Austin does not really need an excuse to throw a party, but when the excuse involves ninety one years of food, family, and dancing in the shadow of the Texas Capitol, you just go with it. The St. Elias Mediterranean Festival is back September 26 through 28, transforming the grounds of St. Elias Orthodox Church into a three-day feast that feels like a trip across the Mediterranean, without anyone frisking your toiletries at security.

Since 1934, the festival has been Austin’s original culinary block party. Long before food trucks and craft cocktails became part of our DNA, St. Elias was dishing out falafel and baklava to crowds who came for the food but stayed for the music and community. That history still flavors every plate. Walking through the festival is less like eating at a fair and more like being welcomed into someone’s home kitchen, except the kitchen is huge, and the baklava could probably solve an international dispute.

The menu this year stretches across Greece, Lebanon, and beyond: gyros sliced fresh, kibbee rich with spice, creamy hummus, herby tabbouleh, and flaky spanakopita that practically crumbles in your hands. It is food that demands a little patience and a lot of napkins, and no one is complaining.

Of course, no Mediterranean celebration is complete without something in your glass. Thanks to longtime supporters at Twin Liquors, the festival bar is stocked with local beers, Mediterranean-inspired cocktails built with Absolut Vodka and Aperol, and wines that encourage you to join the nearest dabke line. Dancing here is not optional, it is contagious. One minute you are sipping a cocktail, the next you are holding hands with strangers in a circle under the stars, wondering how you got roped into cardio.

Beyond the food and music, the festival bazaar sets up like an open-air marketplace. Stalls brim with jewelry, artisan goods, henna art, and handmade pieces that make South Congress boutiques feel a little overpriced. It is the kind of shopping that reminds you festivals are not just about what you eat but what you take home with you.

The heart of the event, though, is tradition. For the Jabour family, who owns Twin Liquors, this is not just another sponsorship. As David Jabour puts it, “Med Fest is more than a tradition for our family, it is ingrained in our culture.” That sentiment echoes through the entire weekend, making the festival feel less like a public event and more like an extended family reunion that happens to have really good food.

Festival Details

  • Friday, Sept. 26: 6 PM to 11 PM
  • Saturday, Sept. 27: 12 PM to 11 PM
  • Sunday, Sept. 28: 12 PM to 6 PM

Location: St. Elias Orthodox Church, 408 E. 11th Street, just east of the Texas Capitol.
Admission: $5 donation at the gate. Free for kids 10 and under, college students with ID, and everyone Saturday from 12 PM to 4 PM.
Note: This is a cashless event, so bring your card or digital wallet.

After nearly a century, the St. Elias Mediterranean Festival has mastered the recipe: a little history, a lot of flavor, and a community that knows how to keep the party alive.