There are a couple of special events going on this weekend that involve food:

The Middle Eastern Food Festival runs today through Saturday at the Saint George Melkite Catholic Church. Enjoy dishes such as kibbee, stuffed grape leaves, baked chicken, spinach pie, falafel, Arabic salad, homos, and an array of Middle Eastern pastries. Admission is free, and you can also enjoy cultural booths, live Arabic music, Arabic dancing performed nightly, and church tours. There's even a drive-through service if you want to get some food to go. More info: http://www.saintgeorgeonline.org/indexff.htm

Birmingham Oktoberfest is Friday and Saturday evenings, 5 p.m.-midnight, in the downtown loft district. The Freunde Deutscher Sprache und Kultur German Culture Club has hosted a traditional Oktoberfest in downtown Birmingham annually since 1969. Enjoy traditional and contemporary music by Lorelei und Schatzi as well as Wolfgang Moritz. Bavarian and German collectibles will be for sale. Taste traditional Bavarian food, including Schnitzel, Bratwurst, Knackwurst, Kartoffelsalat, Kraut and Semmel, and a wide assortment of German and domestic beers. (Because, contrary to what the folks in dry Cullman may think, beer is an important part of Oktoberfest, as any German will tell you) More info: www.fdskgermanclub.com