For anyone living in and around the Knoxville area, you know there are plenty of entertainment options from which to choose.
For college students like me, however, who are relatively new to the area, it's a little tougher to know the good spots to go for food, music or even just places to sit and relax.
Going to the University of Tennessee might mean you love football, but not everyone is as indoctrinated in this sport as I happen to be. Thus, if you need some other form of entertainment during the fall, here's a weekend-long answer!
Greek Fest is an option for everyone in the area, and it's certainly one you don't want to miss if you're new to campus or to the Knoxville area in general!
Over the course of my life (and prior to my move to Knoxville to attend UT), I have had the good fortune of being able to travel to several different places around the world, therefore meeting many different people and experiencing several different cultures.
I’ve been able to travel to Austria, Germany, Italy, and other places as well, but one place that I have not been able to visit is Greece, at least not in person.
For the entire week leading up to the Tennessee-Florida game in the fall of 2015 , signs were posted near campus advertising something called Greek Fest.
Not knowing what to expect, I decided to go with some friends to try it for myself.
After parking near Kingston Pike, we walked along the side of the road until we arrived at Saint George Greek Orthodox Church, which is situated between UT’s campus and the larger shopping areas of west Knoxville.
Behind the domed church, there sat dozens of tents with people serving authentic Greek foods, pastries, and other assorted items, and in the middle of it all, a live band played on a makeshift stage as people participated in Greek folk dancing that, at first glance, could easily evoke thoughts of the volunteer football team’s pre-game “Circle Drill.”
Although I never danced, the simple observation of people was pretty fantastic.
The food, most of which would be rather new to any Southern palette, was even better. Greek pizza, gyros, and chicken filled everyone up quickly, as did a Grecian take on America’s own french fries. The baklava sundae is definitely something to try again next year, and the experience as a whole made for a great time and something to look forward to again in September of 2016.
Through this experience, one can learn that you don’t have to go too far from home to experience a new culture.
It helped me to further appreciate the diversity of people (and foods), and I would highly recommend Greek Fest to anyone looking for a good time, a great culinary experience, or a lesson in the art of Greek folk dancing.
Knoxville's Greek Fest is held every year in late September, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays. Rest assured, you’ll leave happier than you came.
