MEMPHIS – The Nicks – Kourvelas, Vergos and Father Vieron – are back with friends and family to serve Mid-Southerners a smorgasbord of the Greek food they love at the 51st annual Memphis Greek Festival. The event, May 8 and 9, is at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church at 573 North Highland.
Kourvelas, chairperson, is bringing back the festival favorites while adding some new features. “Our food is what the community loves, so we’ve got plenty of gyros, spanakopeta and our famous pastries,” Kourvelas said. “Plus, we’re focused on keeping our food prices affordable.”
Admission is $3 for adults and free for children 12 and younger. Advance tickets priced at $15 garner admission plus a full meal of spanakopeta, chicken or pork souvlakia (shish kebab), green beans, a Greek salad, baklava, another pastry and Greek bread. “That’s a lot of hand-prepared food at a great value. No one leaves here hungry,” Kourvelas said. These tickets are available online at www.memphisgreekfestival.com , the church, Ciao Bella and Davis Kidd Booksellers.
Local restaurateurs Nick Vergos and Dimitri Taras serve as the festival’s Grillmasters. Both are looking forward to another record-breaking crowd. Organizers estimate 20,000 patrons attended last year. “I like to call the Memphis Greek Festival our little Greek island on Highland,” said Vergos.
Beyond the food, the festival features a marketplace stocked with imported Greek jewelry, olive oil, clothing and more. Other favorites include live music, dancing and tours of the church sanctuary. This year, an expanded children’s area offers a Youth Olympics event and other activities just for kids.
Father Vieron, who has spent “FIFTY-ONEderful years” celebrating the festival, looks forward to the event every year. “I was here for the first one, and I know what a special time this is for our church. Everyone comes together to help out and give back.” A portion of the proceeds will benefit Youth Villages’ Mentoring Program.
Shuttle buses to and from the festival’s off-site parking locations – including Poplar Plaza, St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Crichton College (aren’t they about to foldand Highland Heights United Methodist Church – will be offered to accommodate parking. For more information, visit www.memphisgreekfestival.com or call the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church at 901.327.8177.
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