Opa! The Greek Festival begins today at 10 a.m. and runs through Sunday evening at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral at 1931 Sumter St.
This year, the festival will return to its traditional format after hosting a drive-thru for the past two years.
Here’s what to expect at the 35th annual celebration of Greek culture along with a few new things to see at the festival.
What’s new?
Free tours of the sanctuary and interior of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral are a must-do part of the festival. Visitors are welcome inside to see the new iconography in the narthex + cathedral along with updates to the sanctuary. Pro tip — no food or drink is allowed in the church and be sure to dress appropriately.
What’s on the menu?
Authentic Greek cuisine is the top attraction at the festival, and for that, you’ll want to wait in line for food from the inside kitchen.
For lunch
- One-Half Broiled Greek Style Chicken — seasoned with lemon and spices and served with manestra
- Keftedes — Greek-style meatballs with avgolemono (egg + lemon sauce) served on a bed of manestra
For dinner (lunch items are available, plus three more dishes)
- Greek Style Roasted Lamb — served on a bed of manestra
- Pastichio — layers of macaroni and seasoned meat sauce baked with béchamel sauce
- Peasant Shrimp — shrimp sautéed with onions and feta cheese served on a bed of manestra (available Friday)
Sweat treat
- Don’t miss the dessert opportunities in the gymnasium where you can build your own box of Greek pastries with 20+ items to choose from.
Editors pick — David always goes for the Pastichio + Sam goes for the chicken platter with rice, salad, and Greek potatoes.
By the numbers
170,000 — the number of people who attend the annual festival, making it one of the most popular events in the Midlands.
$400,000 — the amount Columbia’s Greek Festival has donated to charity over the past several years.
Click here for more information about shopping at the festival, live entertainment, and photos from past years.
