Hey, let’s celebrate okra! It’s easy to do since Promise of Peace is hosting Okra Fest from noon-4 p.m. Saturday at the nonprofit’s garden on East Grand.
Performers include Kelly Brown and Local Honey, Russ Hewitt, Black Land River Devil Band and Darryl Lee Rush.
Tickets are $10 or $20 for “open beer bar”, and you can buy them at highlandparkcafeteria.com. Pay a $30 entry fee and compete in the okra cooking contest, which has cash prizes.
In case you want to be smart at the okra party, here are some fun facts about our veggie pod friends:
Okra is vitamin rich. It contains 66 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin K, plus it’s high in calcium, fiber, vitamin C, folic acid and magnesium.
Okra originated in Africa. Ancient Egyptians cultivated it. And it came to the new world via the Caribbean.
Okra is also known as Lady’s Finger.
Okra crops must be rotated frequently because the plants are susceptible to diseases.
