Originally by Phil Bolton on April 19, 2012
What began as the Arab American Family Day celebration in 2006 has grown into a two-day event known as the Atlanta Arab Festival, which will be held this year on April 28-29.
Launched in conjunction with the Arab-American Women’s Society of Georgia Inc., an active non-profit that was established in 1985, the festival is to be held at the Alif Institutelocated at 3288 Marjan Drive. in northeast Atlanta.
Alif is the first letter of the Arabic alphabet signifying that the institute is the Arab community’s first step in providing a specific location to fulfill its mission of fostering understanding and appreciation of Arab culture.
The institute provides a wide variety of services including Arabic lessons as well as a place for first, second and third generations of Arab Americans to showcase their common heritage and to share it with their fellow Americans.
The institute estimates that there are 20,000 Arab Americans living in metro Atlanta representing many of the 22 Arab countries.
The festival is the institute’s main event providing “a family event with Arabic flair,”Angela Khoury, the festival’s committee chair, told GlobalAtlanta.
Ms. Khoury anticipates more than 2,500 people will attend the festival that is to include cultural and educational exhibits events including a fashion show of traditional Arabic clothing, folk dancing and a backgammon competition. Last year the event drew 2,700.
The souk market is to include local restaurants and kiosks featuring Arabic art and products for sale.
The festival is open to the public with an entry fee of $1 and free admission for children 5 years old and younger.