CAUSE OF THAT FIRE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. A COMMUNITY EVENT IS BRINGING A PIECE OF LEBANON TO THE CAPITAL CITY THIS WEEKEND. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE AT THE SACRAMENTO LEBANESE FESTIVAL, HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO. THAT'S WHERE WE FIND KCRA 3'S ANAHITA JAFARY LIVE OUTSIDE THE SAINT ELIZABETH OF PORTUGAL CATHOLIC CHURCH. ANAHITA, HOW ARE THINGS GOING OUT THERE? YEAH, CECIL, THE NIGHT IS YOUNG FOR ALL THE PEOPLE HERE AT THE LEBANESE FESTIVAL. YOU CAN PROBABLY HEAR THE MUSIC AND SEE ALL THE DANCERS BEHIND ME. THEY DO TELL ME, THOUGH, THAT THE FOOD HERE IS A MUST. IN OUR TRADITION, YOU DON'T LEAVE SOMEBODY'S HOME WITHOUT EATING FOOD. SO YOU ARE NOT GOING TO LEAVE OUR FESTIVAL WITHOUT TRYING OUR FOOD TODAY? A FEAST AND A SHOW. ALL DAY LONG AT THE ANNUAL SACRAMENTO LEBANESE FESTIVAL. TYPEKIT IS A TRADITIONAL DANCE IN OUR CULTURE. ALL ARABS DO IT. SOMETIMES IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT BETWEEN DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU'RE FROM. A MAIN EVENT INCLUDING COIN SKIRTS DAZZLING DURING DEBKA. IT'S LIKE A DANCE. YOU. DO YOU LIKE â–ˆMOVE YOUR FEET. YOU JUMP. THERE ARE MULTIPLE DIFFERENT VERSIONS AND IT'S REALLY FUN. BUT THE REAL SHOW INVOLVES LESS MUSIC AND MORE GRILLING. OF COURSE, IT TOPS IT ALL BECAUSE IT'S THE AUTHENTIC NAPA THAT YOU DON'T FIND ANYWHERE EXCEPT HOMEMADE LEBANESE. WE HAVE OUR, YOU KNOW, ARAB GRANDMAS MAKING THEM IN THE KITCHEN. BEYOND THE MENU. THE HEART OF THE CULTURE LIVES IN THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES. KEEPING CULTURES ALIVE AND ACTIVE IS VERY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WHEN PEOPLE MOVE AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES. MORE THAN 7000 MILES AWAY FROM LEBANON HERE FEELS CLOSER THAN EVER. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN AMERICA, BUT ALL MY FAMILY IS FROM LEBANON, SO IT'S A WAY FOR US TO KEEP THAT SPIRIT AND THAT CULTURE ALIVE AND SHARE IT WITH EVERYONE WHILE BEING SO FAR FROM HOME. WE'RE ABLE TO FEEL CONNECTED TO EVERYTHING ABROAD WHILE BEING HERE. AND THE WEEKEND LONG EVENT WILL START BACK UP TOMORROW MORNING AT 11 A.M. AND GO UNTIL FIVE, SO BE SURE TO CHECK
Sacramento Lebanese festival brings food, dance, and tradition to the community
The Sacramento Lebanese Festival at Saint Elizabeth of Portugal Catholic Church offers a weekend of Lebanese food, dance, and cultural connection.
Updated: 11:35 PM PDT May 23, 2026
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The Sacramento Lebanese Festival is bringing a taste of Lebanon to Saint Elizabeth of Portugal Catholic Church this weekend, with food, dance, and community at the heart of the celebration. “In our tradition, you don’t leave somebody’s home without eating food. So you are not going to leave our festival without trying our food today,†said Nour Chemaly, the festival coordinator. The event features a feast and a show, with Dabke, a traditional Lebanese dance, captivating attendees. “Dabke is a traditional dance in our culture. All Arabs do it. Sometimes it’s a little different depending on where you’re from,†said Mariah Baladi, a dancer at the festival. “It’s like a dance. You do, you like, move your feet, you jump. There are multiple different versions, and it’s really fun.†The food is another major highlight of the festival, with authentic dishes prepared by community members. “The Knafeh tops it all because it’s the authentic Knafeh that you don’t find anywhere except homemade Lebanese Knafeh,†said Lina Elchemali, a cook at the event. “We have our, you know, Arab grandmas making them in the kitchen,†Baladi added. Beyond the food and festivities, the festival serves as a way to preserve Lebanese culture and foster a sense of belonging. “Keeping cultures alive and active is very important, especially when people move away from their families. So this becomes their family,†said Elchemali, who also cooks at the festival. “I was born and raised in America, but all my family is from Lebanon, so it’s a way for us to keep that spirit and that culture alive and share it with everyone. While being so far from home, we’re able to feel connected to everything abroad while being here,†said Alina Awais, another festival coordinator. The weekend-long event will continue Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
The Sacramento Lebanese Festival is bringing a taste of Lebanon to Saint Elizabeth of Portugal Catholic Church this weekend, with food, dance, and community at the heart of the celebration.
“In our tradition, you don’t leave somebody’s home without eating food. So you are not going to leave our festival without trying our food today,†said Nour Chemaly, the festival coordinator.
The event features a feast and a show, with Dabke, a traditional Lebanese dance, captivating attendees.
“Dabke is a traditional dance in our culture. All Arabs do it. Sometimes it’s a little different depending on where you’re from,†said Mariah Baladi, a dancer at the festival. “It’s like a dance. You do, you like, move your feet, you jump. There are multiple different versions, and it’s really fun.â€
The food is another major highlight of the festival, with authentic dishes prepared by community members.
“The Knafeh tops it all because it’s the authentic Knafeh that you don’t find anywhere except homemade Lebanese Knafeh,†said Lina Elchemali, a cook at the event.
“We have our, you know, Arab grandmas making them in the kitchen,†Baladi added.
Beyond the food and festivities, the festival serves as a way to preserve Lebanese culture and foster a sense of belonging.
“Keeping cultures alive and active is very important, especially when people move away from their families. So this becomes their family,†said Elchemali, who also cooks at the festival.
“I was born and raised in America, but all my family is from Lebanon, so it’s a way for us to keep that spirit and that culture alive and share it with everyone. While being so far from home, we’re able to feel connected to everything abroad while being here,†said Alina Awais, another festival coordinator.
The weekend-long event will continue Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
