LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – From decadent tzatziki to sweet and flaky baklava, it will all be at ‘My Big Fat Greek Festival’ kicking off in Lincoln this week.
The festival, hosted at the Greek Orthodox church ‘Annunciation Church,’ will feature church tours, delicious food and live music and performances.
The organizer, Fay Deligiannis Worstell, explained that the Greek celebration started 20 years ago as a dinner amongst parishioners. She said the festival blossomed over the years and reeled in community support.
“Greeks love to eat, we love to drink, we love to dance,” Deligiannis Worstell said. “I can’t wait to have the dancers here from Kansas City to show everybody just how fun the Greeks can be.”
Dancers will showcase traditional numbers that visitors can join in on. There will also be tours of the church every hour, led by chant leader and music professor at UNL, Paul Barnes.
Barnes, who has been a member of Annunciation Church for 30 years, said the festival is an opportunity to share the cultural and religious offerings in Greek culture.
“It’s a joy for me to chant all these beautiful hymns we share every week,” Barnes said. “And to tell a little bit about the vibrancy of our community here in Lincoln.”
Father Theodore Roupas at Annunciation Church said the building has been a landmark in Lincoln since the 1940s when Greek immigrants moved to the capitol city. He said during the festival residents get to learn what Greek Orthodox means.
“It’s always a joy to share what Eastern Christian spirituality/mysticism is all about,” Father Roupas said. “And how it compares and contrasts with some of the other denominations of Christianity here in the state.”
There will be a wide selection of homemade Greek food favorites like gyros, spanakopita and baklava.
Organizers said people will not need to purchase a ticket to buy food, as vendors will accept card and cash payments.
Festivities begin this Friday, Aug. 23 from 5 – 9 p.m. and will continue Saturday, Aug. 24 from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Click here to subscribe to our 10/11 NOW daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.
Copyright 2024 KOLN. All rights reserved.
