Events | Cafe Lalibela Hosts Ethiopian Fest

August’s Ethiopian Fest in Tempe Celebrates Nation’s Cuisine, Customs, Culture and More

Rich traditions hold the pure soul of Ethiopian culture and heritage, and this summer’s Ethiopian Fest will show off the country’s food, art, music and more to both familiar and fresh audiences.

Photo Credit | Awe Collective

Set for 6:30pm until 11pm on Saturday, August 5 at the Doubletree by Hilton in Tempe, the Ethiopian Fest is a celebration of the African nation, and anyone with an interest in the country’s vivacious people, customs and culture is encouraged to attend.

Hosting the event is the team at Tempe’s Cafe Lalibela, a lauded, family-owned dining institution and the first Ethiopian restaurant to have opened in Arizona. Guests can anticipate an evening filled with feasting, traditional Ethiopian music, dancing and a special announcement about where the Cafe Lalibela crew is heading in the years to come, plus a chance to win one of three incredible prize packages.

Set to celebrate its 21st anniversary this summer, Cafe Lalibela became Arizona’s go-to spot for Ethiopian cuisine thanks to a reliance on authentic, flavorful recipes from the restaurant’s owner Atsade Desta. The nation’s food is characterized by bold, colorful spices and is often vegetarian in nature (though lamb and other produce is used, too) and eaten by hand using a traditional Ethiopian bread called Injera. Last year, Cafe Lalibela launched a line of wholesale products that fans of the restaurant can find at Whole Foods and Natural Grocers.

“We are so proud to be celebrating 21 years in the Valley, and we want to mark the anniversary in a big way,” General manager Anibal Abayneh said. “It’s really going to be a look back at where we’ve been and a chance to get excited about what’s to come.”

Tickets are available for $40 per person at ethiopianfest.splashthat.com. For more about Cafe Lalibela, visit CafeLalibela.com.

Café Lalibela | 849 W. University Drive | Tempe | 85281 | 480.829.1939