Reporting back, as promised. Can you picture a huge street party in a city center closed to traffic, with music and food at every turn? There you have the Lowell Folk Festival!
We hadn’t been to the festival since before COVID. I’m here to say that the food scene is still strong—if not stronger—than ever. Venues have been reconfigured, offering more space for the cultural and church group booths to spread out. I think they could do with more tables for diners in more locations though. Table seating is scarce.
Very important detail I forgot: Visiting on just one of the days is not enough to sample everything that I wanted to try. 2024 menus here. So I focused on a couple of old favorites.
First up was a greatest hit from years past, the Armenian losh kebab. It’s like a tantilizingly spiced burger, stuffed in a pita along with a generously dressed salad. Skip the fork and the napkin at your own peril.
It is possible that the losh kebabs were more generous than we remembered. Full bellies afterward.
Yet when we saw that the long line for the nearby Puerto Rican booth had gotten shorter, we jumped in for our chance at tostones (fried plantains). Crispy on the outside, light on the inside, and sprinkled with hot sauce by me.
Here is where I let you down, HO friends. Our stomachs were now too well-fed to eat one more bite. However, I did check to see whether some of my other faves were still on offer. Spoiler alert: Yes.
Happy to see that the cachorro quente (Brazilian- style hot dog) at the Brazilian booth remains popular. Here’s a pic/description of one I enjoyed at a past festival.
Another fave of mine, St. George Antiochian Church, looked to be in fine form with all of their greatest hits including my beloved beef schwarma.
Also the baklava sundae that I wanted—but was too full to eat—was on offer at the Hellenic American Academy PTA booth.
Admission to the festival itself is free, though please consider a donation if you go next year. You’ll eat well for not a lot: Most of the more substantial food items were around $10 and plates seemed to top out at $15. Slather on the sunscreen, wear comfortable sneakers, and consult the map to find a parking garage on the periphery that offers $20 all-day parking.
