The 38th annual Tabouleh Fest transformed five blocks of Main Street (Route 66) on May 9 into a lively, free celebration of Lebanese culture – satisfying five- to six-thousand attendees.
After the Wildflower Run (separate story), visitors strolled from 4th to 9th Streets buying a wide variety of goods from 70 vendors. Michele Brown of Okmulgee, a vendor and owner of Flippin’ Succulents, praised the event, saying, “Amazing sales, traffic, weather and setup. The way the whole event was set was amazing.”
Local businesses including 66 Nutrition, Kemp Drugs and The Shoppes on Main also benefited. Amy Hale, manager of The Funky Armadillo, was pleased. “Business has been wonderful today because of all the great people coming here.”
As the smell of kettle corn, BBQ and funnel cakes wafted throughout Main Street, lines formed at their food trucks. In the afternoon, smoothies, lemonade and ice cream became favorites in the 80-degree sun.
The most popular food vendors served traditional Lebanese meals and tabouli salad. The Noon Lions Club offered Lebanese dinners featuring cabbage rolls, tabouleh, hummus and pita bread ($15), along with pints and quarts of tabouleh ($8 and $15) and bags of dry taboli mix ($5). Taboli (ta-boo-ly), also known as tabouleh, is a flavorful vegetable and bulgur wheat salad mix.
After enjoying her meal, Linda Bement of Collinsville said, “I liked all the combination of food.” Mary Dowdy of First Christian Church of Bristow added, “We feel very supported by the whole community. We pride ourselves on the authenticity of our food.” St. Joseph Alter Society and The Tater Coop also sold taboli dishes.
Rumble and tumble wrestling anyone? Lionheart Championship Wrestling entertained more than 100 spectators at two demonstrations. Wrestlers Will Chambers and Zacharia Zoom fought outside and inside the steel cage to the delight and yells of watchers. It looked like real wrestling – was it?
Music and dance performances throughout the day highlighted Middle Eastern traditions and community talent. Members of the Mirage Dance Company performed See Tabouleh,, Page Three with canes, swords and ribbons while belly dancing to Middle Eastern music. A few girls in the audience joined them.
On the main stage, a Bristolian get together band with Alan Pitts, Greg Skinner, Dr. Chip Cooper, and Chuck Sulter played and sang old time favorites. After them, Chapman Shields, Taylor Webb and others joined and played a jazz set of songs sung by Carmen Bruner, like Ray Charles’ “Hit the Road Jack.” Bristow’s Miss Tabouleh, Taylor Webb, sang, “I Will Survive.” The Tulsa Raqs Belly Dancers closed out the performances with traditional shabbi and dabka dances. On the local stage, Chris Matthews, Dylan Moss and members of Bristow’s jazz band played popular tunes.
Children had their own festival corner. They played in an inflatable castle, bounce house and Wrecking Ball. Some drew chalk pictures on the road.
Stacey Shields, one of the Noon Lions Club co-planners alongside Chapman Shields and Shayna Reed, summed up the event with, “The sponsors, vendors, volunteers and community make this an automatic success every year. This year was extra special because it’s Route 66’s 100th anniversary.” She appreciated the 50 volunteers who planned and carried out the festival.
In 2025, the Noon Lions Club donated most of the festival’s $12,000 net proceeds to Bristow Social Services, with remaining funds supporting other charities. This year, most proceeds will benefit fine arts programs in Bristow public schools.
Sponsors included Heritage Title, Bishop Taboli Products, Hilbert for the House, Saint Francis Health System Rainbow Health Care Community and Bristow Community Bank.
Mary Nesser Laeger is a 100% Lebanese daughter of Eddie and Alice Nesser, known for operating Eddie’s Coffee Shop for 35 years at 308 N. Main Street. She attended the festival and said, “I appreciate that they have continued presenting the Tabouleh Festival and are representing the Lebanese population who did so much to establish the Bristow community.” See the writer’s website https://richtravelniche. com to read more articles.