Organizers of a popular Halifax summer festival are hoping for a record turnout.
Years of steadily climbing attendance at the Lebanese Festival made the host venue, Saint Antonio’s Church, expand its parking lot a few years ago to accommodate the increase.
Last year, the place was filled, said festival committee member Vicky Mina.
“We had about 10,000 (people), just going by the amount of food that we sold,” said Mina, who hopes to surpass that this year.
“People come, in a large part, for the food.”
Tony Nahas, owner of Halifax restaurants Mezza and Venus Pizza, is in charge of the food for the festival, which Mina says is always delicious and popular due to the prominence of the Lebanese community in the city.
Besides filling your belly, there will be dancers and musicians showcasing Lebanese talent. The lineup includes traditional instrumental music, dancing and modern pop singers such as Montreal’s Karl Wolf, and traditional drummer Charlie K and DJ Hostyle, creating “a fusion of East and West,” said Mina.
Another event to watch is the popular Briek competition, in which participants dump a glass jug of water into their mouths, using its long spout pointed upside down.
“We get everyone — guys, girls — but we get a lot of guys and they get very competitive with each other,” said Mina.
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