Fresh, healthy, Mediterranean tabouleh. Belly dancers swaying to Middle Eastern music. These tastes, sights and sounds contributed to Bristow’s 36 th Tabouleh Fest, held May 11 on a sunny, warm day.
At 8:45 a.m., 92 walkers and runners started their Wildflower one-mile fun run; then, 425 runners completed a 5K. Dr. Chip Cooper, the run’s organizer, said the $25 entry fee supports “trying to raise $25,000 with the Bristow Education Foundation Association for education scholarships.”
Five blocks of Main Street (Route 66) filled up with shoppers intent on visiting 75 vendors. Storefronts like My Okie Roots and The Old Crow opened for business.
“Business is awesome,” said Ronnie Perry, owner of Miss Kitty’s Coneys. Bristow Mayor Kris Wyatt knows the fest’s value to town income. “We see a definite bump in the sales tax receipts during the time of Tabouli Fest.”
Children had their own festival corner. They darted up and down on an inflatable slide, bounce house and Wrecking Ball and drew pictures with chalk on the road.
The festival pays homage to Lebanese who immigrated toBristow in the late 1800s. Kristin Weaver, a fourth-generation Lebanese- American, put it this way. “…Bristow has celebrated Lebanese culture as an important part of our history. Lebanese people are known for their hospitality and sharing food is a wonderful way to embrace this heritage.” John Lyons’greatgrandfather was Edward Abraham. “They [his forefathers] were all hard workers… I’m glad Bristow celebrates Lebanese culture...”
The Noon Lions Club, a 501©(3) organization, hosts the fest to benefit the community. The lead planner, Stacey Shields, explained, “This year’s festival benefits Harry’s Blessings in a Backpack, which feeds local children.” The Club raised money by selling fresh tabouleh, a Lebanese dinner and wine tasting tickets.
Melvin Taylor, a Noon Lions Club member, estimated attendance at 7,000. “Bristow’s downtown is completely filled up, so I’d say, ‘It’s a big success.”