NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Rainwater pooled underfoot of the crowds at Greek Fest on Saturday (May 23), as runners and walkers participating in the annual 5K race got early access to the festival grounds.
Organizers called the turnout miraculous as stormy weather loomed over each day of the weekend celebration, which benefits Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, the oldest active Greek Orthodox cathedral in the Americas.
“It kept going in my eyes, so I had to keep rubbing my eyes. But I was OK,” Lennox Sandifer said after taking second place for his age division in the race.
Others laughed off the downpour.
“I get so soaked. My hair is like sponges,” his cousin Brooklyn said.
For many, the rain wasn’t reason enough to stay home. It was just New Orleans.
“We’ve all been training, running in the park in the neighborhood. So, we thought we’d go regardless. We already signed up,” one participant said. “It’s Louisiana, it’s going to rain any time of the day.”
Festival goers said the food — from gyros to baklava — keeps them coming back.
Lucy McMillan said she was eager to sample the vendors after a trip to Greece last fall.
“The freshness of the food is just outstanding,” she told Fox 8.
Mike Rood, who pours beer at the festival each year, said the imported Hellenic lager was a clear crowd favorite.
“They used to say it tastes like Greek summer, and that makes sense,” he said.
But vendors and organizers said the weather did appear to thin the crowds at times, including after a delayed start Friday night.
“And it’s a shame in the rain, because normally you’d see people sitting out here in the grass all day in the sun,” Rood said.
Still, even drenched, the crowd stayed steady.
“That’s the thing about New Orleans, people don’t care,” Rood said. “Yeah, we got a little bit of rain. But we got to come out to the fest!”
Organizers said that spirit, equal parts resilience and tradition, has kept Greek Fest going for generations.
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