More information is available on our website at www. We look forward to sharing our food, faith, and culture with you Elias Maronite Catholic Church will celebrate its 28th Annual Lebanese Food and Cultural Festival from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Friday and Saturday, April 17 - 18, 2026! Come try homemade Lebanese food for lunch, dinner, or dessert; 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!
*FESTIVAL HOURS: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Friday and Saturday, April 17 - 18, 2026.
*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)!
*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 17). Coordinate with your coworkers and order online ahead of time 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 Express 1 Parking Lot 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).
*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 - 9:30 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: Guided tours starting on the front steps of our historic Church at the top of every hour 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 18, at 7:00 PM.
*5K/ FUN RUN: The St. Elias Cedar Run 5K and Cedar Shake Fun Run will take place the morning of Saturday, April 17. 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 https://www.facebook.com/StEliasCedarRun/
*OTHER CHARITIES BENEFITED: Since the beginning in 1998, 25% of all festival proceeds go to charities other than St. Elias Maronite Catholic Church. To date, over $768,000 has been donated to local and national charities. You can check out our festival web page (www.stelias.org) to see a list of charities supported. We look forward to celebrating our faith, food, and culture with you this year! For more information, be sure to visit https://stelias.org/ !
