Greek Fest Invites Arcadians to Enjoy Greek Culture

Patrons enjoyed live Greek music and dancing. – Photo by Galen Patterson / Beacon Media News

By Galen Patterson

Saint Anthony’s Greek Orthodox Church held its 57^th annual Greek Fest from Sept. 21-23.

Greek Fest is a celebration of Greek Culture, and is hosted in many areas with high concentrations of citizens with Greek Ancestry.

Greek Fest differs from other cultural festivals in that the tradition is millennia old, and has ancient roots in the word “Philoxenia.” “It means ‘love of strangers’ and is a welcoming to the whole community,” says Parrish Council President John Vidalakis.

Greek culture is known for its distinct music, food and dancing. “This is a community event that brings everyone together,” says Vidalakis. On this particular day, the community was brought together within the walls of Saint Anthony’s, enticed by the unmistakable aroma of gyros and souvlakia, and captivated by the sound of live Greek music, which could be heard from several street blocks away.

Volunteers manned booths with popular Greek food and drinks. – Photo by Galen Patterson / Beacon Media News

Within the realm of food alone, the volunteers at Saint Anthony’s had prepared numerous options with different appeals. Outside the building, patrons found the more popular type of Greek food, like gyros, baklava and lamb chops.

Meanwhile, inside the building were homemade traditional dishes, each served by a volunteer from large trays. “All of the food here was made by volunteers,” says Vidalakis. One of the volunteers, who identifies himself as Caleb, says “You can’t get these things anywhere else, outside of a Greek festival.”

Inside the building were homemade tradition Greek dishes. – Photo by Galen Patterson / Beacon Media News

In the courtyard, within dancing distance of the band and dance floor, a tent had been erected and inside was a bar, complete with flat screen televisions and high, round tables. Overhead, a sign reads Sports Bar Est. 776 B.C.

Greek Fest offers Greek beer options and popular Mediterranean spirits. – Photo by Galen Patterson / Beacon Media News

For those seeking refreshment without alcohol, Greek coffee was prepared by willing volunteers, specially crafting a dark, thick, frothy beverage with customer-desired levels of sweetening.

Next to the coffee stand stood a perpetual line of locals, all waiting patiently in the sunlight for a volunteer to assist them in filling trays of authentic Greek pastries. They filled plastic containers with scores of homemade pastries, including baklava, a Greek treat composed of crushed walnuts, a multitude of philo wraps, perfectly spiced with cloves and held in suspended bliss by a generous amount of golden honey. The baklava practically electrifies the tongue upon contact, and was just one treat offered in a carefully arranged table of pastries.

“We’re known to have the best Greek food in Southern California,” Vidalakis says and laughs. Vidalakis is a Utah transplant and admitted vegan.

Vendors and representatives from Saint Anthony’s occupy stands with blue and white-striped canopies. One canopy is a table representing the outreach arm of Saint Anthony’s, Philoptochos, which translates into “friends of the poor.” The lady behind the table distributes information on which charities the church supports, and invites passerby to an upcoming seminar the church is hosting, focused on human trafficking and planned for Nov. 4.

A portion of the proceeds from Saint Anthony’s Greek Fest go toward a charity of the church’s choice. Last year it went to a local shelter. – Photo by Galen Patterson / Beacon Media News

As the afternoon stretches into evening the crowd swells into a festival. Volunteers lead tours, sing, dance and serve food. A team of men place large racks of skewered meat over wood-fired coals. What a day to be a vegan.

Souvlakia is skewered cuts of roasted meat, dressed in sauce and often served with lemon. – Photo by Galen Patterson / Beacon Media News

More from Arcadia Weekly