Greek celebration returns Sunday at Holy Trinity church
Peterborough’s annual Greek Festival will take place this Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church located on Parkhill Rd. E.
Dean Pappas, a city councillor and volunteer at the church, said the event has been going on for decades.
“I remember being a teenager and in my 20s being here doing this — And I’m in my 50s now, so it’s been around for quite a while,” he said.
Pappas’s parents were some of the volunteers who helped found the event.
The parents of Coun. Don Vassiliadis, who is also a volunteer, were founders of the festival.
“Don and I are second generation to help out with the event and our kids are starting to learn how to help out,” Pappas said.
“Hopefully we will see a third generation taking over.”
The event will include activities for children, raffles and a drink tent.
“This year we have Greek Dancers coming up from Oshawa and we have a Greek band from Danforth that is going to play,” Pappas said.
There will also be a barbecue. “There’s always lots of food, which is good enough to come out most times,” Pappas said.
Food will cost money, but entertainment and activities will be free. He said he hopes to see a diverse turnout at the festival.
“The Greek culture is very inclusive so we do like to kind of share it with the broader community,” Pappas said.
“Peterborough is a multinational city, so the Greek festival that’s been going on for many years is just part of that fabric — that multicultural fabric that makes Peterborough such a strong and vibrant place to want to live.”
Strength is generated from diversity, he said.
“That’s what make society stronger — diversity in itself,” Pappas said.
He encourages people to attend the event.
“Come down and be Greek for an afternoon or a few hours and experience our culture,” Pappas said.