Fourth Annual Greek Festival in Springfield

Maybe it's the song, maybe it's the dance, but the smart money is on the food. Whatever the reason, St. Thomas the Apostle Orthodox Church Greek Cultural Festival always draws a crowd to its parking lot for the annual event.
The festival opens Friday, Sept 9, 2011 and will run from 5 to 10 p.m.; noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is free.
Authentic Greek cuisine pastries and drinks
Drawing for exquisite jewelry from Manoli’s Jewelers
Souvenirs from Greece
Inflatables for the kids
Kafenio featuring Greek coffee by the Coffee Ethic
Greek music and dance with dance lessons

Summertime is the most popular time for Greek festivals. But according to my good friend Manoli Savvenas, the weekend after Labor Day is usually very good weather and that’s the date they have chosen to celebrate their Greek Festival.
Manoli said that the goal of the festival is to to raise funds for the St. Thomas the Apostle Orthodox Church as well as to raise awareness of other cultures in our community.

Do I like Greek food? As my pal Manoli would say: does a one legged duck swim in a circle? The answer is a resounding Ne! (which sounds like no, but is actually yes, in Greek.)

Choose from a menu of entrees, pastries, beverages, including Greek wine and coffee, and have dinner under the tents.

HINT: Go for the Gyro, and ask a Greek how to pronounce it correctly.

Enjoy all to the mesmerizing rhythms of traditional music from the mainland and the islands provided by John Tsahiridis.

- All weekend, church members will demonstrate the native dances of Greece, including the sirto, hasapiko, kalamatiano and hasaposerviko.

Children wearing traditional Greek costumes will perform the yiatros and karagouna.

Inflatables will be available for the children and souvenirs and memorabilia from Greece will be for sale in the agora (marketplace). Items include pottery, Byzantine crosses and icons, olive oil soap and lotions, magnets, jewelry, bags, CDs and cookbooks. Original paintings and prints by Greek artist Margo Hiotis will also be on sale.

Stop by Harter House World Flavors this week and sample some traditional Greek Cuisine at our Sample Station. Thursday, Sept 8, we will be sampling "Stuffed Grape Leaves". Friday, our guest chef will be Maria Savvenas and she will be making and sampling Spanakopita, a traditional spinach pie. (recipe provided) And Friday we will sample Stuffed Peppers.