LA CROSSE, Wis. (WXOW) — The 51st annual Mediterranean Festival is returning to St. Elias Orthodox Church in La Crosse this weekend, offering traditional food, music, and cultural experiences.
“The number one thing about the festival is the food,” said Church Historian Richard Markos. “We’re going to be having the chicken kebab, the famous chicken kebab, which is marinated with a special sauce. We’re going to also be having marinated sliced lamb. We’re going to be having the falafel, for those that are the non-meat eaters.”
Meals include Syrian rice, Greek salad, homemade hummus and pita bread.
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online, at the door or in person at Markos Apparel on Pearl Street.
“The bake sale is a big deal, it always sells out,” Markos said. “We’ve got walnut baklava, pistachio, even chocolate baklava. The zalabi is a huge hit too—it’s fried dough with sugar and cinnamon.”
Markos said proceeds from the festival will go toward building upgrades at the church, including accessibility improvements and a long-term goal of adding a dome to the sanctuary.
“We’ve doubled in size since COVID, and people are coming from all over,” he said. “We’ve got folks from Galesville, Westby, Rochester and each one brings new traditions and ideas to the table.”
The festival will also include a silent auction, face painting, live music from Balkan singers and folk dancing throughout the afternoon.
“This year we’re bringing back the Arabic tea ceremony,” Markos said. “It’s led by a woman who lived in Palestine, and it’s all about sharing culture and hospitality.”
The festival runs Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. at St. Elias Orthodox Church in La Crosse.
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