St. Mark of Ephesus Orthodox Cathedral of Westwood will host its fifth annual Greek Fest on Saturday, September 14, and Sunday, September 15, on the church grounds at 340 Clapboardtree Street.
St. Mark’s Greek Fest will run on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The festival celebrates Greek culture through food, drinks, music, dance, and more. The Greek Fest menu features authentic flavors of Greece, including gyro, souvlaki, braised lamb shank, and spanakopita as some of the many items offered for both lunch and dinner. The meze plate features a shareable selection of Greek appetizers. Greek beers and wines will be available at the bar.
Desserts include baklava, baklava sundaes, and many more homemade pastries. Loukoumades, small Greek-style donuts, are prepared to order and topped with either the traditional honey, walnuts, and cinnamon, or Nutella. Greek coffee, frappes, and tea are also available.
“It’s been awesome to see the Greek Fest gain support from the community each year. We strive to continually improve the event with new foods, vendors, and activities which promote different aspects of our Greek culture and traditions. Last year we introduced our meze plate, which was a big hit, so make sure to come see what we have planned for this year’s Greek Fest,” said Theodore Fitopoulos, an organizer of the event.
The live band, headlined by cousins Nick and John Apazidis, will provide music throughout the weekend. Traditional Greek dance performances will take place on Sunday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
One area of St. Mark’s Greek Fest is designated for children to enjoy bounce houses, face painting, and other games and activities.
This year’s vendor village will feature items brought directly from Greece, and in the past has included handmade soaps and candles, religious items, and local honey.
“The festival is a great way for us to get to know the community and share Greek culture with everyone. This has been a great event thus far, and the town of Westwood has been very supportive of us. We pray that we can continue to work hard and watch the festival grow for years to come,” said Fr. George Kamberidis, parish priest at St. Mark’s.
The funds raised by the festival go towards many needs, including, church operations, the renovation project fund, the Greek school, and charitable donations.
Admission to the Greek Fest is free, and the event will be held rain or shine under the tent. Free parking is available at Westwood High School, and there will be handicapped parking available on the church grounds.
For more information, visit facebook.com/StMarksGreekFest, or call (781-326-2380).
