WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Opa! Tens of thousands of visitors stopped by the Winston-Salem Greek Festival over the weekend, organizers said.
“It’s a great testimony of our faith and our culture,” said Father Minas Tsambounieris of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church.
The church has hosted the Winston-Salem Greek Festival since 1984. The annual three-day event that ended Sunday highlights Greek culture and traditions, including homemade food, music and dancing.
“Most of the customs and traditions in Greece, all of them revolve around our faith, and they all take place at different times of the year,” said Tsambounieris. One custom that’s done in the spring does not also happen in the winter.”
There was a Greek marketplace filled with specialty items and crafts. Organizers hope visitors take away what it means to be hospitable in their everyday lives.
“Where there’s dancing, there’s food, where there’s food, there’s dancing, where there’s faith, there’s a festival, so always those things go hand in hand,” said Tsambounieris. “I think it’s just the festival is a culmination and a showcase of all that together.”
About 30,000 people visit the festival each year, he said.
Proceeds from admission will go to the Horizon Residential Center. The nonprofit provides services to adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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