Greek Food Festival Begins Friday, Celebrates its 37th Anniversary

Beginning tonight, Friday, the in Oakmont will host its annual, weekend-long Greek Food Festival—and there's a reason they call it that.

Each year, patrons from all over the region visit the church festival, which is held the last weekend of June. This year is the festival's 37th anniversary.

In Greece, a panayita (festival) consists of good food, drink, music and dancing. The Greek Food Festival in Oakmont offers that—and more—to its visitors.

Andy Gavrilos, co-chairman of the festival committee, estimates that the church sees daily traffic of about 7,500 people during the festival weekend.

They come for the entertainment, to socialize, and most of all, for the food—and lots of it.

Gavrilos said over the course of the weekend, the church sells about:

• 25,000 pastries
• 4,000 orders of loukemades (honey balls) 
• 2,800 gyros (3,000 pounds of meat)
• 2,500 orders of french fries
• 1,400 chicken dinners (each dinner is half a chicken)
• 900 lamb shanks
• 750 souzoukakia dinners (or 2,100 meatballs—there are three in a meal)
• 700 stifatho dinners (beef stew)
• 600 orders of smelts
• Six cases of ouzo

It takes a lot of volunteers and handwork to be able to do that, Gavrilos said.

According to the church website, members of the parish begin making preparations for the festival in January. Preparation includes many hours of meetings, coordinating, food preparation and setting up for the event.

Sophia Facaros of Oakmont has been volunteering in different capacities since 1977. She currently is a co-chair on the pastries committee.

"This is something that makes you feel good, and you get hooked," she said. "We're helping the church and we're proud of our heritage. The festival gives us a chance to share our culture with the community."

The Grecian Express Band will be playing music throughout the three nights, and the Grecian Odyssey Dancers will perform at around 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. all three nights.

The church bookstore, patrons can buy a variety of Greek gifts and religious items, also will be open.

For the first time this year, an ATM machine will be available on site for patrons to use.

For more information about the festival, call 412-828-4144.

Hours of Operation:
Friday, June 24— 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; dinner will be served from 5 to 9.
Saturday, June 25—4 p.m. to 11 p.m.; dinner will be served from 4 to 9.
Sunday, June 26—2 p.m. to 11 p.m.; dinner will be served from 2 to 9.
The patio grill and bar will be open at all times of the festival.