Three Days · Sep 11–13, 2026 [SAMPLE — confirm]

Festival Schedule

From the opening blessing to the final raffle, here's how the weekend unfolds — dabke on the stage, the oud and derbake in the air, food off the grill all day, and family fun from Friday night through Sunday evening.

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Plan Your Visit

What to expect each day

The festival runs Friday evening, all day Saturday, and Sunday afternoon into the evening. Times below are [SAMPLE — confirm] and the committee will lock the final running order before go-live. Performances and demos repeat across the weekend, so there's always something on the stage and something fresh off the grill no matter when you arrive.

The Weekend

Hour-by-hour, Friday to Sunday

All times are [SAMPLE — confirm] and subject to change.

Friday

5:00 PM – 10:00 PM [SAMPLE — confirm] Opening Night

5:00 PM [SAMPLE — confirm] Gates open & opening blessing The festival opens with a short blessing led by clergy from St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church, our host parish — a moment of welcome under the patronage of St. Sharbel before the weekend begins. Faith & Heritage

5:15 PM [SAMPLE — confirm] Food service begins Shawarma, kebabs, manakish off the saj, mezze, and trays of baklava and knafeh — the kitchens and food booths open for the weekend. Food

6:00 PM [SAMPLE — confirm] Live music — oud & derbake The first set of live Lebanese music fills the grounds, with the oud and the derbake setting the rhythm of the evening. Music

7:30 PM [SAMPLE — confirm] Dabke performance The dabke line takes the stage in traditional dress — and by the second song, the crowd is invited to join in. Dance

8:30 PM [SAMPLE — confirm] Evening music set Music continues into the night as families settle in and the marketplace stays open. Music

10:00 PM [SAMPLE — confirm] Friday close Opening night wraps — see you bright and early Saturday for the full festival day. Close

Saturday

12:00 PM – 10:00 PM [SAMPLE — confirm] Full Festival Day

12:00 PM [SAMPLE — confirm] Gates open & food service begins The busiest day of the weekend opens with the full lineup of food booths, the marketplace, and cultural exhibits. Food

12:30 PM [SAMPLE — confirm] Kids' activities open The dedicated kids' area, games, and all-ages fun run throughout the afternoon so families can settle in for the day. Kids & Family

1:00 PM [SAMPLE — confirm] Afternoon live music Live oud and derbake on the main stage as the grounds fill with the Saturday crowd. Music

2:00 PM [SAMPLE — confirm] Lebanese cooking demo Watch a festival cook walk through a Lebanese classic — from hand-rolled grape leaves to baklava — with tastings while they last. Cooking Demo

3:30 PM [SAMPLE — confirm] Dabke performance An afternoon dabke showcase — and an open invitation for the crowd to learn the steps and join the line. Dance

5:00 PM [SAMPLE — confirm] Evening music set The music shifts into the dinner hour as the grills fire back up for the evening rush. Music

7:00 PM [SAMPLE — confirm] Headline dabke & live band The biggest performance of the day — a full dabke troupe with a live band carrying the evening. Dance & Music

8:30 PM [SAMPLE — confirm] Raffle drawing The Saturday raffle drawing — proceeds support local cultural and community programs in San Joaquin County. You don't need to be present, but it's more fun if you are. Raffle

10:00 PM [SAMPLE — confirm] Saturday close The festival's big day wraps — back Sunday for family day and the grand finale. Close

Sunday

12:00 PM – 8:00 PM [SAMPLE — confirm] Family Day & Closing

12:00 PM [SAMPLE — confirm] Gates open · Mass & blessing Sunday opens with Mass and a blessing in the Maronite tradition of our host parish, St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church — a quiet, central part of the festival's faith-and-heritage story. Faith & Heritage

12:30 PM [SAMPLE — confirm] Food service & kids' activities Food booths reopen and the kids' area runs all afternoon for one last family day on the grounds. Food · Kids & Family

1:30 PM [SAMPLE — confirm] Afternoon live music Live oud and derbake return to the stage for a relaxed Sunday afternoon set. Music

2:30 PM [SAMPLE — confirm] Cooking demo — sweets edition A final cooking demo focused on Lebanese sweets — baklava, knafeh, and more — with tastings while supplies last. Cooking Demo

4:00 PM [SAMPLE — confirm] Closing dabke performance The weekend's final dabke showcase — and the last big call to join the line before the festival winds down. Dance

6:30 PM [SAMPLE — confirm] Grand raffle drawing The grand raffle drawing closes out the weekend — the top prizes are pulled here. Raffle

8:00 PM [SAMPLE — confirm] Festival closing Eighteen years and counting — thank you for celebrating with us. See you next September. Close

Free admission. No tickets required.

Come for an hour or stay all day — there's no gate fee and no ticket to buy. Food, drinks, raffle entries, and marketplace goods are purchased on-site. Bring the whole family.

Be Part of It

Get here — or get a booth

Planning your visit? Find parking and directions before you go. Want to sell at the festival? Vendor applications for September 11–13, 2026 close August 1, 2026 [SAMPLE — confirm].

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