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2026-27 Capstone

Gone Greek!

Alivia Busi

— 3 min read
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Gone Greek!
Greek Festival in Downtown Columbus

This past Labor Day weekend, I had the opportunity to go to the Greek festival with my family in Columbus, Ohio. There was upbeat music, traditional dancing, shopping, and people indulging in foods all inspired by Greece. This festival brought many families together from many different cultures createing a sense of connectedness.

The Greek Festival Logo
The entrance to the Greek festival, photography by Alivia Busi

Drink and Eat

The food was amazing, from salty to sweet, they had a variety of foods to offer for everyone. From traditional gyros to pastries of many kinds full of goopy honey, it created a connection amongst one another.

My family and I's spread of delicious Greek food, photography by Alivia Busi
Maria's Pastry Shop inside the cathedral, photography by Alivia Busi
Shaving lamb meat for gyros, photography by Alivia Busi

The Experience

The #1 word I heard multiple times while at the Greek festival was "Opa!" I have only heard this word be used a few other times from my very Greek aunt when something was exciting.

"[Opa is] ...a Greek exclamation used to express joy, celebration, surprise, or enthusiasm. It is commonly heard at Greek parties, weddings, and festive gatherings, often shouted during dancing or when breaking plates," (Gosling 2026).
The inside of the Anunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, photography by Ava Busi
Families Dancing, photography by Ava Busi
The gym where my families were enjoying their Greek food within the church, photography by Ava Busi
Greek Folk Dancers
"Every architectural element of the cathedral has a special meaning and purpose. It is the embodiment of the Orthodox heritage and it serves as a constant reminder of our living Orthodox tradition. As you journey through the architecture and art of the Cathedral, the history of the orthodox faith comes alive and the relationship that exists between God and man is revealed," (Columbus Greek Fest, 2026).

Shop

There were a few shops to buy a variety of handcrafted items. There were vibrantly decorated bowls, lots of jewelry, and even traditional Greek clothing imported from Greece.

Hand carved olivewood
Greek jewelry

Reflection

I believe the Columbus Greek festival is a great opportunity to immersive oneself in the Greek culture but also connect with your family. Prior to going to the Greek fest, I was unsure of what to expect as I am not traditionally from the Greek culture (rather an outsider looking in). After going to the festival, I definitely felt very welcomed into the community of such a close-knit Greek culture in Columbus. Reflecting on this experience, I think there is an opportunity of connection through different cultures through familiarity. For example, we are all human and enjoy consuming a variety of food or shop for jewelry. Is it through these connections of familiarity and we create a sense of belonging?

References

Columbus Greek Fest. (2026). Columbus Greek Fest. https://www.columbusgreekfestival.com/

Gosling, R. (2026, January 28). What Does Opa Mean in Greek? Meaning, Origin, and Usage(2026). DefineHubs.Com. https://definehubs.com/what-does-opa-mean-in-greek/

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