By ROSEGALIE CINEUS
Beacon Media Staff Writer
The scent of Greek sweets floating through the air at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation marks the return of the beloved annual Cranston Greek Festival.
Making its three-day return, the festival will be held on the church’s parish grounds and will run from Sept. 5-7. Celebrating its 39th year, the festival will offer different activities and a range of traditional Greek food for people to enjoy.
From items like Greek-style chicken, souvlaki (skewered pork or chicken), pastitsio (“Greek lasagna”), to the hand-made Greek pastries including baklava, galaktoboureko, karidopita (Greek walnut cake), and loukoumádes, the festival introduces guests to a variety of Greek cuisine.
According to Paul Pliakas, the festival’s marketing director, loukoumádes is a popular street food, a honey-soaked fried dough that is typically served with honey, cinnamon and walnuts.
“We love sharing our food, dancing and our music with the local Cranston community,” Pliakas said. “It is always a great time for everybody and a lot of fun.”
In addition to the food, there will also be live Greek music performed throughout the event, and other performances. The Odyssey Dance Troupe will perform all three days and will feature dances from mainland Greece and the Greek Islands, according to the festival’s press release.
Admission is free and the festival is held under “Big Tents,” rain or shine. Pets are not permitted at the festival, but service animals will be allowed.
According to the festival press release, free parking is available on the neighborhood streets. Additional parking is available at Cranston High School West. On all three days, free parking shuttle buses will run continuously between Cranston West via Curtis Street until half an hour after the festival closes each day.
Some handicapped parking is available on the church grounds.
The festival will begin Friday, Sept. 5 at 5 p.m., at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, 175 Oaklawn Avenue, Route 5.
2025 GREEK FESTIVAL HOURS
Friday, Sept. 5 5 – 10 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 6 Noon – 10 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 7 Noon – 8 p.m.
