Anaheim’s Little Arabia district will be celebrating its third official anniversary this weekend with a bazaar packed with shawarma, knafeh, coffee as well as a DJ, live music and stand-up comedy at Modjeska Park on Saturday from 2-8 p.m.
While the ethnic enclave has been around for decades, Anaheim city officials didn’t officially recognize the Little Arabia district until 2022.
Rashad Al-Dabbagh, founder and executive director of the Arab American Civic Council, said the designation is a big deal and worth celebrating.
“This happened because of hard work, of civic engagement, of working together in unity towards a certain goal and the idea here was to have a more inclusive Orange County, a more inclusive Anaheim, and support our local businesses,” he said in a Tuesday phone interview.
“Bringing all these small businesses together at a cultural celebration helps towards that goal.”
Saturday’s Layali Little Arabia event, organized by the Arab American Civic Council, is intended to commemorate the third anniversary of city leaders officially recognizing a stretch of Brookhurst Street as a cultural business enclave after decades of community advocacy.
[Read: “Little Arabia Exists”: Anaheim Officially Recognizes America’s First Arab American District]
It comes on the heels of widespread deportation sweeps that have rocked Anaheim and Orange County this summer – upending the lives of many working class immigrant families.
Amin Nash, policy and advocacy coordinator for the Arab American Civic Council, said the raids are concerning for many in Little Arabia and the greater community, but that is why it is important to come together.
“We’re a community of immigrants, it is scary for us,” Nash said in a Wednesday phone interview.
“It’s important for us to gather to show that we’re not afraid, to push back against these narratives and these forces. Coming together is a form of resistance in itself.”
Mirvette Judeh, a community leader that helped advocate for Little Arabia, said the designation should be celebrated every year.
“It shows the power of the people,” she said in a Wednesday phone interview.
“It took 20 years to make this happen – so many different nonprofits, so many individuals put their heart and soul into this and then it happened. We have to celebrate that every day to remind us that, although we don’t win all the time, although there are sad things happening around the world, we can win.”
The market style celebration will feature food and vendors from Little Arabia and beyond including Knafeh Cafe, Little Arabia Restaurant, House of Mandi, La Zwina Boutique, Snap That Photobooth, Palestinian Tatreez, Ebla Olive Oil and more.
It will also showcase a 3 p.m. panel on the history of Little Arabia, performances by the Mawtini Choir, a children’s choir performing traditional Arab music, and Al-Akhbar, a band that infuses Arabic music with jazz, DJ Thanks Joey and will be hosted by Comedian Mikel Albaghdadi.
Nash said people can also sign up and pay to be a Basha or a VIP at the free event and get discounts at Little Arabia shops as well as merchandise later that night.
He said the revenue collected from the program will be used to fund future programming and events in Little Arabia.
The event is sponsored by Ibrahim Law Firm, FamVans, Al Karmel Market, CalOptima and other groups with contributions from Anaheim City Councilmembers Carlos Leon and Norma Campos Kurtz, as well as Santa Ana City Councilwoman Jessie Lopez.
Leon, whose district encompasses Little Arabia, said in a Wednesday text message his office is contributing $2,500 to support the event and the city is waiving $1,000 in fees and permits for the event.
He also said the celebration of Little Arabia is a celebration of the immigrant story.
“It is part of what makes us Anaheim: our diversity and the invaluable contributions of immigrants from across the world, including the middle eastern businesses that make up the majority of economic activity in the Brookhurst corridor,” Leon wrote.
“It’s also a celebration of the decades-long advocacy of so many to bring attention and recognition to the vibrant cultural community that is Little Arabia.”
Lopez said she is also using $2,500 from her city discretionary funds to support the celebration.
“Celebrating the three year formal recognition of Little Arabia uplifts not just Anaheim, but all of Orange County, including my own constituents, who are a part of the Arab American community,” she said in a Tuesday phone interview.
“Little Arabia is an example of what happens when communities fight for visibility and win.”
The Importance of Community Amid Troubling Times
The celebration comes as world food crisis experts warn of famine and starvation playing out in Gaza.
The humanitarian crisis is unfolding almost two years since a surprise Hamas attack on Israel in 2023 triggered Israeli Defense Forces to launch retaliatory attacks in Gaza and beyond.
Little Arabia’s birthday also comes as Southern California feels the impacts of widespread deportation sweeps at Home Depots, car washes, immigration courthouses and local neighborhoods.
Last weekend, Anaheim officials announced that border patrol agents detained three laborers at the Home Depot on Brookhurst Street – a little more than a mile outside the heart of Little Arabia – despite a court-ordered temporary halt on such raids.
“Home Depot at 800 N. Brookhurst St. has been a regular target of enforcement, with about a half dozen incidents since June. For those concerned about immigration enforcement, this should be considered a very high-risk site,” reads a Tuesday update on Anaheim Contigo, the city’s website documenting immigration enforcement action.
[Read: Deportation Sweeps Pick Up Steam Again in Orange County]
The deportation sweeps and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza resonate deeply for many in Little Arabia – an area once colloquially known as the Little Gaza Strip and home to a lot of immigrant business owners.
Al-Dabbagh said it’s important for the community to get together during troubling times while still being sensitive to the suffering of people in Gaza and the safety of community members here.
“It’s important to create a space where people can unite. People can honor their achievements locally and it’s an opportunity to show strength, show unity, and show our pride in our people, in our culture, in our small businesses, despite the attacks that are coming from different forces, including our own federal government,” he said.
“We cannot just stay in despair. We have to find ways to come together and show unity, show pride and show solidarity.”
Judeh said times like these are when immigrant communities have to stick together.
“We’re not going to let this administration, or any administration, to dehumanize any of us because we are all part of the American thread that makes America great,” she said.
“Our unity will make us push through this horrible immigration situation where people are being terrorized at all levels.”
Little Arabia of the Future
Nash said he hopes that when Little Arabia turns 10, it will continue to be a safe haven for Arab Americans to practice their culture and be more embraced by people outside of that culture too.
Leon said he hopes by then Little Arabia becomes a walkable destination that brings people to the west side of Anaheim and one that reflects Arab culture and welcomes everyone.
“So visitors from around the world can come to learn about, celebrate, and support the small businesses and restaurants that have played an important role in shaping Little Arabia, Brookhurst, and Anaheim,” Leon wrote.
Judeh said in 10 years, she wants the district to have a Little Arabia museum, a museum dedicated to Palestine, a language center, a center for dabke – a levantine folk dance, and she wants to see an Arab American on the Anaheim City Council.
“Imagine an Arab American being the mayor of Anaheim,” she said.
“We’re part of the thread. It shouldn’t have taken 20 years to get the designation but it did and I hope in 10 years we’re able to accomplish tenfold what we did in 20 years and that’s what I want to see.”
Al-Dabbagh said even with the designation and the freeways signs the work in Little Arabia is not over.
He said by the 10th anniversary he hopes to see Little Arabia more prosperous with Arab architecture styles along the strip and a cultural community center.
“There’s a lot to hope for, but a lot of work to be done.”
Hosam Elattar is a Voice of OC reporter. Contact him at helattar@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @ElattarHosam.