VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: St. Sophia’s prepares for Greek Fest
Caleb Spinner: Kicking off this summer, this weekend with several events. ir reporter Shariden Truly is on location to bring us a preview of this weekend’s Syracuse Greek Festival.
Sheridan Truly: That’s right. Caleb. Saint Sofia’s is hosting its 52nd annual Greek fest right here in Syracuse bringing authentic food, music and dancing. Volunteers say there’s one dish that brings people back. The food is more than just a highlight. It’s the core of the celebration. For decades, families, friends and first timers come together at St Sophia church to enjoy Greek dishes made by hand, with many of the recipes being passed down through generations, from spanakopita to baklava, they ve got the full spread. But there’s one particular item that draws festival goers in each year – gyros.
Andy Boucounis: I love the Gyros, they’re the best. You can go anywhere around, you can go to New York City, and I do go to different Greek Festivals in other areas, and, well ours is the best.
Truly: The festival is running through Sunday right here at St Sophia church. So make sure you’re able to come by and try one of their famous gyros.
Spinner: And that all sounds great. Shariden, but l’m curious, being on location, did you see anything that you’re excited about?
Truly: Honestly, I’m super excited to try the baklava. I’m on a huge pistachio kick right now, and I’ve heard that’s what’s in it, but I’m super pumped to try it this weekend Caleb. I’m going to have to spend one of my cheat days down there getting some of that baklava.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — One of Syracuse’s most popular festivals is returning for its 52nd year of authentic food, music, and dancing. St. Sophia’s Orthodox Church is hosting its highly anticipated Greek Fest this weekend, June 5-8, on its grounds.
The event is hosted by St. Sophia’s Orthodox Church parishioners and is a four-day event filled with Greek heritage. Along with the highly touted food, there will be live entertainment and cultural experiences like Greek wine tasting.
Longtime volunteer Andy Boucounis said the gyros at St. Sophia’s cannot be matched.
“I love the gyros. You can go anywhere around, you can even go to New York City. I go to different Greek festivals in other areas and, well, ours is the best,” Boucounis said.
Peter Lemoniades, event chairman for the past 23 years, said there is food for everyone, even those with dietary restrictions. The event will have vegetarian platters, which he said are all gluten-free as well.
Festival attendees can indulge in what volunteers say people come back for year after year: gyros, spanakopita, baklava, and more. All of the food is made in-house by volunteers and church members.
Under the main tent, there will be performances from adult dancers, to dancers in training, and a Greek folk dance instruction on Saturday from 4:30 to 7 p.m.
In addition to the festival’s entertainment and food, the church will be doing guided tours hosted by church leaders. The tour will include a detailed overview of the intricacies of Orthodox iconography, along with fun facts about the designs. Organizers encourage attendees to bring their cameras to catch the stunning designs.
The festival will also include a marketplace for shoppers to explore, stocked with jewelry, books, and clothing, while families enjoy the welcoming cultural environment.
The Greek Fest is free to attend with allotted free parking. St. Sophia’s is also offering complimentary shuttle service from nearby school parking lots.
For more information on the event, you can visit syracusegreekfest.com or contact the church directly via social media.