Preparations underway for one of Fresno’s biggest Armenian festivals

Your Central Valley, Fresno, CA
May 9 2026

Preparations underway for one of Fresno’s biggest Armenian festivals

by: Jason Takhtadjian

The 14th annual Armenian Festival returns Saturday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. with food, live music, and activities planned for the community. The day prior, tables were going up, chairs were being set up, and final preparations were underway for the Armenian Festival at St. Paul Armenian Church on May 9.

“This is the fourteenth annual Armenia Festival of Saint Paul Armenia Church. The preparations take many weeks,” Organizer Vartush Mesropyan said. 

Organizer Vartush Mesropyan said there’s a lot that goes into getting ready for an event that regularly attracts more than a thousand people

“Make sure we have the proper music. We have the linens, we have the tablecloths, we have the napkins, we have all the inventory,” Mesropyan said. 

The festival will feature live music, dancing, a kids zone, vendors, and plenty of traditional Armenian food.

“We have a combo plate that’s going to be the chicken and the beef kebabs with the pilaf, salad, bread, and cheese boureg, of course,” Mesropyan said. 

Organizers are asking people to plan ahead for parking.

“The parking will take place at our large parking lot…people will be able to park next door at the Pilgrim Armenian Congregational Church for additional parking,” Mesropyan said. 

And if you can’t stay, organizers said there will also be a drive-thru takeout option available.

“Whoever doesn’t want to dine in, take out, they can just drive through like the drive-thru at Starbucks, pick up their food and go home,” Mesropyan said.

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