Say “Opa!” at the Niagara Greek Festival
It takes about 12,000 handmade chicken souvlaki skewers to make a Niagara Greek Festival. And about 50,000 loukoumades, those honey-soaked, deep-fried dough puffs, too. Then there are the countless pounds of feta, rice, and braised lamb shanks prepared and served by hundreds of volunteers.
Add it all up and it will take a Greek village to feed the region when the Niagara Greek Festival returns for its 13th year to St. Catharines on Labour Day weekend.
But the four-day event, which runs Aug. 31 to Sept. 3 at the Greek Community of Niagara Community Centre and Greek Orthodox Church located at 585 Niagara Street, is about more than fromscratch souvlaki and spanakopita, organizers say.
It’s about showcasing Greek culture, from food and language to music and dance.
“For me personally, I get great pleasure out of being able to share my culture,” said Harry Korosis, co-chair of the festival organizing committee. “It’s an ethnocultural exchange that we get to share with the community at large, which is fantastic.”
Niagara is keen to join in the festivities, too. Since the festival moved to Labour Day weekend three years ago, it’s drawn as many as 15,000 people.
That hasn’t just been a boom for the local Greek community. Others have also benefitted from the festival’s success, including Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold, the event’s charity partner.
“So we encourage people to come out and bring as much food as they can because it will really benefit Community Care,” Korosis said.
The Greek Community of Niagara will also share some festival proceeds with the Alzheimer Society of Niagara Region. Three hundred “fun packs” filled with food, beverage and Kidz Zone vouchers have been set aside for children and their caregivers with Family and Children’s Services Niagara to experience the festival, too.
“We’re very thankful for the support we get. It’s a two-way street. We’re able to put on the festival but it also helps the community,” Korosis said.
Much of what people have come to expect and love about the festival will return again this year, including the dance troupes from Niagara and beyond, the activitypacked Kidz Zone and the Agora Marketplace.
The popular Niagara Greek Festival raffle with a grand prize of $5,000 up for grabs at the event, and an early bird draw in August for a trip to Las Vegas, also returns.
Still, the festival is continuously refined by the organizing committee, ensuring the top-notch experience year after year, which made the event one of the region’s premier parties.
“It’s making sure we can provide an experience people have come to expect. We offer exceptional food at great prices and a great atmosphere,” Korosis said. “It’s a great way to wrap up summer.”
Visit niagaragreekfestival.com to learn more.