Immerse yourself in the culture that started it all at the Second Annual Assyrian Festival with authentic foods, historical exhibits, live entertainment and a kids zone on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 27 and 28, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day.

The Assyrian Festival is free to the public with free parking and will start the festival with a parade on Saturday, Aug. 27 with Congressman Jeff Denham, Turlock Mayor Gary Soiseth, as well as City of Modesto and Turlock Council Members in attendance. The festival is hosted by the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East, Diocese of California.

“We wanted to open this festival to the community so that all of our neighbors, irrespective of ethnicity, can experience our culture, our foods, and our history,” said Mar Awa Royel, Bishop of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East Diocese of California.

Last year, the Assyrian Festival featured an exhibit that commemorated the 100th Anniversary of the Assyrian Genocide along with the timeline of the history of the Assyrian Church of the East, and other cultural artifacts that educated the community about the Assyrian people.

“This year our exhibit will feature a history of the Assyrian people in the Turlock and its surrounding areas,” said Father Genard Lazar.

A 5K run is also being held at the Fairgrounds on Aug. 27 at 9 a.m. before the festival opens.

The Assyrian Festival is a cultural educational festival that features authentic foods from the Assyrian community. All the food at the Assyrian Festival will be homemade by local Assyrians, using family recipes that have been used for generations, meaning guests will have an authentic experience.

“Live music and Assyrian dance groups will be onsite all weekend for your entertainment as well as a Kids zone with carnival rides,” Father Lazar said.