SAN FRANCISCO — A two-day Middle Eastern food festival returns to Diamond Heights next weekend with kebabs, shawarma, falafel, sweets, live entertainment and family activities.
The 30th Annual Middle Eastern Food Festival will be held at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church, 5200 Diamond Heights Boulevard, on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 3–4. The organizer is St. Nicholas Church.
When is the Middle Eastern Food Festival?
Saturday, Oct. 3 runs from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4 runs from noon to 7 p.m.. That gives Saturday the longer window for anyone deciding between the two days.
Is admission free?
Yes. The organizer's Eventbrite pages list the event at $0 and describe free parking. Visitors can register through the organizer's Saturday or Sunday event page.
What food will be available?
The organizer lists kebabs, falafel, shawarma, hummus, tabbouleh, kibbeh and stuffed grape leaves, along with handmade Middle Eastern desserts.
The festival is not only a food stop. St. Nicholas also advertises live music, entertainment and cultural performances, plus vendor booths with crafts, jewelry and gifts.
Is there anything for families?
Yes. A Kids Corner for ages 3–12 is planned with arts, crafts, activities and entertainment. The organizer also advertises a hookah lounge for adults.
Where is the free parking?
The organizer advertises free parking at 350 Amber Drive. That is a separate address from the festival venue at 5200 Diamond Heights Boulevard, so drivers should not assume the church entrance and the designated parking location are the same place.
How do you get there on Muni?
SFMTA's 52 Excelsior serves Diamond Heights Boulevard and runs between Forest Hill Station and the Excelsior. Its published stop list includes Diamond Heights Boulevard at Duncan Street and Gold Mine Drive, along with other stops through the neighborhood.
Because the best connection depends on where you start, use SFMTA's route page or SF News Today's live transit tools shortly before leaving rather than relying on a single citywide transfer pattern.
For neighborhood planning, the 94131 ZIP guide also collects nearby essentials and transit gateways.
Saturday or Sunday?
Saturday is the longer day, running nine hours until 9 p.m.; Sunday ends at 7 p.m. The organizer promotes the same core mix of food, culture, vendors and family activities on both ticket pages.
Anyone going for a specific performance should recheck the organizer's schedule closer to the weekend in case more detailed set times are published.