Opa! Step inside Mansfield’s celebration of Greek culture this weekend

MANSFIELD — I was invited to preview the Greek Festival ahead of its Sept. 5 and 6 celebration, an event blending food, music, dance, and faith.

From the moment I stepped inside, it was clear this congregation values tradition; not as a rigid expectation, but as a thread tying generations.

Everyone I met shared stories with pride and warmth, inviting me into a world where time-honored practices meet hospitality.

For more than four decades, the Greek Festival has filled Mansfield with the flavors and traditions of Greece.

Hosted at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church at 265 W 3rd St, the festival has thrived since its start in 1981.

Tina Theodorou, who has helped with the festival for many years, highlighted the strong local support.

“We are very grateful for the whole Mansfield community and the surrounding areas, wherever people come from,” Theodorou said.

She noted the dedication of younger volunteers, too.

“We love the newer generation, they’re mostly young families and single people willing to help, and we’re very grateful they’re tackling something like this.”

Baklava

I watched festival elders teaching younger parishioners the art of baklava, a famous Greek pastry, showing them how to brush each sheet of phyllo with butter, fold the edges with precision, and layer nuts and spices with care.

The result is a sweet, moist mixture sandwiched between delicate, flaky layers and soaked in honey syrup. Each piece is crowned with a whole clove, giving off a warm, spiced aroma as it bakes and keeping the pastry perfectly flat.

Nuanced, indulgent, utterly irresistible.

“We are what’s left of the older generation that knows how to make these firsthand, there are little tricks here and there, too many of them,” Theodorou said.

“Everybody can follow a recipe of any kind, but there’s certain things you can’t write down, that you remember after or do second nature ’cause you’ve done it a million times.”

**Baklava**
Credit: 2025 Greek Festival Facebook

Kourabiedes

Next, kourabiedes, a Greek celebration classic often served at weddings, wears a blanket of powdered sugar that symbolizes purity and new beginnings.

At first glance, it looks simple, but bite in and you get dense, buttery crumbs that melt into a delicate crumble, lightly sweet on their own yet perfectly balanced by the snow-dusted sugar.

Koulouri

The third pastry I tried was koulouri, a golden treat with a tender, soft bite and a subtle citrus note that brightened the sweetness.

These hand-shaped cookies, usually twisted or braided, are said to be especially good dunked in coffee. I was coffee-less that day, but even on its own, the koulouri was delightful.

But that’s just a warmup.

Greek Festival

The Greek Festival officially kicks off on Sept. 5 and 6. I’ll be back to tackle festival favorites, like dolmadakia, grape leaves wrapped around spiced beef and rice with just the right hint of herbs, slow-cooked until tender.

Creamy pastitsio with layers of pasta and savory meat topped with golden, bubbling cheese baked to perfection. Maybe some juicy meatballs or melt-in-your-mouth lamb. And you cannot miss the loukoumades, tiny pillows of golden fried dough, crisp on the outside and pillowy inside, dripping with honey. Just writing this makes me hungry; don’t miss it.

The Greek Festival is more than just amazing food. It’s an opportunity to learn about Greek Orthodoxy and the people who keep its traditions alive.

Father Michael explained the festival’s mission.

” The festival is an opportunity for us to do multiple things.

“One, it’s a fundraiser. But more importantly, it gives people an opportunity to come to our community, explore, take a church tour, obviously eat the food, experience the dance, and the culture.

“The reason that we’re doing this is so that we can continue to do the work we like to do as Orthodox Christians. We love the opportunity for people to come to experience, to see.”

**Father Michael & staff will be offering church tours every hour on the hour**
Credit: Greek Festival Facebook

Thanks to the generosity of Mansfield and surrounding communities, the festival consistently raises all the funds needed to keep the church running smoothly.

Listening to his words, it’s clear the festival is both a celebration and a teaching moment, passing on faith, culture, and values through dance, song, and meals.

Beyond the food, I saw how the church shares its culture without pressure, honoring traditions that bring people together while embracing change where it matters.

This approach resonates with the Greek community and younger generations seeking belonging and connection.

But you don’t have to be Greek to fit in. Come be Greek for a day, dive into the culture, the food, and maybe shout a hearty ‘Opa!’ along the way.

Whether you are curious about the faith, drawn to the culture, or simply hungry for something unforgettable, the Greek Festival welcomes everyone.

Joining in, you enter a space where stories, songs, and meals open doors to connection and understanding, leaving with warmth and gratitude for a heritage shared.