Nonprofit organizations set up food booths for Festival of the Arts

From a pita stuffed with lamb to a double scoop of Superman ice cream escaping down the sides of a waffle cone, Festival of the Arts this weekend is the perfect scene for anyone with a growling stomach. Although music and art hold a powerful position in the make-up of the annual event, food definitely holds its own as a crowd magnet. "There are people who come to the festival just for the food," says food booth co-chair Gloria Cassleman.

The 30 food booths that line the streets of Ottawa and Monroe are run by a variety of nonprofit organizations. Eighteen percent of the sales are contributed to Festival, and the remainder helps fund the activities of local organizations.

Festival-goers have a choice of dishes from over a dozen different ethnic communities. Within the 10 block span, you can find anything from a Bosnian spinach and cheese pie at the Islamic Cultural Center Behar’s booth to a popular Greek snack called souvlaki provided by the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. "Judging by the lines, souvlaki seems to be a best seller," states Cassleman. The booth can be found among the mass of people gathered between Fountain Stage and City Stage.

For the individuals who don’t have a taste for exotic foods, there are also booths that can fill that carnival food longing, such as the corn dogs and deep fried pickles found at the Legends Performing Arts Association tent between the County Courthouse at 82 Ionia Avenue and Fifth Third Bank which sits at 111 Lyon Street.

For dessert lovers, the ever popular elephant ear dusted in a classic cinnamon and sugar or a choice of two different fruit toppings can be cooked up by Northview Athletic Boosters.