein Wzani, and closing the festival will be Steve King and the Ditties. St. Mary’s youth will perform traditional Dabke dances.

The festival includes a full midway featuring thrilling carnival rides, a video arcade game tent, face painting, real casino games, and fun for the whole family.
The Sahara Fest will benefit the development of the Mariam Center, a 30,000 square foot family and youth enrichment center, planned for completion in 2015.

Father George Shalhoub, pastor of St. Mary’s said, “We are excited to celebrate our rich culture and heritage.” He went on to say, “We look forward to contributing to the rich diversity of the greater Detroit area each year with the Sahara Fest.”

The Basilica of St. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church is a parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. The Church traces its roots in unbroken apostolic succession to first century Antioch, the city in which the disciples of Jesus Christ were first called “Christians.” The church was founded in 1972 and is comprised of members from the Lebanese, Syrian, Jordanian and Palestinian communities.

<b>Festival Hours:<b>

<i>June 2, Thursday–4pm to 11:00pm
June 3, Friday–4pm to 11:00 pm
June 4, Saturday—12pm to 11:00pm
June 5, Sunday–12pm to 11:00pm</i>

<b>For more information about the Sahara Fest contact:</b>
St. Mary’s Church: 734-422-0010