Greek-American Festival growing
Written by Alissa Romstadt | | news@toledofreepress.comGood news for lovers of Greek food, music and dance: The wait for the 39th Annual Greek-American Festival is almost over.
The festival, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 740 Superior St., begins at noon Sept. 11 and the celebration of Greek heritage will continue through 8 p.m. Sept. 13, said publicity chairman George Sarantou.
We have “absolutely grown by leaps and bounds and we’re expecting another great year, serving a lot of food and pastries, Greek dancing, as well as just a real sharing of the culture of Greece,” Sarantou said.
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church’s Famous Hellenic Dance Company will perform throughout the weekend, featuring an “outstanding program of various ethnic dances symbolizing Greece,” he said. The dancers, age 3 though adult, dance in authentic imported Greek costumes. In addition to performances all over Toledo, the dance company has traveled as far as Indiana and Michigan.
Levendes, a band from Detroit, is going to perform Saturday and Sunday. “They’ve been playing at the festival least 20 years and do a great job,” Sarantou said.
“In surveys we’ve done in the past, we find people come to the Greek Fest for the food and the pastries,” Sarantou said. And this year won’t disappoint. “We will have thousands of pieces of Greek pastries available at the festival,” he said.
As far as food, visitors to the festival will have access to their fill of Greek cuisine, including chicken oregano and pork souvlaki platters, gyros and — this year’s new addition — the lamb shank platter.
“We’ve really never featured lamb in all the years, but that really is a Greek delicacy, and we thought we’d try it this year,” Sarantou said.
On Saturday night, the OSU versus USC game will be broadcast at the festival on two large screen TVs in the Taverna , the bar area, so people will be able to watch the game Saturday night, Sarantou said.
Admission will be free until 3 p.m. Sept. 11. Admission Sept. 12 and 13 is $3 per person and free for children under 12. Sunday is family day; adult admission is $1.
Church to sponsor family festival
Resurrection Lutheran Church, 2250 S. Holland-Sylvania Road, will sponsor a Family Fun Fest from noon to 3 p.m. Sept. 13.
The afternoon’s festivities will include a pig roast, inflatables, crafts and sports.
The event is free and open to the public. Donations of a nonperishable food are being accepted for the church’s food pantry.
Tags: Greek American Festival
