ATHENS-No need to join a fraternity or sorority to be part of Greek Week in one North Alabama town where the celebration includes an attempt at throwing the world’s largest toga party.
This social event isn’t on Frat Row. It’s in downtown Athens.
The third annual Athens Grease Festival will be Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014, and Guinness Book of World Records has approved the event to attempt to hold the world’s largest toga party. The Spirit of Athens hosts the festival as a celebration of all things fried and the Greek origin of the city’s name. Hence, the Southern spin on Greece as Grease.
Mayor Ronnie Marks
In honor of the event, which has brought thousands to The Square and generated revenue for downtown projects, Mayor Ronnie Marks has
proclaimed Sept. 21-27 as Greek Week in Athens. In his proclamation, Marks said the Grease Festival is a “quirky fun family event” that benefits historic downtown Athens.
“The organizers of this event have combined great food, great atmosphere and great activities into a festival that highlights Athens and our city’s Greek name and centered it around the Greek-revival architecture of the Limestone County Courthouse,” Marks said. “This is an event that I believe will continue to grow and continue to benefit Athens and Limestone County.”
To celebrate Greek Week, Marks and festival organizers ask people to participate in activities like TogaTweets.
“Put on your toga before the festival, take a selfie, and post it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, all the social networks with the hashtag TogaTweet (#TogaTweet),” said Festival Chairwoman Betsy Hyman. “Get your co-workers, fellow students or your friends and family together and take a group shot and share it.”
Spirit of Athens Director Trisha Black said the Promotions Committee got the idea for Toga Tweets after hearing residents at a local nursing home dressed up in togas last year prior to the festival. This year, two of the festivals main sponsors, WZYP and Fox 54, will share some of the best TogaTweet photos that are emailed to organizers at the email address hhollman@athensal.us.
During Greek Week, organizers will announce who will be draped in the burlap sash as Athena – Grease Goddess. Nominations this year include a community-minded high school student as well as women who give back to their city by serving on boards, volunteering and fundraising.
Limestone County, Athens City, Athens Bible and Lindsay Lane Christian Academy schools are encouraged to get involved by choosing a school representative to wear his or her school’s Spirit Toga at the festival. Students can use their mascot, school colors, school crest or other ideas to design a School Spirit Toga that best represents their school. Each school representative will wear the toga during the festival’s evening Toga Contest to see which wins a skillet trophy.
On Sept. 25 at noon, local family and consumer sciences classes will compete in the School Fried Food Contest held at the Limestone County Career Technical Center. Judges will be Mayor Ronnie Marks, Mojo from WZYP’s morning show, Sheriff Mike Blakely and Limestone County Superintendent Tom Sisk. The judges will choose the best dish based on taste, appearance and creativity.
Greek Week wraps up like a toga on Sept. 27 on The Square with an opening ceremony at 11 a.m. to kick-off the Athens Grease Festival. Events will continue until 6:30 p.m.
“We have the favorite events returning, such as our Turkey Toss and Dub’s Burger Eating Contest, but we have some new stuff, too, like a mechanical bull,” Hyman said.
Another new event is Al.com’s “Will It Fry?” booth that will be manned by Athens Fire and Rescue. Readers are submitting unique food items, and Al.com will choose the top ones for firefighters to figure out if they can be fried.
The Mount Olympus sized moment will be at 2:30 p.m. when those present who are wearing a white toga will see if they have set a Guinness Book of World Record for largest toga party. The record is 3,700 set in Queensland, Australia. The East Limestone Marching Band will swap their uniforms for togas and provide party music for the attempt.
Throughout the day there will be entertainment from musical groups Steelism, Promised Land Sound, Kush, Microwave Dave and The Nukes and Huntsville Symphony Orchestra String Quartet.
Keep Athens-Limestone Beautiful also will be recycling the used grease by selling it to farmers who use the grease in their bio-diesel farm equipment. Local residents can visit the KALB booth to learn how to recycle their own cooking grease at home.
Of course, your taste buds will be tempted to try all the delights offered by food vendors, such as boudin fried balls, fried bow tie pasta, fried bologna sandwiches, Ukrainian kielbasa on a bun, chicken Kiev, fried pies and fried Oreos.
Not quite ready for the Greek scene to end? Get tickets for the “Out of the Frying Pan VIP Party” to be held at 7 p.m. at The Loft 1880 above Village Pizza. Tickets are $20 and there is a limited quantity. Go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/out-of-the-frying-pan-vip-party-tickets-13079046781 to order.
For more information about the Athens Grease Festival and Greek Week, go to www.athensgreasefestival.com.
Toga Tidbits
- What: Athens Grease Festival
- Where: Downtown Athens
- Time: 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Cost: $5 for adults, $3 for ages 3-12 and free for 2 and younger. $1 off for toga wearers.
- Out of the Frying Pan VIP Party: 7 p.m. at The Loft 1880. Go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/out-of-the-frying-pan-vip-party-tickets-13079046781. $20.
- Vendors: Food, beverages, crafts, etc. Vendor prices are not included in ticket purchase.
- Parking: Public lots around and near The Square and marked side street parking. Handicap parking will be designated.
- Major sponsors: Fox 54, WZYP, City of Athens, Limestone County Commission, Athens-Limestone Tourism Association and Athens State University’s Livingston Concert Series
Athens Grease Festival Schedule
- 11-11:30 a.m. – Opening ceremonies with Athena – Grease Goddess and Kelly’s School of Dance, around festival area and Main Stage
- 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Children’s art activity area operated by Athens Arts League
- 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. – Steelism performs on Main Stage
- 12-2 p.m. – Al.com’s “Will It Fry Booth?” manned by Athens Fire and Rescue
- 12:15-1 p.m. – Turkey Toss in front of Main Stage
- 1:15-2 p.m. – Microwave Dave and The Nukes on Main Stage
- 2:05 p.m. – Send crowd to World Record Attempt area at Washington Street gate
- 2:30-3 p.m. – Attempt a Guinness Book of World Record for Largest Toga Party with East Limestone Marching Band
- 3-5 p.m. – WZYP’s Mojo from the Mojo Radio Show broadcasts live
- 3:15-3:45 p.m. – Dub’s Burger Eating Contest on Dub’s Stage
- 3:45-4:30 p.m. – KUSH performs on Main Stage
- 4:30-5 p.m. – Toga Contest on Dub’s Stage
- 5-5:45 p.m. – Promised Land Sound on Main Stage
- 5:45-6 p.m. – Top 5 Toga Contest finalists and School Spirit Toga Contest on Main Stage
- 6-6:45 p.m. – Huntsville Symphony Orchestra String Quartet on Main Stage, collaboration with Athens State University’s
Livingston Concert Lecture Series
- 7 p.m. – Out of the Frying Pan VIP Party (requires separate ticket purchase), The Loft 1880 above Village Pizza
NOTE: Times are subject to change
