TOLEDO, Ohio — Get ready to celebrate Greek culture and its close ties with Toledo's history. The 52nd annual Greek-American Festival starts Friday.
The festival has something for everyone, including for the kids, and features food and shopping and an authentic Greek experience.
Here is a quick look at everything you can expect at "Toledo's Greek Fest":
THE FESTIVAL
The 52nd annual Greek-American Festival will be held on the grounds of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral and Community Center at 740 N. Superior St. in north Toledo.
Entrances for the festival are at Walnut and Superior streets, and at Summit and Walnut streets.
HOURS:
- Friday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Saturday: 1-10 p.m.
- Sunday: Noon-6 p.m.
ADMISSION
Adult admission is free from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Friday. Adult admission is $5 per day for the rest of Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by a guardian.
PARKING
Parking is available throughout the neighborhood and at the Vistula Garage on Superior and Orange streets.
As a reminder, you will need to find an alternate route if you usually take Summit Street through Cherry Street to reach the festival. Summit Street is closed in both directions between Cherry and Jackson streets due to construction, which is expected to last until early next year.
Additionally, allow yourself some extra time as Cherry Street is down to one lane from Superior Street to the MLK bridge in both directions because of the road construction project.
FOOD AND DRINKS
The festival's food tent will feature three dinner platters with souvlaki, chicken or lamb shank with a variety of sides available with the platters or as add-ons.
There will also be a fast food tent with beef, lamb and chicken gyros, gyro salad, gyro and Greek pizzas, and Greek fries and hot dogs. Saganaki (flaming Greek cheese) is also an option.
COOKING
It wouldn't be a true celebration of Greek culture without cooking demonstrations. Local cooks and chefs will host the daily demonstrations featuring a variety of Greek food.
Matt and Leah Simko will prepare "Greek meat sauce and pasta" at 7 p.m. Friday.
Saturday will feature two demonstrations: Maria Papps Rosales preparing "Fanouropita" at 4 p.m. and Phyllis Manton preparing "Tourlou" at 6 p.m.
On Sunday at 2:30 p.m., owner and chef of Georgio's Café International George Kamilaris will prepare a "surprise Greek dish."
COFFEE AND DESSERT
Visit the community center to enjoy coffee and pastries. The "Kafenion" will have American and Greek coffee which can be paired with one (or multiple) of the thousands of pastries. Options include baklava, galaktobouriko, kourambiethes, koulourakia, finikia, karithopita, paximathia and macaroons.
Loukoumathes and baklava ice cream will be available on the festival grounds.
BEVERAGES
Domestic and imported wines, craft beer and more. If you're looking for a refreshment, the "Taverna" opens at 11 a.m. Friday. Grab a drink (maybe an Ouzo slushie?) and enjoy football games on two of the flat screen televisions, which will be raffled off at 6 p.m. on Sunday.
FUN
The festival offers kid-friendly rides and entertainment in addition to the famous Hellenic Dance Company. Performances feature imported Greek costumes and dancers of all ages: the Ellinopedia (ages 3 to 6), Asteria (ages 7 to 9), Olympians (ages 10 to 13) and the Hellenic Dancers (teens and adults.)
The Olympus band will perform Greek and American music all three days of the festival.
FAITH
Rev. Larry Legakis will host a tour of the newly-renovated Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral and blessing of the waters on Friday at 3:15 p.m. followed by a blessing of the cathedral and festival grounds at 4 p.m. The Byzantine cathedral is over a century old, having served as a staple in Toledo's Greek Orthodox community since its completion in 1920.
Live cathedral tours hosted by Legakis:
- Friday: 3:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
- Saturday: 3:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday: 1 p.m.
Self-guided cathedral tours:
- Friday: 3-8 p.m.
- Saturday: 2-9 p.m.
- Sunday: 1-5 p.m.
On Sunday at 3:30 p.m. in the cathedral, ministry coordinator Zachary Heller will give a lecture on "Ancient Movement" and discuss the symbolic movements of the priest during the Divine Liturgy.
Booths inside the community center will also have religious and cultural books and icons representing the Greek Orthodox faith.
For more information on the festival, visit the Toledo Greek-American Festival website at www.toledogreekfest.com.
FROM THE WTOL 11 VAULT: