From Oct. 18-20, the Saints Raphael Nicholas Irene Greek Orthodox Church (Sts. RNI) celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Cumming Greek Festival on their church grounds.
Since their founding in May of 2000, the Sts. RNI is a welcoming family which develops intentional Orthodox Christians through worship, education, service and outreach. Their largest community outreach is the festival which has served as a fundraising event that helps support their ministries and other outreach programs.
Father Barnabas Powell and other volunteers come together annually on the third weekend of October to share their cultural traditions with the community while raising awareness about the Greek Orthodox faith.
Upon entering the festival, the church doors were open to all attendees for tours of the facility. Besides viewing Orthodox art, the tour guides shared their religious beliefs to enlighten participants and encourage further exploration.
Alongside opening the ministry door, the festival offered various activities to educate and provide authentic experiences for attendees from nearby communities.
Greek vendors surrounded the event selling authentic products ranging from indulgent confections to various clothing. The tents allowed attendees to have merchandise options while supporting small Greek businesses. Ariella Temes, owner of Ariel La Boutique, focused her merchandise on Greek clothing and jewelry. “My items are made out of Eco friendly, raw recycling materials so customers can embrace culture while being mindful of the environment,” she said.
Entertainment was provided throughout the entire event with Greek music performed by The Kosta Kastanis Band featuring Mina Karela. Their lively performances were centered around the bouzouki and modern Greek melodies. The stage also had a dance floor designated for the dancers who showcased classical Greek pieces like the Sirtaki, Ikariotikos and Hasapiko.
“I enjoyed the bouzouki music but I never got to see Zeus.” – Caleb Josiah, attendee of the Cumming Greek Festival
With all the activities offered, the event would not be complete without some authentic cuisine. The largest attraction of the festival is the fresh Greek food made by church members. The menu displayed options like gyro wraps, moussaka, pastitsio and spanakopita. With the popularity and limited-time access, the festival had a drive through alternative for customers who could not attend the festival but desired a taste of Greece.
A couple of vendors showed off their cooking skills as well. Soli Barrios Prilliman, owner of Soli’s Kitchen, got to show off her salsa-making abilities while advertising the other culinary products her business offers. “The Greek Festival was so much fun! It was so great meeting so many new people and talking to everyone,” she said.
