Fireworks at Greek Fest

Original Greek Festival celebrates 50th anniversary with fireworks, dancing, 21,000 souvlaki and more

The Original Greek Festival returns this weekend.

Courtesy photo

Fall in Houston means that a different festival happens every weekend, and none are more beloved than the Original Greek Festival. Set to take place now through Sunday (October 9), the festival will celebrate its 50th anniversary this year with a special fireworks display on Saturday night (October 8).

By this point, many Houstonians already know what to expect when they attend: Handmade Greek delights of the sweet and savory variety (all of which taste better with a little wine), enthusiastic Greek dancing, and fun shopping. To make CultureMap readers sound a little more knowledgeable in gyro line, here's a few facts you might not know.

Volunteers: Preparations for the the Original Greek Festival begin months in advance when volunteers start preparing food items. During the weekend, over 550 people will work during the festival's 31 hours.

Food: The 40,000 festival attendees consume a lot of food during the four days. Consider the following numbers from last year:
25,600 Greek meatballs (keftedes)
21,000 Souvlaki (which means over 6,500 pounds of beef tenderloin)
19,374 pieces of baklava
14,500 gyros
8,400 stuffed grape leaves (dolmades)
490 pans of Greek lasagna (pastichio)

Wine: Thanks in part to the popularity of Helen Greek Food & Wine, Houstonians are more interest in Greek vintages than ever before. Last year, the festival introduced attendees to the Holy Archangels Monastery and Winery. Based in Kendalia, Texas, the monastery is home to Greek Orthodox monks who make wine. For those looking for wine made in Greece, Christina Boutari, export director for the celebrated Greek winery Boutari, helped choose the festvial's affordably-priced selections.

Trash: Yes, the festival generates its fair share of garbage, but organizers are committed to being as green as possible. Since 2012, it has recycled 30 tons of cardboard, glass, aluminum, and plastic.

Parking: Don't risk getting towed by parking in the neighborhood, where one side on a number of streets have temporary No Parking signs installed by the city that some revelers don't seem to notice. Instead, take the shuttles from Lamar High School or City of Houston Lot H on Memorial Drive.

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rodeo year-round

RodeoHouston expands with massive $300M livestock complex off Hwy 288

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo livestock complex rendering

Courtesy of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

The facility's central building will include a 5,000-seat arena.

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has unveiled an ambitious plan to build a massive new livestock and agricultural complex. Scheduled to debut in 2029, the dedicated facility will allow HLSR to hold events year-round, among other benefits.

Located on land the rodeo owns that’s about five miles from Reliant Park at the northwest corner of Airport Blvd and Highway 288, the new facility will consist of three, air-conditioned buildings with more than 1 million square feet of space. They’re divided into two large barns (approximately 430,000 square feet each) and a 140,000-square-foot central building. The facility will also include a covered, outdoor cattle yard that will be 105,000 square feet.

Courtesy of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

The facility's central building will include a 5,000-seat arena.

Notably, the central building will include a 5,000-seat arena that will host exhibitions, concerts, and other events. The total project is expected to cost approximately $300 million, according to a representative.

Chris Boleman, president and CEO of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, tells CultureMap that Reliant Arena, the building where these events are currently held, has reached the end of its useful life. Rather than pay to renovate or replace that building, the rodeo chose to build this new facility for the flexibility it will provide.

“If we built it at Reliant Park, then based on our lease, we really only have it in March,” Boleman says. “This allows us a second campus to activate year-round.”

The new facility will offer a number of other benefits over Reliant Arena, including shorter wait times during move-in and move-out, more room for the exhibitors’ friends and families, and the ability to host events year-round in a climate-controlled space, according to press materials.

During the run of the rodeo, the facility will host events such as the horse show, livestock show, junior and open breeding shows, archery competitions, educational contests, and more. During the rest of the year, the rodeo plans to use the facility for other educational events, fundraisers, and even the occasional concert.

All other rodeo events — including the carnival, cowboy competitions, nightly concert, etc. — will remain at Reliant Park. The rodeo’s transportation committee will operate shuttles for people who are participating in events at both the new facility and Reliant Park.

From Boleman’s perspective, the new facility enhances the overall rodeo experience. He compares it to the Houston Texans’ decision to build a new headquarters and practice facility in Cypress while still playing games at Reliant Stadium.

“This is not a relocation,” Boleman says. “Reliant Park is still our home. We’ll still activate it during showtime. It’s taking us to another level. It’s part of our long term vision of expansion.”

“This investment is another strong example of Houston standing as a premier destination for agriculture, education and world-class events,” Houston Mayor John Whitmire said in a statement. “It expands educational opportunities for young people, strengthens our city’s reputation, and does so without placing any burden on taxpayers. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo continues to be a great partner to the Houston community.”

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