Greek Festival starts Saturday

annual Greek Festival this weekend, June 4-5, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day.The festival, which has become part of Downey's annual celebrated festivities, much like the Holiday Lane Parade, Street Faire and Kids Day, attracts thousands of visitors from throughout Southern California. The festival has come to be recognized for its authentic Greek food, including souvlaki (meat on a stick), gyros, barbecued lamb, spanakopita and dolmades, in addition to homemade pastries such as loukoumades, baklava and kourambiethes, made by the St. George Philoptohos women. Jim Spathos, this year's festival committee chair, said he and his subcommittee chiefs have been "working tirelessly to ensure that this year's Downey Greek Festival will be the best ever." This year's festival will feature more tables, food, art and gift booths, plus raffles. There will be an added emphasis on Greek hospitality and enthusiasm, organizers said. Guests can enjoy lunch or dinner at the festival, or purchase food and pastries to take home. Guests can also sip Greek coffee while enjoying traditional and modern Greek music. As in previous years, the festival will feature dance performances by St. George's award-winning dance groups. Tours of St. George's sixth-century Byzantine-style sanctuary will be given throughout the weekend, where visitors can view the newly-installed Byzantine Iconostasion (icon screen) and the new art on the church walls. An admission donation of $2 is requested after 4 p.m. for adults 13 and older. Seniors and children under age 12 are admitted free any time. St. George Greek Orthodox Church is at 10830 Downey Ave.

********** Published: June 2, 2011 - Volume 10 - Issue 7