Brockton's annual Lebanese Festival returns this weekend. Here's all the details.

BROCKTON — Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Celebrate greater Brockton’s Lebanese community with food, live music and dancing at this weekend’s annual Lebanese Festival at the Saint Theresa Maronite Church.

Established in 1932, the Saint Theresa Maonite Church’s history is rooted in the stories of the many Lebanese immigrants who arrived in Brockton at the turn of the century.

While some families have spread to surrounding towns over the years, many trace their roots right back to the church — like Brockton’s Michelle Nessralla, the principal at Brockton’s Plouffe Academy and one of the co-organizers of the annual festival.

“The church holds a special place in my heart,” said Nessralla, whose grandfather, Paul Khoury, helped break ground on the building 70 years ago. “And that’s just my story. Hundreds of families all have their stories here — celebrations and weddings and funerals. It really is a faith-based community.”

A look back at the 2018 Lebanese Festival: Brockton celebrates decade of faith, food

While the long-standing festival honors the religious, cultural and social lives of Lebanese families, the festival is open to anyone looking to sample authentic, Middle Eastern cuisine, in the backdrop of live music, dancing and hookah.

“We welcome everyone,” said the Rev. Joseph Daiff, who has served the church for two years. “We know how to dance, we know how to smile — we always find a way to make things happier.”

Here’s what to know about this weekend’s festival.

When and where is the Lebanese Festival?

This year’s annual Lebanese Festival will be held at the Saint Theresa Maronite Church, located at 343 N. Main St., on Friday, Sept. 22 from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.; Saturday, Sept. 23 from 12 p.m. to 1 a.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 24 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Parking for the Lebanese Festival

Extra parking will be available at the Angelo Elementary School, located at 472 N. Main St. and at the old American Medical Response (AMR) Ambulance Center, near 365 N. Main St. and adjacent to the church’s parking lot.

Admission costs

Admission to the festival is free for everyone.

Festival performances

Mitchell Kalatsunas, an Arabic musician who comes from Greek, Egyptian and Syrian heritage, has been singing and playing the Middle Eastern oud, a lute-type stringed instrument, and the derbakka (tablah), a percussion instrument, for more than two decades. On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Kalatsunas will be joined by DJ Gabriel Massih, a Norwood-based DJ specializing in Lebanese music. On Saturday, Andrew Ibrahim will also perform.

Food and drink

You won’t leave this festival hungry, with many different authentic Lebanese cuisine to try. Examples of food served at the 2018 festival included manouch (like a pita) cooked with cheese in a traditional sajj oven, kebab plates, Arabic coffee, hummus, baklava, and more. The event will also have a bar.

Activities

Besides the live performances, the festival will also have hookah, a raffle and basket auctions.

Enterprise staff writer Amelia Stern can be reached by email at astern@enterprisenews.com.