Greek Fest, featuring authentic food and music, starts Thursday

ROCHESTER N.Y. (WHEC) — Greek hospitality and culture will be on display for the next four days.

The Greek Festival runs from Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The festival in the parking lot of the Greek Orthodox Church of Annunciation, 962 East Ave, features Greek food, music, and dancing.

The traditional foods served include gyro, souvlaki, spanakopita, and Moussaka. The festival also has children’s activities and offers church tours.

The proceeds of the festival, organized by the church’s parish council, go toward local charities. One of the charities this year is the youth mentoring organization Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rochester.

The festival was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic. A festival organizer, Patty Hatzipapas, said this year’s festival allows the Greek community to celebrate their culture.

"As a matter of fact, the majority of the people in this section here are heading to Greece in the middle to the end of June. They’re all going to vacation after two years of not being able to join their families. It’s a wonderful community, it really is."

You can see the food menu, schedule for dancing times, and sign up for volunteering on the website for the Greek Festival.