USPS Publication Number 16300; Authorized August 25,2015 (Pensacola, FL)
This Community Newspaper is a weekly publication of Escambia Santa/Rosa Bar Association Page 1 Vol. 15, No. 40 VISIT THE SUMMATION WEEKLY ONLINE: www.esrba.com October 6, 2015
4 Pages
Go Get Greek. Greek Fest 2015. By Hamishe Randall
What does Mama Mia, the mythical King Stafylos, and Pensacola have in common? The Greek island Skopelos, of course. The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church is hosting the 56th annual Greek Fest, and this year’s theme is Skopelos. The Greek Fest is famous in the Gulf Coast for having amazing food, fun traditional music, and Greek dancers in traditional costumes. This three-day event draws upwards to 30,000 guests. This is no small festival. There will be live music; the popular Kostas Kastanis band will be back again this year to play traditional and modern Greek music throughout the weekend. On the menu this year, served inside the hall, will be traditional roast lamb, lamb shanks, baked chicken, dolmathes, moussaka, pastitsio, spanakopita, tiropita, and Greek salads. The outdoor taverna (between the church and the hall) will feature the popular gyros, souvlakia (kabobs) and sausage wraps, chicken tenders for the kids, Greek fries cooked in olive oil, and calamari. Don’t forget the desserts. You can smell the sweet cinnamon and honey drenched baklava in the air. The festival is free to attend. The food, drinks, desserts and goods are for purchase. This year there will also be a SelfieBooth so you can capture your Greek memories and share them with the world. The Greek community loves to share its history and culture with Pensacola and Gulf Coast communities. Many of the founding church members were from Skopelos, and that’s why this year’s theme is Skopelos. A special traditional bridal costume will be on display at the festival this year. The bridal costume was handmade by church members Ourania Taladianou Stamatelos and Marouthitsa Raptou Stamatelos, natives of Skopelos. They have contributed to keeping the Skopelos heritage alive by making the traditional bridal costume, called a skopelitisa. The costume is on display at The Voices of Pensacola Multicultural Center in its multicultural exhibit. The UWF Historic Trust will lend the costume to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church for display at the festival. The Greek culture has a long and rich history rooted in Pensacola. As far back as the mid to late 1800’s Greeks left the shores of their homeland and immigrated to Pensacola. These early Greeks brought with them a love of their culture, heritage and faith that is still shared today, mainly through the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church and the festivals.