Greek Fest celebrates 38 years of culture Neeley Moore
Copy Editor People from all backgrounds and walks of life gather each fall in Knoxville to celebrate one similarity. No, it’s not a Vols’ game. It’s Greek Fest. On Friday and Saturday, St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church welcomed an expected 12,00015,000 guests to its 38th annual culture festival, producing traffic which resembled the kind that the city normally sees on game day. What makes this such a wildly popular spectacle each year? The crowds had already accumulated by the start of the first day. Everyone was excited to secure their admission and discover all that was waiting for them. Families and individuals of all ages stood in the growing lines as Byzantine music played and the delicious smells of custom-
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ary Greek delicacies filled the air. The vast array of food was one of Greek Fest’s most popular attractions. The menu included dishes such as roast lamb, gyro, souvlaki, pastichio, spanakopita, Greek salad, Greek pizza and saganaki. Guests could also purchase Greek wines and coffee to accompany their entrees. For dessert, attendees could taste the assorted selection of mouthwatering pastries inside the church hall. Greek Fest also offered a marketplace where vendors sold imported jewelry, gifts and cultural art. Both shoppers and onlookers admired the unique items up for purchase. All day, the St. George youth performed traditional and modern Greek dances. All of the events and products at Greek Fest are offered by St. George, which hosts the festival. St. George’s church building was devastated by destructive fires two years ago, and while the Church waits for full repairs — mainly
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of the hand-painted mosaic tile, the members still opened the temporary church hall for any and all Greek Fest visitors. The church held tours on Greek history and the Greek Orthodox religion. “We cannot wait (each year),” Courtney Cutting, an attendee from Maryville, said. “It’s always one of my favorite Knoxville events.” Most of those who visit the festival for the first time have returned to the subsequent festivals. Tori Bat, visiting the festival from Lenoir City, shared how she has enjoyed Greek Fest for a number of years. “My family and I have been going to Greek Fest since we moved to Knoxville in 1999,” Bat said. “It’s something we look forward to every year. I’m of Greek heritage and enjoy celebrating that with the delicious food, music and ambience. It’s great to see Knoxville has such an interest in Greek culture, food and entertainment.”
Monday, September 18, 2017