Due to the strong Armenian presence in Fresno, it is no surprise that one of Fresno’s annual festivities is the Grand Armenian Festival: Prpoor, an 800-year-old tradition carried out in the Central Valley for over 50 years now to celebrate the fall harvest.

The festival, which included traditional food, music, cultural exhibits and dancing, was held at the Armenian Community Center, Sept. 25.

While the Armenian Festival has been a smaller event in past years, attendee Soceek Tchouboukjian recognizes the expansion and growth of this traditional event.

“I love coming to the festival every year,” Tchouboukjian said. “Usually the festival is held at an Armenian family’s home in Fresno. This is the first year it was held at the Community Center.”

Tchouboukjian says that the festival can be a way for others to submerge themselves in the Armenian culture.

“I love that Fresno is so well-known for the Armenian culture, and I am glad it is welcome here,” Tchouboukjian said. “I want to give others a chance to learn and enjoy a culture that they may not know about.”

Sophomore Ashlyn Key also recognizes the cultural awareness that the festival offers the Central Valley.

“I think it is great to see the different parts of the culture,” Key said. “It was so cool to listen to people speaking Armenian.”

Key claims that living in America offers the chance to experience other cultures and helps her appreciate the diversity in Fresno.

“It is so great to live in a place like America and be able to experience the difference in other peoples’ cultures,” Key said. “When people bring culture to Fresno, we can see the way other people live.”

In addition to being a cultural experience, attendee Lisa Bardizbanian says that it can also be used to further businesses.

“My favorite part about coming to the festival is to educate people about our fruit company called CMC Farms,” Bardizbanian said. “I also love the examples of culture that are shown here, and the food is so good.”

At the festival, traditional Armenian food was sold, ranging from stuffed meatballs and lamb kabobs to sweet pastries such as baklava.

“The food at the festival was incredible,” Key said. “There are so many different things to try and so many different tastes.”

For more information on the Grand Armenian Festival: Prpoor, check out the festival’s website. For more information on community events, read the Sept. 22 article, ClovisFest supports community businesses.

For those who want to plan ahead for the holidays, plan to purchase Armenian food at the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church’s annual food bazaar, Oct. 22. The event will be open from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. The church is located on Ventura St. at M Street. For more details, call (559) 486-1141 or visit them online at www.holytrinityfresno.orgg.

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