Massive Lebanese Festival Coming Back to Danbury This Weekend

Danbury is about to smell absolutely incredible for three straight days.

The annual Lebanese Mahrajan hosted by Saint Anthony Maronite Catholic Church is coming back to the CityCenter Green in downtown Danbury from May 29 through May 31, and if you’ve ever been to one of these festivals before, you already know this is one of the most underrated cultural events in the area.

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The festival is taking place at CityCenter Danbury on Ives Street and it’s shaping up to be a full weekend of food, music, dancing and community celebrations. The event is rain or shine, which honestly feels appropriate because people would probably show up even if it were snowing sideways. Lebanese festivals in Connecticut have that kind of pull.

Friday night kicks things off with a Blessed Virgin Procession at 5 p.m., followed by dance performances and live music from Elio Mitri from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday looks like the big party day with multiple dance performances, raffles and live music from DJ Danny Kanan running into the night. Sunday starts with Divine Liturgy before more music and performances close out the weekend.

And let’s be honest, for a lot of people, the food is the main event. If you’ve never had authentic Lebanese food at one of these church festivals, prepare yourself. We’re talking shawarma, kibbeh, grape leaves, hummus, baklava and enough garlic sauce to alter your personality for a few days. It’s the kind of food where you tell yourself you’re “just getting one thing” and suddenly you’re walking around with three trays and a pastry box.

It feels like a real community celebration where everybody is welcome, whether you’re Lebanese or you just wandered in because you heard music and smelled grilled meat from three blocks away.