Arab World Fest: Aug. 6-8

Admission: $10 at the gate. Children under 6 are free. $5 for groups of 20 or more.

Highlights: The fare here includes some of the best hummus and shish kebabs you'll find in the city. Attend a cooking demonstration to learn to make it yourself. There's plenty of live ethnic music, including Arabic karaoke, Middle Eastern dance lessons and, of course, belly dancers.

Don't miss Syrian singer Gaida, whose live performances are often described with adjectives like "stunning" and "soulful." Her disc, "Levantine Indulgence" features her native sounds blended with bossa nova, jazz and heavy beats. She performs on Saturday and Sunday (times have not been announced).

And every year there are new and interesting Arab crafts for sale in the marketplace, or "souk." Browse through handcrafted jewelry, intricately woven rugs, ethnic clothing, traditional musical instruments and an extraordinary collection of gorgeous Arab crafts.

New this year: The film festival portion of the event highlights Arabic-themed movies on Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 7:30 p.m. Titles include "Axis of Evil Comedy Tour," "Occupation 101" and "Paradise Now."

What will the kids do? The camel rides are a blast. There's also a children's play area with arts and crafts, a stage and a moonwalk on Saturday and Sunday.

For more information: arabworldfest.com.