MARLBOROUGH – The ambiance of Greece, complete with the music, food and hospitality offered in this Mediterranean country, will be available right here in Marlborough as Marlborough’s Annual Labor Day Weekend Greek Festival is back and everyone is invited.
The Greek Festival, put on by the Saints Anargyroi Greek Orthodox Church, returns Friday, Aug. 30 from 5 -11 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 31 from noon to 11 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 1 from noon to 11 p.m.
As many as 6,500 to 8,000 attendees are expected over the three days, said Nick Chacharone, the chairman of the Festival.
Authentic Greek food prepared with love, the way their yia-yias (grandmothers) made it for generations, may be the first thing people think about when they think of Greek Festivals.
“This year we are cooking 950 Lamb Shanks over the three days,” said Chacharone.
The very, very popular one and a half pound lamb shanks are made fresh daily, then slow cooked for eight hours.
“One gentleman comes from New Hampshire all three days just to buy the lamb shanks, we are known for,” explained Betty Peltekis, one of the hard-working volunteers at the Festival.
The incredible lamb shanks are prepared by Nick Chacharone, Nick Kotsianis and Nick Paschalides. No one sees the chefs wandering around. They are in the kitchen for four days straight.
The Greek Festival will have 2,500 Gyro pockets ready for hungry festival patrons.
“Gyro is pronounced Gyee-ro in Greek,” explained Peltekis. “It means round or circle. The meat is cooked to perfection. Just like in Greece.”
The Gyro pocket breads will be served with all the fixings and there will be 500 pounds of freshly made Tsatziki (yogurt, cucumber, garlic sauce), ready for toppings.
Gyros are cooked and served up outside in the street tent and all other foods will be indoors.
The menu also includes Souvlaki (chunks of pork tenderloin in Gyro bread) with toppings and freshly made Tsatziki, chicken or lamb kebab dinners, pastitsio (Greek style baked macaroni with three kinds of cheese), spanakopita, Greek style green beans, stuffed grape leaves, Greek salad, Greek style meatballs in a tomato sauce and Greek style roasted potatoes.
Many authentic Greek pastries and cookies such as baklava, kourabiethes, finikia, koulourakia, kataifi and saragli will be available for sale.
Also for sale will be baklava sundaes and loukoumades (fried dough balls dipped in honey and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar).
All food orders can be put up for take-out.
Soft drinks and Frappes will be available along with Greek and American beers and wines.
“We also have two of the best Greek bands in all of New England playing for us on Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday night,” said Peltekis.
There will be many fun things for children, such as face painting, a bouncy house, a rock climbing wall, sand art and more.
The festival, which started in 1980, has had the support from the community and surrounding towns.
“It’s incredible,” said Peltekis. “We even get people from New Hampshire and Connecticut.”
There are guided Sts. Anargyroi Church tours on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Sts. Anargyroi Church is located at 9 Central St.
Admission is free, rain or shine.
For more information, go to https://www.stsanargyroi.org/sts.-anargyroi-greek-festival-2024
