DEARBORN — The Arab American National Museum’s YallaEat! Culinary Walking Tour is a new, immersive cultural experience that is being offered, free of charge, this fall, as a pilot program and next year as a fee-based program. 

The docent-guided walking tours of Detroit’s historic Eastern Market, during September and October 2013, will help refine future tours, including those the Museum will conduct this spring along Warren Avenue in Dearborn, amid the largest concentration of Arabs outside of the Arab World.

Those who register online for the Tuesday and Saturday afternoon tours this fall will hear the story of Arab Americans in metro Detroit, while exploring the long history of Arab merchants in and around Eastern Market. Participants will visit diverse Arab and Middle Eastern businesses – all founded by immigrants and family-run – meet and talk with the owners, enjoy some free samples and do some old-school shopping.

Tours run approximately two hours and 30 minutes; comfortable walking shoes are required. Opportunities to shop are offered at most stops. Tours begin and end at the Germack Coffee Roasting Company, Roastery & Espresso Bar, 2517 Russell St., Detroit. 

Tour registration is free, but an online RSVP is required at www.arabamericanmuseum.org/yallaeat. RSVPs will be accepted until each tour date’s 15 slots are filled, or until noon the day prior to each tour.