Greek Festival

The DURHAM GREEK FESTIVAL will once again showcase the fabulous flavors, sounds and culture of Greece on Saturday, May 16 (11 a.m. to 9 p.m.), and Sunday, May 17 (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.). This family-friendly event will be held, rain or shine, at St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 8306 Highway 751 in Durham, located one-half mile south of I-40 Exit 274. Admission is free.

Festival fare, for outdoor dining or take-out, will include such favorites as gyros, grilled chicken pita wraps, spanakopita, pastitsio (the Greek version of lasagna, topped with a creamy béchamel sauce), stuffed grape leaves with tzatziki sauce, and a large selection of dessert favorites including baklava, galactoboureko (custard-filled phyllo with honey syrup), loukoumades (fresh-fried dough balls topped with syrup, cinnamon, and walnuts) and a new favorite, baklava ice cream sundaes. Greek wines and beer will be available at the outdoor Taverna.

There will be Greek music and scheduled live performances of traditional Greek folk dancing. A free Greek dance lesson will be offered at 7 p.m. Saturday, and all are welcome to join in community Greek dancing throughout the weekend.

Marketplace vendors will offer Greek groceries, sweet tsoureki bread, olive oil, jewelry, Greek fashions, crafts, ceramics, home décor items, olive wood kitchenware, fine art featuring watercolor scenes of Greece, and the award-winning St. Barbara community cookbook, THE GRECIAN PLATE. Members of the local Ukrainian community also will offer a large variety of handcrafted items to support Ukrainian relief. An Attic Treasures Sale will have collectibles, fine art, ceramics, jewelry, and other gently used donated items for every budget. Also featured will be tours of the landmark Byzantine-style domed church, highlighting the church’s exquisite new iconography.

For full menus, schedules of dance performances and church tours, and more information, visit www.DurhamGreekFestival.org or email info@durhamgreekfestival.org.