Houston Lebanese Festival sells out, celebrating heritage and loyalty to Lebanon

Houston's Lebanese community gathered on 17 and 18 October at Midtown Park for the annual Lebanese Festival, organised by the American Lebanese Cultural Center (ALCC).

According to the ALCC, the programme included concerts, dabke dancing, food stalls, children's activities, village-style games and a backgammon challenge, and the event reached its maximum capacity. An-Nahar described the weekend as a celebration of heritage and of commitment to Lebanon.

The centre says its mission is to promote and preserve Lebanese heritage in Houston and to encourage cultural exchange with the wider city. For many in the diaspora, such gatherings keep the bond with the homeland alive at a time when Lebanon is under heavy strain.