Taste of Armenia Festival

St. James Armenian Church, 816 Clark St, Evanston, IL | Get Directions »
FREE

Over the years, Evanston' s TASTE OF ARMENIA festival has become a favorite end-of-summer event for Chicagoans of all ethnic backgrounds.  With annual attendance of well over 2500 people, the festival offers a leisurely sunny afternoon of delicious Armenian cooking, rousing music, and great company.

The Taste of Armenia serves up charcoal-grilled kebabs and homemade specialties including healthy salads and 'sarma' rolls with fresh-picked grape leaves.  Few can resist the bountiful table of our grandmas' authentic pastries and a steaming cup of Armenian coffee (fortunes told on request!)

The festival also adds a full day of cultural offerings drawn from across the country, highlighting ancient and modern aspects of the people who comprise the first Christian nation. Prominent local Armenian bands play music for line dancing all afternoon, and there's always plenty of games and activities for kids.

2012 Features:
--KAROON BAND: traditional melodies with a hip beat! Live music for dancing all afternoon.

NIGHT OVER ERZINGA preview!  Chicago's award-winning Silk Road Rising theatre company presents exclusive previews of Adriana Sevahn Nichols's acclaimed play.  This heartwarming tale of ethnic identity lost and reclaimed in the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide speaks to families of all ethnic backgrounds.

--1:30 & 3PM: Preview performances in the sanctuary. Family friendly.

--Special double photo exhibit:
THE OUTSIDE EYE: A foreigner's view of Armenia | An Armenian views the world (images by Robert Beckman Bree and Ruzanna Tantushyan)

2 and 3:30pm Presentations by Robert Beckman Breen in the sanctuary

--4:15pm one performance only!
ARMENIAN DANCE CO OF CHICAGO

--Cooking demonstrations throughout the afternoon.

--"Vernissage" market including Harvest Song artisanal preserves made with native Armenian fruits.