One of the largest Arab and Chaldean American cultural event in North America will celebrate its 37th year at Hart Plaza in downtown Detroit on Saturday and Sunday.

Featuring a variety of Arab and Chaldean foods, an ethnic cultural gallery, an entertainment program featuring well-known dancers and singers, and a children’s fair on Saturday starting at 3 p.m., the festival is sure to have something for everyone.

Last year, more than 50,000 people attended the festival, which was established as a non-profit community organization back in 1972 before becoming known by its current name.

“We want to show our culture to other nationalities and to teach them how we eat, how we dance, you know,” said Dr. Jacoub Mansour, chairperson of the event.

This year, Mansour expects to see an even bigger number of attendees, many of them coming from out-of-state places like Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Canada.

“With this festival, we’re trying to bring down existing stereotypes in a non-political setting,” he said. “Arabs and Chaldeans are an important part of society and Metro Detroit is home to the largest community of them outside of the Middle East.

“We want to work hand-in-hand to guarantee our future and more importantly, the future of our children.”

Visit www.arabandchaldeanfestival.com for more information or contact Dr. Jacoub Mansour at 248.960.9956.

Arab and Chaldean Festival Schedule of events

Saturday, July 19th

Noon Arab and Chaldean music

3:00-8:00 p.m. Children’s fair at Pylon Square-Directed

by Zemen Marrugi

4:00 p.m. Break (ethnic food booths available for visiting)

5:00 p.m. Calligraphy by Micheal Shamat (cultural gallery)

5:15 p.m. Desert Stars dancers                                                                             

5:35 p.m. Habibi dance troupe from Lansing

5:55 p.m. The Princess Daughters dancers

6:15 p.m. Sultana Dancers from Grand Rapids

6:35 p.m. Break

6:30 p.m. Cultural gallery closed (reception)                                                                

7:00 p.m. Clown making balloons traveling throughout

festival site                                                                

6:55 p.m. Sultana Dancers from Grand Rapids                                                                            

7:15 p.m. Habibi dance troupe from Lansing, Michigan

7:35 p.m. Break

7:55 p.m. Young Chaldean singer Natalie

8:10 p.m. Belly dancer Nadira  

8:30 p.m. Leyalina Dabka troupe for folklore dance

8:55 p.m. Thank you address given by President of the

Arab Chaldean Festival Dr. Jacoub Mansour

9:00 p.m. Arab and Chaldean Festival Orchestra with

star singer Mahmoud Anwar

12:00 p.m. Conclusion of Saturday festival activities.

Sunday, July 20th

Noon Arab and Chaldean music

4:00 p.m. Break (ethnic food booths available for visiting

5:00 p.m. Calligraphy by Micheal Shamat (cultural gallery)

5:00 p.m. The Princess Daughters dancers

5:20 p.m. Sultana Dancers from Grand Rapids

5:40 p.m. Desert Stars dancers

6:00 p.m. Break

6:40 p.m. Sultana Dancers from Grand Rapids

7:00 p.m. Clown making balloons traveling throughout

festival site

7:15 p.m. Al-Amwag (Yemeni band) with singer Ali Almuntaser

7:45 p.m. Break

8:05 p.m. Young Chaldean singer Natalie

8:10 p.m. Belly dancer Melanie Abraham from Florida

8:30 p.m. Fashion Show directed by Zena Marrugi

8:50 p.m. Belly dancer Nadira

9:05 p.m. Arab and Chaldean Orchestra with star singer

Ismaeel Alfarwaji 

12:00 p.m. Conclusion of this year’s Arab and Chaldean Festival