ANN ARBOR, MI — Aromatic Greek food and desserts. Energetic dancers of all ages. Live music in the air.
Opa! — the joyful Greek expression will ring out this weekend as Ann Arbor’s Ya’ssoo Greek Festival returns, continuing a tradition that began in 1973.
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 3109 Scio Church Road, hosts the event, featuring authentic Greek cuisine, goods, dance performances, church tours and local bands.
The festival runs from 11 a.m. to midnight Friday, June 6, and Saturday, June 7, and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 8,
Admission is $5 starting at 4 p.m. Friday for the rest of the weekend. Those younger than 12 years old enter for free.
Ya’ssoo Greek Festival is more than just a weekend event — it’s a family tradition that has spanned generations in Ann Arbor, Festival marketing director Artemis Alex said.
“When I walk around talking to people, many of them grew up in Ann Arbor and attended the festival with their parents,” Alex said.
“And then times go by, and they got married and had children, and they attended the festival. And now sometimes they have their grandchildren here. So, we’re looking at two, three generations who have supported our festival through the years. It gives you an idea this is a family event.”
Performances remain one of the festival’s biggest draws, Alex said, with groups of all ages showcasing traditional Greek dances.
“I walk around talking to people, and I ask them, ‘What brought you to the festival?’” Alex said. “I would say most people say, ‘As much as we like your fresh food, we love to come and watch the young people dance, because it shows how you’re preserving your heritage, and you preserve it in such a beautiful way.’”
Visitors can also take hourly church tours, offering a deeper look into Greek Orthodox traditions.
While the festival aims to continue its tradition, new this year are additions to the dessert menu.
Church members cook and bake all the food on site, Alex said.
Offerings include saganaki “opa” cheese, gyros, kebabs, baklava, Greek wines and beers. Visit the website for a complete food and beverage menu.
There will be live Greek music by Detroit-based band Enigma on Friday and Saturday, while the local Kefi band will perform Sunday. (Kefi is a Greek word for joyfulness and enthusiasm.)
The festival is not just a fundraiser for St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, but a way for the diverse community to experience Greek heritage firsthand, Alex noted.
Local vendors will sell Greek jewelry, souvenirs, ceramics and books at the festival.
There will be a raffle too. The first-place winner earns a trip to Greece.
“I’d like them to walk away happy, pleased that they came and that they learned something,” Alex said. “Whether it’s about our religion, whether it’s about the culture, whether it’s about the food, the dancing and everything that we have to offer.”
The festival started at 414 N. Main Street, where many Greek immigrants built a Greek Orthodox Church in 1935.
The parish grew as the founders had families and moved in 2004 to its location on Scio Church Road, where the festival continues to offer “something for everyone,” Alex said.
For more information on the festival, check out the website.
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