This weekend should prove to be a Richmond favorite – especially for Richmond foodies. Not only will it be an event deeply rooted in the traditions of food, dancing, family and fun, but one of firsts as well. And what goes together better than the comfort of something old and familiar with freshness of something exciting and new?

Nothing – that's what.

This weekend, Richmonders will have the chance to please their palettes in more ways than one with the 24th annual Lebanese Food Festival and the inaugural Broad Appetit – both promising to be a treat for the taste buds.

Lebanese Food Festival

The Lebanese Food Festival, hosted by St. Anthony Maronite Church, has been bringing Richmond some of the most flavorful and aromatic foods for 23, going on 24 years now, and what started out as a small gathering of the parish has turned into a traditional event you must be crazy to miss.

"The origins go back to trying to share the culture and the traditions of Lebanon with the Richmond community," said Chet Wade, publicity chair for the festival.

"The pastor, George Sebaali initiated it as a way to both bring the parish together and at the same time to let the Richmond community know more about the history, the fun and the food of Lebanon."

And while Wade admits, "it's much more than just the food," that's not exactly a bad reason to show up.

The annual attendance at the festival has grown to about 20,000 – drawing people not only from Richmond but places like Alexandria, Arlington, Virginia Beach and West Virginia. And with an attendance like that, the "chefs" have to plan and prepare accordingly.

"They start cooking in February, but this last week is almost like a 24-hour event, because some stuff can be kept and some can't," Wade said. "A lot of the food that really does have to be prepared within a few days of the festival is being done now – like the tabouli salad – there's more chopping going on than you can imagine!"

And speaking of food – the menu is located online so if you don't have the time to leisurely enjoy the festival under the picnic area, tents or on blanket with your friends in family, there's always take out. Items on the menu range from stuffed grape leaves and cabbage, baked kibbi (diced beef, cooked onions and pine nuts), meat and spinach pies, zalabia and a whole other slew of foods you may, or may not, be able to pronounce but should definitely try.

In fact, Wade helped put together a list of 10 tips for enjoying the festival to its fullest and one of them is "it's OK if you can't pronounce it."

"There are some of those that are a little difficult, like bubbaghanooge," he said. "It's a roasted eggplant that's mashed up in kind of a dip and if you look it, and just say 'bubba' you'll sound like an old hand. If all else fails, just point at it. That works too."

Throughout the three-day festival, two Lebanese bands will take the stage to play traditional Lebanese music that has been passed down from generation to generation. The bands are made up of families and members of the parish and will be accompanied by a host of dancers that, if past festivals are any indication, the children adore.

The groups of dancers range in age from the littlest of girls to adults who transform the stage into a beautiful rendition of traditional Lebanese dance.

Richmond.com and Wade agree: go during off hours and more than once during the weekend. You won't regret it.

• The 24th annual Lebanese Food Festival will be held this weekend from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17 and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 19. Admission and parking are free. St. Anthony Maronite Church is located at 4611 Sadler Rd. in Glen Allen. For more information and for a take out order form, call (804) 346-1161 or visit stanthonymaronitechurch.org.

Broad Appetit

Labeled as the festival "where food and art intersect," Richmond's first-ever Broad Appetit is designed to bring together the city's finest food purveyors, chefs, restaurants and artists under one, admission-free roof.

They say we eat with our eyes first and mouth second. If that's the case, I can think of nothing better than looking at beautiful and eclectic artwork before sinking my teeth into tender scallops, smoked grilled duck, Kahlua chocolate mousse or any of the other mini-dishes Richmond's finest chefs will create.

Twenty-five to 30 of these acclaimed chefs will be present at the festival from restaurants including Mosaic¸ La Grotta, Comfort, 1 North Belmont and plenty others.

Each chef will prepare three of these mini-dishes, which coast $3 each leaving you with 75 choices – how will you ever decide? One of the three will then be entered to win the "To Die For" Dish Award which will take place at 4 p.m. and are decided on by panel of expert judges.

Five judges are involved in determining who has the dish "To Die For" at the festival. These judges are: Brendan Vessey, from The Boot in Norfolk, Va.; Patrick Evan-Hylton, host of "Everyday Gourmet" on WVEC; Kate Collier, owner of the food lovers haven "Feast!" in Charlottesville; Todd Kliman, food/wine editor and restaurant critic for The Washingtonian; and Martin Gravely, restaurant reviewer for Richmond Magazine.

A long line of other food events will take place throughout this one-day extravaganza. Between when the festival starts at noon and the 4 p.m. "To Die For" awards, David George Gordon and David Gracer will both make compelling, hilarious and perhaps uncomfortable arguments for the use of bugs as a food source. Shortly after at 3 p.m., the two "bug chefs" will go head-to-head in a "Bug Cookoff."

A highlight of the event will take place at 2 p.m. with a special appearance by Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms, Inc. to discuss his family's mission to develop and share emotionally, economically and environmentally enhancing agriculture ventures with synergistic food systems.

The A Locavore Market Place will be open all day, giving festival-goers access to a number of Virginia's local farmers and food purveyors who will offer farm-fresh products including berries, flowers, caramels and even dog treats.

Also continuing throughout the day is the Whodunnit? Art Exhibit, featured in Quirk Gallery. This invitational exhibition will showcase the work of 75 artists, whose names will remain secret throughout the day, until the completion of each sale. All pieces, set in their original 6 inch by 9 inch format, will be sold at a fixed price of $50.

Children will enjoy the juggling and magic of Richmond entertainer Jonathan Austin as well as the Barefoot Puppets Puppet Show, Happy Lucky Combo and Richmond's Indigenous Gourd Orchestra.

• Richmond's inaugural food festival Broad Appetit will take place from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 18, rain or shine, on Broad Street between Monroe and Adams Streets. Admission is free and parking is available on the street and in numerous "honor lots." For more information, visit broadappetit.com.