Spinach Celebration: A review of Lenexa’s annual Spinach Festival

I wouldn’t call myself a spinach fanatic by any means. Sure, I enjoy a hearty green-filled salad and experiment with a handful of spinach into my smoothies every now and then. But when I heard about Lenexa’s 39th Annual Spinach Festival, I had to see for myself what could possibly warrant a festival entirely dedicated to the leafy vegetable.

In the 1930s, Lenexa was hailed “The Spinach Capital of the World,”  — a title they’ve proudly celebrated for the last several decades with their Spinach Festival every September.

I was through the gates of Sar-Ko-Trails park at 11 a.m. — just in time for the serving of The World’s Largest Spinach Salad. While it certainly was the largest spinach salad I’ve ever seen, I can’t imagine how a plastic baby pool filled with plain spinach leaves can really qualify as a “salad” — let alone the biggest in the world. 

The festival itself wasn’t nearly as big as I expected — a handful of food trucks and tents crowded towards the front of the entrance and a section of art vendors as you walked further in. Kids events like rock skipping and music were scattered throughout the day, though the main attraction for them remained the park’s playground.

Next on my agenda was to scout out the best spinach dish from the “Spinach Café.” I expected an abundance of vendors offering all types of spinach variations, so I was disappointed to find a singular tent offering only six options. Surrounding the tent were several other vendors selling generic fair food — funnel cakes, cotton candy, candied nuts, etc. How could the Spinach Festival only have one actual Spinach-specific vendor?

In the terms of pricing, everything was surprisingly cheap compared to the usual jacked-up prices I find at festivals. I got espinaca dip and chips, two spinach balls, two spinach apple mini cakes, a serving of The World’s Largest Spinach Salad and a bottle of water all for only $11.

Espinaca Dip & Tortilla Chips

Having tried espinaca at Mexican restaurants many times before, I was interested to see if the Spinach Festival would put a unique twist on the usual recipe of white queso and spinach shreds. However, after one bite in, it fell flat. It wasn’t at all flavorful and was something I could easily pick up at Salty Iguana any time. And somehow, in the two-minute walk from the vendor to the picnic table, the warm temperature that usually makes espinaca dip so delicious had already cooled, leaving the entire experience feeling lukewarm and lackluster.

These cheesy spinach clumps were not appetizing to look at by any means, but I didn’t shy away. The menu claimed it was featured in their “Spinach Thyme Cookbook,” made with stuffing, spinach, parmesan cheese, garlic, thyme and onions — coming across as the most flavorful item on the menu, which it was. It very much reminded me of a breakfast quiche — rich with a sharp, cheesy tang. Although the mushy and clumpy texture kept me from going back for seconds, I enjoyed the pockets of strong flavor.

Although the presentation of the spinach salad itself already lost my interest, I knew I couldn’t pass up the classic dish. Tossed in homemade vinaigrette and topped with cranberries and bacon, it sounded promising. After the first forkful, I was taken back to the espinaca dip — this salad is exactly like something I’d toss together in five minutes for school lunch. It’s not that I didn’t like it — the spinach was fresh, vinaigrette had a nice bitter balance and the bacon and cranberries added pleasant bursts of flavor, but there was nothing special about it. I was expecting more from a spinach salad at a spinach festival.

The menu’s description of “a sweet frosted spinach dessert” was vague, and I didn’t see how “spinach” and “sweet” could possibly fit in the same sentence. As it turns out, these mini cakes were exactly what I needed to satisfy my confused palette. This may be because I couldn’t even detect the spinach flavor or texture, but the apple and cinnamon combined with the smooth cream cheese frosting was simply delicious, so I’ll take it!

With a stomach and teeth full of spinach and an “I LIKE SPINACH” t-shirt in hand, I wouldn’t go as far to call the day a success, but definitely an experience. For being the Spinach Capital of the World, I can’t say my expectations were exceeded.