Big Changes Coming To Annual Greek Festival This Weekend On Avenue P
by Megan McGibney
The Three Hierarchs Greek Orthodox Church at 1724 Avenue P, near Kings Highway, is getting ready to hold its annual three-day Greek Festival this weekend. At the same time, it is preparing for some big changes to the festival compared to recent years.
“Things have been stagnant in recent years,” said organizer George Pleveritis. “In the past, the festival was like a food fair with some general music. But now, we want to try something different, and make it better.”
Making it better means having the three-day festival include children events on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, a vendor market for small business owners, and a Cretan Night on Saturday evening – in addition to all the food it was known for.
Pleveritis hopes that by revamping the Greek Festival it will create more interest which would lead to turning the event into a major community attraction in the coming years. This is made possible by the church’s board having newer, younger members who are convincing the veteran board members of the event’s possibilities.
“I was in Astoria last week for the Greek Festival held by St. Dmitrios, and it was mayhem,” he says. “People were so in tuned in to what was going on.”
Pleveritis is hoping Three Hierarchs’ festival will be just as successful. He believes that by having a Cretan Night, where the focus will be on the music and food of Crete, is the best way to kick off this goal.
“We’re thinking about having a theme each year,” said Pleveritis, “We chose Crete because it is the largest island in Greece, and Cretans have a very good sense of pride in their music.”
Two well-known Cretan musicians, Christos Fasarakis and Greg Manouselakis, will be providing the music during Cretan Night, and Manouselakis is thrilled over what the revised Greek Festival can become.
“[I thought] what a great idea/event to bring the Greek community together,” Manouselakis said in an email. “Cretan[s] are proud in general. We are proud of our heritage, island, foods, music, etc.”
Even Michelle Lambrakis, who has been attending Three Hierarchs for 25 years, is excited by this year’s event. She will be one of the Small Business Booth vendors, where she will sell her handmade skincare products, Kismi Bella.
“A lot of people are very interested, and it’s going to be big this year,” she said. “I’m very happy that it’s expanding, there’s a lot of new ideas with the new people on the board. It was a little bit slow in recent years, so it is a great thing to see this.”
Funds raised from this festival will go to the Three Hierarchs’ general church needs and programs. Organizers like Pleveritis are hoping about 100 attendants will spell success and be the start of their long-term goals for the festival.
“The more people talk about it, the more they can’t wait for it,” he says. “I want this to become a festival everyone talks about, and say they can’t wait for next year.”
The event’s schedule is as follows:
- Friday, May 29: 5pm – midnight (Cretan Night)
- Saturday, May 30: Noon – midnight (Hellenic Night)
- Sunday May 31: Noon – 6pm
The festival will take place on church grounds, both indoors and outdoors. Admission to the event is free. Guests may pay for the food per item.