A church fire in 1932 led to a food festival that is still going strong more than 90 years later. I love that the answer to losing a building was to start cooking for the whole town.
The church behind it was founded in 1906 by Lebanese immigrants. Today it’s described as the only Maronite Catholic church in West Virginia.
Its festival opens with hymns chanted in Arabic and Aramaic, an ancient language that still turns heads.
Then the food shows up. Kibbee, stuffed grape leaves, falafel, and trays of pistachio bird nests fill the menu.
Local markets even keep bulgur, za’atar, and kibbeh beef ready for home cooks.
I can’t think of a tastier way to learn a bit of history. One small community kept its recipes alive for generations, right in the Mountain State.
So where exactly is it, and what should you eat first?
1. Our Lady Of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church
Some congregations pass down hymnals, but this one also passed down kibbee recipes. Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church sits on Eoff Street in Wheeling, West Virginia.
Lebanese immigrants who settled in the Northern Panhandle founded the parish in 1906. According to local tourism sources, it’s the only Maronite Catholic church in the state.
Maronite Catholics belong to an Eastern church with deep roots in Lebanon. Their traditions arrived in Wheeling with families looking for work and a fresh start.
Those families didn’t just bring their faith across the ocean. They brought spices, family recipes, music, and a strong habit of feeding anyone who stopped by.
You can trace a lot of the city’s Lebanese food culture back to this one parish. Its members built the festival, kept the pastry traditions going, and taught younger cooks the old ways.
That kind of staying power is rare. Plenty of immigrant churches faded as families scattered, yet this one still anchors a community well over a century later.
If you enjoy history with a side of flavor, this is your starting point. Think of it as the home base for everything else on this list.
Address: 2216 Eoff Street, Wheeling, WV 26003
2. The 1932 Church Fire
Losing your church during the Great Depression sounds like the end of a story. For Wheeling’s Lebanese families, it turned into the start of a much bigger one.
A fire reportedly destroyed the original Our Lady of Lebanon church in 1932. Money was tight across the country, and rebuilding would take serious effort.
So the parish did something clever. Members pooled their resources and their cooking skills to raise funds for a new home.
That effort grew into the Lebanese festival, which first took place in 1933. Picture a small immigrant community deciding that grape leaves and pastries could help put a roof back up.
I find that detail moving. It says a lot about a group of people who answered hard times with generosity instead of giving up.
It also explains why the festival feels so tied to faith and family. The food wasn’t a side project, it was the rebuilding plan.
Next time you bite into a festival pastry, you’re tasting part of that comeback. Not many dessert trays come with a backstory this strong.
Address: 2216 Eoff Street, Wheeling, WV 26003
3. The Mahrajan Lebanese Festival
Mahrajan means festival in Arabic, and Wheeling has been throwing this one since 1933. That’s a long run for any party, let alone one that started as a fundraiser.
The festival takes place each August at Oglebay Park. You’ll find it at the Levenson Shelter, Site 1, surrounded by the park’s green hills.
Organizers say it draws visitors from across the country. People come for the food, but plenty also come back because their grandparents did.
For parents, it’s an easy way to sample a whole cuisine in one afternoon. No passport, no long flight, and no guessing at an unfamiliar restaurant menu.
You can wander from savory plates to pastry tables at your own pace. Kids can tag along, but honestly, this one feels like a treat for the grown-ups first.
Dates can shift slightly from year to year. Check the festival’s own announcements before you plan your August weekend around it.
Oglebay Park itself makes the trip easy to stretch out. Pair a festival lunch with a stroll around the grounds, and your day fills itself.
Address: Oglebay Park, Levenson Shelter Site 1, 465 Lodge Drive, Wheeling, WV 26003
4. The Maronite Liturgy
How often do you get to hear Aramaic sung in West Virginia? At the Lebanese festival, it happens before the first plate is served.
The festival opens with a Maronite Catholic Liturgy. Hymns are chanted in Arabic and in Aramaic, a language with roots stretching back thousands of years.
Aramaic is often described as the everyday language spoken in Jesus’ time. Hearing it in the Ohio Valley is the kind of surprise that sticks with you.
The liturgy reminds visitors that this event started as a church effort. Food and faith have always traveled together here.
You don’t need to be Catholic to appreciate the moment. Many people simply enjoy the sound of chants that have been passed along for centuries.
It also adds a calmer beginning to a busy, food-filled day. Think of it as a quiet breath before the kibbee lines form.
If you’re curious, check the festival schedule for the liturgy time. Arriving early lets you catch both the spiritual side and the first round of food.
Address: Oglebay Park, Levenson Shelter Site 1, 465 Lodge Drive, Wheeling, WV 26003
5. Kibbee
If Lebanon has a national comfort food, kibbee makes a strong case for the title. In Wheeling, it shows up at the festival and in home kitchens alike.
Kibbee combines seasoned meat with bulgur wheat. Spellings vary, so you’ll see kibbee, kibbeh, and kibbe on menus and signs.
At the Mahrajan, kibbee sits right alongside lamb shish kabob and chicken shawarma. It’s the dish many longtime festivalgoers associate with Lebanese family tables.
Want to try making it yourself? Miklas Meat Market in Wheeling sells kibbeh mixes and bulgur, plus kibbeh beef if you call ahead.
That call-ahead detail tells you something. Enough local cooks still make kibbee at home that a meat market plans for it.
