DeWitt — St. Sophia’s Greek Cultural Festival begins its 52nd consecutive year of delicious food, music, dancing, and celebration of Greek culture today at 4 p.m.
The beloved annual event runs through Sunday on the church grounds on Waring Road in DeWitt.
The Greek Festival started in 1973.
Four years earlier, in 1969, Syracuse’s Festival of Nations had expanded the appreciation of the cultures, foods and music found among the Syracuse community.
Twelve-year-old Theo Voudouris of Syracuse dances with his partner, twelve-year-old Diane Elovaris, also of Syracuse, during the Greek Cultural Festival at St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church in 1991.Suzette Cook
Cooks James Sidou and John Dimkos make souvlaki with all lamb at the 1985 Syracuse Greek Festival.Hal Slate
The first Greek Fest was held in late September and, at first, did not receive much interest from The Post-Standard.
The Greek festival in Watertown received more attention than the one here in Syracuse.
But that changed by 1980.
St. Sophia’s Greek Festival was, reporter Edward Dunn wrote, “a most unusual and ethnic fair.”
Three celebrations greeted the 6,000-7,000 people who “were lucky enough” to attend that year’s festival.
“There was the celebration in the church, a solemn, profound, grand and silent wonder,” Dunn wrote. “Then there was the recreation of a Greek village in the church’s gymnasium, which was busy, bright, and carefree.”
The third celebration took place outside under a big tent.
Young adult dancers in the tent at Greek Festival, St. Sophia’s Church in Syracuse, New York. Syracuse Post-StandardSyracuse Post-Standard
Vicky Christo, Don Christo, Pat Reney, eat gyros at the 1985 Greek Festival.Hal Slate
Set up of the Greek village at the school for the 1985 St. Sophia’s Greek Festival.Hal Slate
“It was loud with the crowd’s excited conversation,” Dunn wrote, “titillating with the pungent aromas of hot, spicy food, jubilant with the spontaneousness of Greek dancing and overflowing with the zestful enjoyment of life that transcends national and ethnic boundaries.”
Before heading out to the church for this weekend’s joyful festivities, enjoy these vintage photos from Post-Standard photographers.
The Syracuse Greek Festival runs today from 5-9 p.m., Friday from 5-10, Saturday from noon to 10, and Sunday from noon until 4.
Kimberly Powell, of Syracuse eats at the 1988 Greek Festival.Harry DiOrio
Chris Meskos and Ellen Shiomos dance at the 1986 St. Sophia’s Greek Festival.Stephen D. Cannerelli
Constantine Kosmas of Pompey makes a gyro at St. Sophia’s Greek Festival in 1988.Jon Olson
Dancers do traditional Greek dances in the big tent at the 1988 Greek Festival.Jon Olson
Trays of Moussaka, eggplant, potatoes and ground beef with cream sauce, line the tables in the basement of St. Sophia’s church. They are made in preparation for the 1992 Greek Cultural Festival.Tim Reese
Cooking souvlaki, left, Bob Weismore, right, Don Christo, both from Syracuse, at the 1986 St. Sophia’s Greek Festival.Stephen D. Cannerelli
Greek dancing at the 1986 Festival.Stephen D. Cannerelli
Ernes Papazides, left, and his wife Panicha (seated to his right) eat at the 1988 Greek Festival.Harry DiOrio
Anastasia Mihou works with the homemade filo dough that is used to make tyropita for the 1990 Greek Festival at St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox church on Waring Road in DeWittTim Reese
Mary Potamianos and Pat Reney browse through items for sale at the 1985 St. Sophia’s Greek Festival.Hal Slate
Two dancers prepare for their performance at the 1984 Greek Festival.David Wells
Chris Dimkos plays the accordion at the 1986 Greek Festival.Stephen D. Cannerelli
Preparation begins for the 1988 St. Sophia’s Greek Cultural Festival of 1988. Dorothy Potamianos and George Peters with table full of Musaka.Stephen D. Cannerelli
Joe Altiri and Ernest Macrides, look at Greek sail boat during the 1985 Greek Festival.Hal Slate
Crowd enjoys feast at the 1986 St. Sophia’s Church Greek Festival.Stephen D. Cannerelli
Helen Chronis and Maria Strepelis pass out menus at the 1985 Greek Festival at St. Sophia’s Church.Hal Slate
On accordion Chris Dimkos, drums (not seen) Johnny Allis, guitar Nick Dimkos, tambourine Harry Tzivani and on bouzouki Dean Stackowicz at the 1986 Greek Festival.Stephen D. Cannerelli
Anastasia Sidou and Polixeni Tamoutlis roll out dough to make spinach and cheese pitas prior to the 1989 Greek Festival.David Lassman
Pepe Aragon, men’s soccer team coach at Herkimer college, loads a tray with grilled lamb at the 44th annual Greek Cultural Festival at St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church, 325 Waring Rd, Syracuse, NY. June 11, 2017. Gary Walts/gwalts@syracuse.com SYR SYRGary Walts | gwalts@syracuse.com
Church volunteers make Loukoumathes, or Honey Puffs at the Greek Cultural Festival at St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church, 325 Waring Rd, Syracuse, NY.SYR
The 44th annual Greek Cultural Festival at St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church, 325 Waring Rd, Syracuse, NY, featured Greek food, music, dance and more. June 11, 2017. Gary Walts/gwalts@syracuse.com SYR SYRGary Walts | gwalts@syracuse.com
Elementary school dancers perform at the St. Sophia’s Greek Cultural Festival in Syracuse on Thursday, June 6, 2024. (Katrina Tulloch | ktulloch@syracuse.com)This is CNY
Grilled meats await plates at the St. Sophia’s Greek Cultural Festival in Syracuse. Thursday, June 6, 2024. (Katrina Tulloch | ktulloch@syracuse.com)This is CNY
