Thank you to the many volunteers who orchestrated an amazing Greek Festival. I've been to Greek…read moreFests in AZ, HI, WA and TX, but I would have to say this one was by far the most organized. All of them have a common theme, raise money for the Greek Orthodox Church by selling Mediterranean food as well as arts, crafts, and books while educating the public about the church and the Greek culture.
This festival stood out because the volunteers focused on every last detail. Usually you have to stand in one line after another to get anything, but that wasn't the case here. There were so many options for buying tickets and so many volunteers working every station, that we easily spent more time enjoying ourselves than we did standing around in queues That wasn't the case in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Trashcans were everywhere and refuse was regularly collected. There is nothing more unappealing than an overflowing trashcan with flies and bees buzzing around the leftovers and then visiting your drink can and the bite you are about to take. Thankfully this festival had a dedicated crew regularly pulling out the trash bags, and carting them away. The place stayed meticulously clean and bug free which is more than I can say for the small one I attended in Bellingham, Washington.
Food choices were plentiful and it was served hot and fresh. The standards were on the menu such as gyros, dolomades, and baklava, but you could also get Greek lasagna, lamb chops and Greek sausage. Signs clearly indicated the ingredients of each dish and the number of coupons to purchase them. These were also listed in the lovely program guide.
The event took place regardless of rain or shine. Thankfully plentiful seating was available in the shade of a tent as well as en plein air. Entertainment could be heard throughout the venue with loudspeakers positioned everywhere. The stage was a raised platform so that you could see the dancers and musicians perform. The band on Sunday midday was quite good. The male singer had an amazing voice.
The children's area was secure and provided an array of activities for the kiddos. They could run around and play without bumping into the public. Lots of kids had face painting done.
Parking was nearby and free. I read that you could also pay for valet or take a shuttle bus. We managed to find a free place across the street.
I bought tickets online through Eventbrite. General admission was $7 and food coupons were sold in packs of 20 coupons for $20 plus tax. This made it easy to bypass the the lines at will call or the lines for those needing to purchase their tickets and coupons with cash or credit card in person.
I loved the wide variety of items in the Agora (marketplace). They sold baby olive trees! There was soap, incense, potpourri, gold and silver jewelry with gemstones, light cotton clothing, intricately carved wooden boxes, beautifully painted nesting dolls and wooden eggs, oil paintings, lamps, etc. We had fun weaving our way through the souk. The aisles were narrow and the tables were packed with unique finds.
The history room had maps, art and some explanations of Ancient Greek. There was also a tour of the church were you could learn about some of the iconography, alter setup, clergy vestments, and Greek Orthodox practice.
The attention to the details was evident by this amazing group of church volunteers. They demonstrated their passion and friendliness from the moment you walked in the door to the final exit. We were able to find someone to answer our questions every step of the way with the handy guide book, and information desks setup throughout. A woman in a wheelchair even thanked everyone for coming as they left the venue. What an absolutely pleasurable experience.
