Tulsa Greek Festival

The advent of the fall season sees an abundance of Greek cultural festivals springing up all across America; Tulsa, Oklahoma is no exception. One of the more well-known cultural festivals held in the city in Oklahoma, the annual Greek festival draws a large crowd of both Greeks and non-Greeks within the city. Supported by the local Greek Orthodox Church in Tulsa, the festival is definitely an authentic representation of much of Greek culture and is a great way to spend an afternoon on a sunny weekend in September.

For many who are visiting the Greek Festival, the main attraction is the cultural foods. With the delicious cuisine of the Greek people, this is no small wonder. For anyone who is in search of authentic Greek cuisine, the Tulsa Greek Festival is the perfect place to be. Two large separate tents within the festival are dedicated primarily to the selling of deliciously smelling food items. The larger of the tents has an eating area (tables, seats, benches, etc.) within it and sells mostly full meal items, all with savory, flavored meats. Lamb dishes are a huge hit at the festival, along with the more commonly known gyros that are now popping up in small Greek restaurants across the nation. The smaller of the two tents is just about as crowded as the larger one, even though it does not have a dining area inside of it. This tent is the bakery tent, and out of it wafts the smells of delicious Greek baked goods. The lines for the baklava are usually the longest, and with the limited quantities available per day of the festival, it is no small wonder that crowds of people gather eagerly in this line. Another popular baked good is the honey puffs-fried balls of dough soaked in honey water and sprinkled with cinnamon. The prices for these baked goods are also quite affordable; eight pieces of the honey puffs sell for only two dollars.

The attractions of the Tulsa Greek Festival are not limited to the food, however. Each day of the festival offers its unique activities, as the festival stretches out from a Thursday evening until the Sunday of that same weekend. Afternoon activities include traditional Greek dancing, performed on a small stage on the festival premises. All visitors to the festival are welcomed to join in the festive dances. Also available at the Greek Festival are a large variety of homemade beaded crafts and quality silver jewelry for the shopper with more expensive tastes.

Overall, the Tulsa Greek Festival is a wonderful experience for the whole family. The food is definitely worth showing up for alone, and the festive activities will help fill out an entire afternoon of fun. There are no admission fees before 4:00pm on the Saturday of the festival, and "free family passes" are available from the Greek Orthodox Church in town prior to the festival weekend.