Event co-chair Dana Kantalis hopes visitors to the Original Greek Festival learn one Greek word: philoxenia. ”That directly translates to ‘love of strangers,”’ Kantalis offers. ”Our culture as a whole is a loving, endearing environment filled with passion, delicious homemade fare and great pleasure in good wines and dear friends…and dancing. Lots of dancing!”
Before visitors get to the homemade fare (the festival’s main attraction for many), Kantalis hopes they’ll tour the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral complex, which is home to several hand-painted Byzantine icons. ”Cathedral tours offer a little bit of insight on our Eastern Orthodox faith, traditions and community,” Kanalis says. ”As a community, we give of our time and talent and come together not only to share our culture, but our Orthodox faith.” As with its 46 annual predecessors, the festival features authentic Greek food including souvlaki, spanakopita, gyros and sweet, sweet loukoumades.
5 to 10 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. 3511 Yoakum. For information, call 713-526-5377 or visit originalgreekfestival.com. Free to $5.
Thu., Oct. 3, 5-10 p.m.; Fri., Oct. 4, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. & 5-10 p.m.; Sat., Oct. 5, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun., Oct. 6, 12-6 p.m., 2013
This article appears in Jun 14-20, 2012.