Families in this community have kept the recipe alive for generations. Some versions are baked in trays, while others are shaped by hand, depending on who’s cooking.
Whatever form you find, start here. It’s the bite that explains why the Lebanese community left such a lasting mark on West Virginia’s dinner tables.
Address: Oglebay Park, Levenson Shelter Site 1, 465 Lodge Drive, Wheeling, WV 26003
6. Stuffed Grape Leaves
Rolling grape leaves takes patience, and somebody in Wheeling has plenty of it. These tidy little bundles are a festival favorite and a home kitchen project.
At the Mahrajan, stuffed grape leaves share the menu with falafel, tabbouleh, and hummus. Saj bread and pita are there for scooping, too.
Grape leaves are one of those dishes that turn into a family event. One person fills, another rolls, and someone usually sneaks a few before dinner.
You can buy jarred grape leaves at local Wheeling markets if you’d like to try. Jebbia’s Market and the Kroger on Mount de Chantal Road both carry them.
Prefer a shortcut? Miklas Meat Market stocks frozen Jemila Foods stuffed grape leaves, along with meat pies and spinach pies.
That mix of options says a lot about the city. Lebanese food here isn’t a once-a-year novelty, it lives on regular grocery shelves.
For a busy parent, that’s a real win. You can bring a little festival flavor home on a Tuesday night without starting from scratch.
Address: Oglebay Park, Levenson Shelter Site 1, 465 Lodge Drive, Wheeling, WV 26003
7. Lebanese Pastries
Pistachio bird nests might be the most charming name ever given to a dessert. They’re just one item on the festival’s impressive pastry lineup.
The Mahrajan pastry table includes baklava, namoura, date rolls, cashew fingers, ghouribeh, and mamoul. That’s a lot of decisions for one sweet tooth.
Baklava is the one most people recognize, with its flaky layers. Namoura is a semolina cake, while mamoul is a filled cookie often shaped in a mold.
Ghouribeh is a delicate butter cookie that tends to crumble at a touch. Date rolls bring a natural sweetness that pairs nicely with something richer.
Pastries like these take time, which makes them feel extra special. Many Lebanese families save certain treats for holidays and big gatherings.
Here’s a practical tip for your visit. Grab a mix to take home so you can sample more without stuffing yourself at the shelter.
I’d honestly plan the whole day around this table. Savory food first, of course, but leave real room for the sweets.
Address: Oglebay Park, Levenson Shelter Site 1, 465 Lodge Drive, Wheeling, WV 26003
8. Miklas Meat Market
A meat market that takes kibbeh orders is a pretty good sign of a living food culture. Miklas Meat Market on Carmel Road fits that description.
The shop carries tabbouleh and kibbeh mixes for home cooks. You’ll also find bulgur wheat packs and za’atar, the herby spice blend used in many Lebanese recipes.
Za’atar often includes thyme, sumac, and sesame. Sprinkle it on bread with a little olive oil, and you’ve got an easy snack.
Kibbeh beef is available when you call ahead. That small service makes a big difference if you’re cooking for a crowd or a holiday.
The freezer section helps on busier days. Jemila Foods items include stuffed grape leaves, meat pies, spinach pies, and kibbee mix.
For parents juggling schedules, those frozen options are a lifesaver. You get Lebanese flavors at home without spending a full afternoon rolling and shaping.
It’s a neighborhood market, so stock can change. Still, few places in West Virginia make Lebanese home cooking this approachable.
Address: 58 Carmel Road, Wheeling, WV 26003
9. Jebbia’s Market
Long before online grocery orders, Wheeling families shopped at neighborhood markets like Jebbia’s. It’s still serving customers on Chapline Street today.
The market is known as a long-standing local tradition. Generations of shoppers have stopped in for produce and specialty items.
For Lebanese cooks, one item matters a lot here. Jebbia’s carries grape leaves, the essential start for rolled grape leaf dishes.
You can make them vegetarian with rice and herbs. Or go the meat-filled route, which many families prefer for holiday tables.
Small markets like this help explain how old recipes survive. When ingredients stay easy to find, families keep cooking the dishes they grew up on.
It’s also a nice reminder of Wheeling’s older neighborhood character. Corner markets once anchored daily life across the Ohio Valley.
Stop by if you’re planning a weekend cooking project. A jar of grape leaves and a free afternoon can turn into a family tradition of your own.
Address: 2600 Chapline Street, Wheeling, WV 26003
10. Middle Eastern Music And Dance
Good luck keeping your feet still once the drums start. Live Middle Eastern music is a big part of the Mahrajan experience at Oglebay Park.
Traditional dance performances join the music throughout the festival. Together, they turn a food event into a full cultural celebration.
Lebanese gatherings often feature the dabke, a line dance with stomping steps. Performances can vary each year, so check the lineup ahead of time.
The music gives you a reason to linger after lunch. Grab a pastry, find a seat, and let the afternoon slow down a little.
For families, this part of the day works on several levels. Adults enjoy the show, and kids get an easy introduction to a new culture.
I love that the festival keeps these traditions in public view. Recipes stay alive in kitchens, but music and dance need a stage.
It’s a fitting way to end a day in West Virginia’s Lebanese community. You leave full, a little wiser, and maybe humming a tune you can’t name.
Address: Oglebay Park, Levenson Shelter Site 1, 465 Lodge Drive, Wheeling, WV 26003
