From San Francisco’s 75th and Houston’s 60th to parish traditions across New England, New Jersey, Texas and Florida, HNA’s guide to Greek food, faith and community from September 17 through November 8.
By HNA Newsroom
For generations of Greek Americans, festival season has been about far more than food.
It is the weekend when a parish opens its doors to the wider community and introduces visitors to Greek Orthodox faith, traditional music and dance, family recipes and the meaning of philoxenia—the Greek tradition of welcoming the stranger.
This fall, landmark festivals in San Francisco, Houston, Savannah and Phoenix are marking major anniversaries. From September through early November, parish communities across the country will serve everything from souvlaki and pastitsio to baklava, bougatsa and loukoumades.
Here is Hellenic News of America’s guide to 25 upcoming festivals. Dates and details were current as of September 15; readers should confirm hours, admission and parking arrangements with organizers before traveling.
West Coast
The San Francisco Greek Food Festival marks its 75th anniversary September 18–20 at Annunciation Cathedral, 245 Valencia Street. Presented under the theme “A Journey of Greek Culture,” the festival offers free admission, homemade specialties, music, dancing and opportunities to explore the cathedral.
Southern California’s largest entry arrives October 2–4, when LA Greek Fest returns to Saint Sophia Cathedral at Pico and Normandie in Los Angeles’ Byzantine-Latino Quarter. The weekend combines Greek food and wine with live entertainment, folk dancing and cathedral tours.
That same weekend, the Sacramento Greek Festival runs October 2–4 at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, while Resurrection Greek Orthodox Church in Castro Valley hosts its festival October 3–4.
The western calendar continues October 16–18 with the 65th Phoenix Greek Festival at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Food, music, dancing, church tours, children’s activities and an agora are planned throughout the weekend.
Pacific Northwest
Two of the Pacific Northwest’s signature Greek events take place October 2–4.
The Seattle Greek Festival, a St. Demetrios tradition since 1960, returns to 2100 Boyer Avenue East in the Montlake neighborhood. Youth dance groups, Greek music, sanctuary tours and an open-air taverna are among the highlights.
Across the Columbia River, the 73rd Portland Greek Festival fills the grounds of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral at Northeast 32nd Avenue and Glisan Street.
The Portland festival began in 1952, when parish women organized a bazaar to help pay the mortgage on the community’s newly constructed church. Today, it welcomes approximately 15,000 visitors annually and has been designated an Oregon Heritage Tradition. Admission is $5 for adults, with children under 12 admitted free.
Texas and the central United States
Houston’s Original Greek Festival celebrates its 60th anniversary October 1–3 at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 3511 Yoakum Boulevard.
Admission is $10 for adults, while children 12 and younger enter free. Admission is also free for everyone Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. A $40 presale package includes admission, a dinner plate and a choice of souvlaki or a pastry box.
The festival features live music, traditional dance performances, cathedral tours, a marketplace and a wide-ranging menu that includes spanakopita, tiropita, pastitsio, dolmades, keftedes and baklava.
In the Dallas–Fort Worth area, St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Euless hosts its Mid-Cities Greek FoodFest October 2–4. The Greek Food Festival of Dallas follows November 6–8 at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.
Farther north, the Akron Greek Festival runs September 17–19 at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Ohio.
Northeast and New England
September remains the heart of Greek festival season in New England.
The Boston Greek Festival takes place September 18–20 at the Annunciation Cathedral of New England’s Cathedral Center, 162 Goddard Avenue in Brookline. The weekend includes Greek food and pastries, live music, dancing and cultural programming.
Nearby festivals include Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Brockton, September 17–20; the 47th Glendi at St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Manchester, New Hampshire, September 18–20; and Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Andover, September 19–20.
St. Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church in Roslindale hosts its festival September 25–27. Farther south, Saint Sophia Hellenic Orthodox Church in New London, Connecticut, presents its festival November 4–6.
In the New York metropolitan area, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in New Rochelle holds its festival September 17–20.
On Long Island, the 15th Greek Festival on the Harbor brings food, music, dancing, vendors and carnival rides to North Hempstead Beach Park in Port Washington September 24–27. The festival benefits Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church.
In New Jersey, Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church hosts its 54th annual Greek Festival September 25–27 at 2200 Church Road in Toms River. The parish promises Greek food and pastries, live music, youth dance performances, games and an indoor vendor marketplace. Parking is available at Ocean County College, with complimentary shuttle service.
Southeast and Florida
The Southeast calendar begins with the Augusta Greek Festival, October 1–4, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in downtown Augusta, Georgia.
Savannah follows with a milestone: the 75th Savannah Greek Festival, October 8–10, at St. Paul’s Hellenic Center. Admission is free this year, with homemade Greek dishes, pastries, dancing, music, church tours and a marketplace offered daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
In Florida, the 28th St. Augustine Greek Festival takes place October 10–11 at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. Clearwater GreekFest follows October 23–25 at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Clearwater.
Also October 23–24, the Tallahassee Greek Food Festival welcomes visitors to Holy Mother of God Greek Orthodox Church for Greek food, music, cultural programming and shopping.
Why the festivals endure
Greek festivals support the parishes, schools, youth programs and charitable ministries that sustain community life throughout the year. They also give Greek Americans an opportunity to share their faith and heritage with neighbors who may be encountering them for the first time.
For children, the festival stage can be where months of dance practice finally come alive. For longtime parishioners, the kitchen preserves recipes and memories handed down through generations. For visitors, one plate of spanakopita or a first glimpse inside an Orthodox sanctuary can open a door to an entire culture.
Come hungry, stay for the dancing and bring someone who has never experienced a Greek festival before.
