St. Mary’s Church Announces the First Annual “Sahara Fest” in Livonia

posted on: Jun 25, 2008

The Basilica of St. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church announces their first annual “Sahara Fest,” featuring Arabic food, music and culture. The Sahara Fest will take place on July 24-27, 2008 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. Live American and Arabic music featuring the Dalton Brothers, the Ramzi Bahu Band, Usama Baalbaki, Emad Batayeh, Bassam Saleh, Francis Batayeh, the Bahu Family Band, Nader Harb and Live DJ. St. Mary’s youth will perform traditional Dabke dances. The festival includes a huge midway featuring thrilling carnival rides, a video arcade game tent, face painting, a Texas Hold’em tournament 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 2011. Father George Shalhoub, pastor of St. Mary’s said, “We are so excited to present this unique event which will benefit the development of our newly proposed Mariam Family and Youth Center.” He went on to say, “We are looking forward to celebrating our rich culture and heritage at the first 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.

Festival Hours:
July 24, Thursday–4pm to 11:30pm
July 25, Friday–10am to 11: 30 pm
July 26, Saturday–10am to 11:30pm
July 27, Sunday–10am to 7pm

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

For media inquiries contact:
Warren David, David Communications: 313-999-6000
Email: warrend@davidcomgroup.com