PORT WASHINGTON, NY – Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church in Port Washington hosted its 14th Greek Festival on the Harbor at North Hempstead Beach Park September 25-28. The highly-anticipated, family-friendly event had a great turnout, thanks in part to summer-like weather throughout the four-day festival.
The excellent Greek and Cypriot food, pastries, and festival favorite loukoumades, which many said were the best they had tasted from among recent festivals, along with entertainment including live Greek music and dancing with performances by traditional dance troupes and different live bands each day, impressed the crowds in attendance.
Festival-goers also enjoyed shopping for unique items in the flea market and from a wide range of vendors. The carnival rides and games, as well as Saturday night fireworks by the seashore, delighted attendees of all ages.
Presiding priest of the Archangel Michael community Fr. John Lardas spoke with The National Herald at the festival on September 28, noting that “the festival was met with great success this year, we thank God for the blessing of good weather because it’s all driven by the weather.”
Fr. Lardas also highlighted the impressive volunteerism of the Archangel Michael community: “We have over 250 volunteers and people that put hours and months of planning into this, that it would be impossible without them.”
“And nothing brings more joy to us than to be able to share with the surrounding community who we are as Greek Orthodox Christians,” Fr. Lardas concluded.
Attendees, Greek and non-Greek alike, all looked forward to next year’s festival.
Among those present, the Archangel Michael community’s new Greek Afternoon Program Principal, Demetra Varsami, whose tenure began in September. The Archangel Michael Greek Language Institute posted the announcement of Varsami’s new position on social media in August: “A former Greek language teacher in the parish, Varsami returns with extensive classroom and leadership experience in both public and private schools across Long Island and New York City. She holds degrees from the Panteion University in Athens, Baruch College, Queens College, and the New York Institute of Technology, along with New York State teaching certifications in Early Childhood and Childhood Education.”
More information about the Archangel Michael community is available online: https://archangelmichaelchurch.org/.
