Festivals
Lebanese Food Festival returns for 35th year this weekend at St. Anthony Maronite Catholic Church
The popular three-day food festival features Lebanese cuisine, music, dancing, and much more near Innsbrook.
The annual Lebanese Food Festival returns to St. Anthony Maronite Catholic Church near Innsbrook this weekend for its 35th year. The festival, a celebration of Lebanese food, dance and culture, kicks off Friday, May 17th.
The event is one of the area’s largest annual food festivals. Crowd favorites include meat, spinach, and cheese pies prepared in a hand-folded dough, stuffed grape leaves, stuffed squash, shawirma, roasted lamb, chicken, shrimp and beef shish-kabobs.
Vegetarians will have plenty of great options to sink their teeth into as well, including falafel, humus, tabouli, laban, babbaghanooge, and loubiyeh (green beans) served over rice pilaf.
Click here for the full 2019 menu (PDF).
Authentic wine and beer pairings, available for purchase on site, complete the meal. A festival favorite is Almaza genuine Lebanese beer, imported from Beirut, according to organizers.
Dessert options include the ever-popular zalabia, (hot Lebanese sweet dough covered with syrup), kataif, (wafer thin pancakes folded around a filling of cheese, cream, and nuts).
Festival goers will enjoy traditional live Lebanese music and dancers in colorful costumes as they perform folk dancing carried down from generations. The dancers range in age from preschoolers to adults.
If you’re in a hurry, the Lebanese Food Festival offers call ahead pickup. You can fax your order to 804.273.9914 or call 804.270.7234. Parking is free and ATMs are available on site. More information is available on St. Anthony Maronite Church’s website.
The church is located at 4611 Sadler Road, near the Innsbrook Corporate Center.
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Arts & Entertainment
12th annual Richmond Bluegrass Jam set for April 22nd benefitting military veterans and families
The free, family-friendly event features 20 of the region’s best bluegrass and Americana bands playing on multiple stages for nine straight hours, all to raise money for military veterans and their families through two local organizations.
The Richmond Bluegrass Jam will return for its twelfth year on April 22, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., at American Legion Post 354, on the banks of the James River in Midlothian, Va. This is the second year the Jam is being held at the American Legion Post after a previous multi-year run at the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen.
The free, family-friendly event features 20 of the region’s best bluegrass and Americana bands playing on multiple stages for nine straight hours, all to raise money for military veterans and their families through two local organizations: the Richmond Fisher House, a home away from home for the families of veterans and active-duty soldiers recuperating at Richmond’s McGuire Veterans Medical Center; and Liberation Veteran Services, which provides housing and care for veterans in crisis.
Fans are strongly encouraged to make tax-deductible donations to the Richmond Fisher House and Liberation Veteran Services at the event or online at rvabluegrassjam.com. Over the past eleven years, the event has raised more than $204,000 for the families of military men and women.
The bands—all of which play at no charge in support of the Richmond Fisher House and Liberation Veteran Services—include Tara Mills Band, Cary Street Ramblers, Josh Grigsby and County Line, Cook County Bluegrass, Slack Family Bluegrass Band, and more.
The event also will feature local craft beverages and Richmond’s food trucks.
“We’re excited to bring the Richmond Bluegrass Jam back to American Legion Post 354 after a successful event last year,” says Tim Gundlach, president of RVA Bluegrass Jam, Inc., the event’s organizer. “This new location along the James River is not only inspiring, but also further connects the Jam with our military community. This year, we’re expanding our support of our military veterans and their families by raising money for both the Richmond Fisher House and Liberation Veteran Services. We’re proud to partner with these two extraordinary organizations.”
In addition to listening to the scheduled bands, attendees are encouraged to bring their own instruments. Several open jam areas will be available, as well as an instrument check station.
American Legion Post 354 is located in Midlothian, Va. Parking will be available at nearby James River High School, 3700 James River Rd., with free shuttles running throughout the day.
More information at rvabluegrassjam.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/rvabluegrassjam.
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