Wichita’s other big Mediterranean food fest returns with one big change
The annual Mediterranean Festival at St. Mary Orthodox Christian Church, 344 S. Martinson, returns this weekend for its 94th installment, but this year, it’s adding on an evening party.
The dinner usually runs during the day offering plated meals and a Mediterranean marketplace, where customers can get extras to go. The market usually sells out.
The 2026 event, though, will also include an outdoor “hafli” that will run from 6 to 10 p.m. on Saturday. Hafli is an Arabic word used to describe celebrations or parties.
The day will start at 11 a.m. on Saturday, when people will be able to buy $22 meals that include Greek salad, green beans and rice, kibbee, a chicken kabob, talme bread and baklawa. The dinners are available until 6 p.m. for dine-in or carry out (though the dinner won’t include a drive-through this year.)
The marketplace, which will serve a selection of pastries, breads and desserts, also will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and visitors will be able to take tours of the church as well.
At 6 p.m., the party starts. Visitors will be able to enjoy ethnic wine and drinks, a live DJ and Arabic dancing. They’ll also be able to order food from an a la carte menu that includes kafta, chicken kabob, meat pies, Greek salad, hummus with veggies and baklawa sundaes.
The food for the dinner is prepared each year by members of the church. St. Mary will donate 10% of Saturday’s proceeds to Senior Services of Wichita.
The St. Mary’s dinner is one of two big Lebanese fundraisers that Wichitans flock to every year. The other one happens in the fall at St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral, 7515 E. 13th St.
For more information on Saturdays’ event, visit stmarywichita.org/festival/
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