PHOTOS: Attendees experience culture and flavor at 65th Armenian Food Festival
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Crowds gathered for another successful year of Richmond's oldest and longest-running food festival this weekend.
The 65th annual Armenian Food Festival featured a wide selection of foods and cultural entertainment at St. James Armenian Church on Oct. 3 and Oct. 4.
(Photo: Ethan Thompson, 8News)
(Photo: Ethan Thompson, 8News)
(Photo: Ethan Thompson, 8News)
(Photo: Ethan Thompson, 8News)
(Photo: Ethan Thompson, 8News)
(Photo: Ethan Thompson, 8News)
(Photo: Ethan Thompson, 8News)
(Photo: Ethan Thompson, 8News)
(Photo: Ethan Thompson, 8News)
In addition to chicken shish kebabs, cheese boreg, Armenian meat pies, stuffed grape leaves and the famous original Hye Burger, there was Armenian beer and wine on offer as well.
"We started this festival as a sort of bake sale to help the church make ends meet," said festival organizer, Marty Mooradian. "And we've since moved the festival outside, and it's grown to be something that helps us with our philanthropy arm -- where we help with homeless programs here in Richmond, help fund orphanages in Armenia and help send kids to summer camp who have lost parents to the war that's happening in Armenia."
Lines and crowds didn't stop excited attendees from taking part in both Friday and Saturday's festivities.
"This festival brings together our community. We have folks coming all the way from Colorado that come back to Richmond to help," Mooradian said. "Everybody comes together to really pull this off."
