REST OF THE WEEKEND. ALL RIGHT. RAVEN TODAY KICKED OFF THE FIRST DAY OF THE ANNUAL GREEK FEST. AND AFTER A 90 MINUTE RAIN DELAY, THE FESTIVAL IS EXTENDED TO MIDNIGHT. WDSU REPORTER LENA FOLK LIVE ON THE LAKEFRONT RIGHT ON BAYOU SAINT JOHN, WITH HOW PEOPLE ARE CELEBRATING THE FIRST DAY. DESPITE THE GLOOMY WEATHER, LENA. YEAH. TREVOR. THANKFULLY, YOU CAN SEE THERE IS NO RAIN HAPPENING AT THE MOMENT. AN ORGANIZER I SPOKE TO SAID SHE’S ONLY SEEN THIS FESTIVAL TO BE RAINED OUT TWICE IN THE YEARS THAT SHE’S WORKED, AND THEY DON’T ANTICIPATING THAT HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND. THE OPENING DAY OF GREEK FESTIVAL, SLIGHTLY DELAYED BECAUSE OF RAIN, BUT FOLKS CAME PLENTY PREPARED WITH UMBRELLAS AND RAIN BOOTS. WE WERE LIKE, WE’RE GOING TO COME RAIN OR SHINE. IT’S GOING TO BE A GREAT TIME. THE 51ST YEAR THEMED YOUR ODYSSEY BEGINS HERE, BRINGING TOGETHER A MULTIGENERATIONAL CROWD TO ENJOY THE MUSIC, DANCE AND, OF COURSE, PLENTY OF FOOD. WHILE THE RAIN POURED, THE INDOOR GREEK MARKET WAS BUZZING WITH THE HELLENIC DANCERS, ACCOMPANIED BY VENDORS SELLING SWEET AND SAVORY TREATS. I WAS BORN IN GREECE, CAME IN 1961 FROM ARGOS, GREECE. THIS IS A NICE OPPORTUNITY TO FIND OUT WHAT IT IS TO BE A GREEK AND CARRY ON OUR TRADITIONS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. ORGANIZERS SAY THIS YEAR MARKS THE FIRST CASHLESS FESTIVAL, MAKING VENDOR LINES MORE EFFICIENT FOR THE NEW BOOTH. PAPPAS CORNER. ALL DISHES ARE VEGETARIAN, INCLUDING THE DESSERTS. THIS IS OUR KATAIFI EKMEK, OUR LEMON EDITION, AND IT’S A LEMON CUSTARD ON TOP OF A SHREDDED PHYLLO DOUGH. SO WE DECIDED TO TO TAKE WHAT OUR PARENTS TAUGHT US, OUR GRANDFATHERS AND OUR FATHERS, AND KIND OF PUT A LITTLE SPIN ON IT. AFTER THE INDOOR PERFORMANCES, THE RAIN CLEARED UP JUST IN TIME FOR OUTDOOR VENDORS TO CHEF UP POUNDS OF LAMB. IT’S VERY FLATTERING THAT PEOPLE WANT TO SEE WHAT GREEK MUSIC IS LIKE. WHAT IS GREEK WINE LIKE? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GREEK LIQUEURS LIKE? WHAT DOES A GOAT BURGER TASTE LIKE? YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET TO DO THAT, ALL FOR THE BARGAIN PRICE OF $10. AND TOMORROW, THE FESTIVITIES HAVE ALSO BEEN SLIGHTLY DELAYED. THEY WIL
Rain delays opening day of Greek Festival
The 51st annual New Orleans Greek Festival overcame a rain delay to celebrate Greek culture with music, dancing, food and a multi-generational crowd.
Updated: 10:46 PM CDT May 22, 2026
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The 51st annual New Orleans Greek Festival, themed “Your Odyssey Begins Here,” kicked off after a 90-minute delay, with attendees prepared to celebrate Greek culture despite the gloomy weather. “We were like, we are going to come rain or shine,” said Isabella Bezou, an attendee who comes every year. “New Orleans is really hot, so the rain cools it down. It’s nice to get a break.” While the rain poured, the indoor Greek Market was lively, featuring Hellenic dancers and vendors selling sweet and savory treats. “I was born in Greece, came in 1941 from Argos,” said Nicki Poulos, an attendee who traveled to New Orleans from California for the weekend. “This is a nice opportunity to find out what it is to be a Greek and carry on our traditions across the United States from the East Coast to the West Coast.” Organizers said this year marks the festival’s first cashless event, which has made vendor lines more efficient.”It’s very flattering that people want to see what Greek music is like, what Greek wine is like,” said Laura Toras, executive committee for the Greek Festival. “When you get to do that all for the bargain price of $10?” Toras said Saturday’s festivities will be delayed until noon due to another rainy forecast, but they don’t anticipate the weekend will be completely rained out.
NEW ORLEANS —
The 51st annual New Orleans Greek Festival, themed “Your Odyssey Begins Here,” kicked off after a 90-minute delay, with attendees prepared to celebrate Greek culture despite the gloomy weather.
“We were like, we are going to come rain or shine,” said Isabella Bezou, an attendee who comes every year. “New Orleans is really hot, so the rain cools it down. It’s nice to get a break.”
While the rain poured, the indoor Greek Market was lively, featuring Hellenic dancers and vendors selling sweet and savory treats.
“I was born in Greece, came in 1941 from Argos,” said Nicki Poulos, an attendee who traveled to New Orleans from California for the weekend. “This is a nice opportunity to find out what it is to be a Greek and carry on our traditions across the United States from the East Coast to the West Coast.”
Organizers said this year marks the festival’s first cashless event, which has made vendor lines more efficient.
“It’s very flattering that people want to see what Greek music is like, what Greek wine is like,” said Laura Toras, executive committee for the Greek Festival. “When you get to do that all for the bargain price of $10?”
Toras said Saturday’s festivities will be delayed until noon due to another rainy forecast, but they don’t anticipate the weekend will be completely rained out.
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