Greenville Greek Fest Returns for 40th Year: What to Know

GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – Get ready to indulge in all things Greek—because the 40th annual Greek Festival returns this weekend, bringing food, music, dancing and family-friendly fun.

The festival will take place Friday, May 15 through Sunday, May 17 on the grounds of Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, located at 406 North Academy Street.

Here’s a look at everything you need to know before heading to the festival:

⏰ Festival hours

Friday, May 15 – 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday, May 16 – 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday, May 17 – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

☀️ Weather

Our First Alert Weather team said Thursday and Friday are the best days for outdoor activities with highs in the upper 70s to around 80 in the Upstate and in the mid to upper 70s in the mountains. Overnight lows stay cool, dipping to the mid 50s in the Upstate.

The heat will crank up heading into the weekend with Saturday staying mostly sunny with highs climbing into the mid-80s—which is 5° to 10° above normal. Sunday will crank up the heat even further, with highs approaching 90 degrees in the Upstate.

The festival is a rain-or-shine event.

🅿️ Parking

Organizers said there is new parking accessible to people with disabilities available in the AT&T lot on the corner of College Street and Townes.

There is street-side parking on Townes Street and parking available in surrounding lots and the following nearby city parking garages:

Richardson Street Garage, 66 Richardson Street
Landmark Parking Garage, 22 College Street
North Laurens Street Deck, 210 N Laurens Street
Heritage Green Parking Garage, 25 Heritage Green Place

Officials also recommend taking Greenville Bike Taxi for transportation to the festival. It is eight dollars per passenger for the first 10 minutes and 80 cents per passenger, per additional minute. Call 864-293-3065 for more info.

🗺️ Festival layout

Festival map for Greenville Greek Fest.(Greenville Greek Festival)

🎟️ Tickets

There is an admission fee of three dollars for ages 13 and older. Children under 12 get in for free.

Buy tickets in advance here to skip the lines.

⛪ Church tours

Officials said tours of the Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral are offered on the half hour during festival hours. A schedule will be posted outside of the Cathedral with more information.

💃 Dance schedules

Friday, May 15

5 p.m. – Parade (all troupes)
5:15 p.m. – Melissoules (K3-K4)
5:25 p.m. – Petaloudes (K5-1st grade)
5:35 p.m. – Asteria (2nd and 3rd grade)
5:45 p.m. – Filarakia (4th-6th grade)
6 p.m. – Levandopaida (7th and 8th grade)
6:15 p.m. – Learn to Greek dance
7 p.m. – Adelphia/Olympians (High school)
8 p.m. – Adelphia (High school)

Saturday, May 16

12:30 p.m. – Melissoules (K3-K4)
12:40 p.m. – Petaloudes (K5-1st grade)
12:50 p.m. – Olympians (High school)
1:05 p.m. – Asteria (2nd and 3rd grade)
1:15 p.m. – Filarakia (4th-6th grade)
1:30 p.m. – Levandopaida (7th and 8th grade)
2:40 p.m. – Melissoules (K3-K4)
2:50 p.m. – Petaloudes (K5-1st grade)
3 p.m. – Adelphia (High school)
3:15 p.m. – Asteria (2nd and 3rd grade)
3:25 p.m. – Filarakia (4th-6th grade)
3:40 p.m. – Levandopaida (7th and 8th grade)
4 p.m. – Learn to Greek dance
5 p.m. – Parade
5 p.m. – Changing of the guards
5:30 p.m. – Melissoules (K3-K4)
5:40 p.m. – Petaloudes (K5-1st grade)
5:50 p.m. – Asteria (2nd and 3rd grade)
6 p.m. – Filarakia (4th-6th grade)
6:15 p.m. – Levandopaida (7th and 8th grade)
7 p.m. – Adelphia/Olympians (High school)
8 p.m. – Adelphia/Olympians (High school)

Sunday, May 17

11 a.m. – Parade
11:15 a.m. – Changing of the guards
11:30 a.m. – Melissoules (K3-K4)
11:40 a.m. – Petaloudes (K5-1st grade)
11:50 a.m. – Filarakia (4th-6th grade)
12:05 p.m. – Asteria (2nd and 3rd grade)
2:25 p.m. – Levandopaida (7th and 8th grade)
2:35 p.m. – Adelphia (High school)
3:30 p.m. – Adelphia/Olympians (High school)
4 p.m. – Dance party

🚗 Drive-thru

Want to enjoy the food but don’t have time to attend the festival? Organizers said there is an option to order through a drive-thru. Signs will direct you to the line.

The drive-thru closes two hours earlier than the rest of the festival.

Here’s what can be purchased in the drive-thru line: