15th annual Lebanese Festival in Halifax 'welcomes everyone'
Festival runs until Sunday at the Olympic Community Centre
If you need a recommendation for this year's Lebanese Festival , take it from Maria Haddad: Try the zaatar.
The festival's marketing co-ordinator says the flatbread with herbs is a staple and a stand-out.
And it may have some more important properties.
"Mom always told me it would make me smarter," she said. "I think a lot of Lebanese kids in Halifax would agree."
15 years of Lebanese Festival
Haddad has been working on the festival since she was a kid herself.
"It's a huge part of my life," she said. "The family that has come about because of it is a beautiful thing."
That family, headed by the Saint Antonios Orthodox Church in Halifax, has now brought together the 15th annual festival.
It opened in Thursday night ceremony and will run until Sunday at the Olympic Community Centre, allowing thousands of expected visitors four days to experience it all.
That includes live music, dance performances and a Lebanese wine tasting.
There's also a Voice of the Lebanese Festival competition — and no, you don't have to be Lebanese to try out.
Standout is always the food
"We welcome everyone," said Haddad. "Our neighbours and friends around town and those who are new to Halifax and to Nova Scotia."
The festival also donates to a different charity every year. This year, T-shirts will be sold to benefit the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia.
Haddad says the standout is always the food.
Hundreds of volunteers have been working all week to put that together.
On offer will be traditional Lebanese food including hummus, tabbouleh and shawarma.
And of course, zaatar.