Greek coffee
“OPA” Mark your calendars—The Saint Andrew Greek Orthodox Church Greek Festival is approaching soon. Proistamenos, Father George Konstantopoulos, Greek Festival Chairman, Nick V. Giannakakis and co-chairs, Tim Karamalegos, Terry Karaszewski, Tom Limberopoulos and Bill Giannakakis have announced the dates for the 38th Annual Greek Festival. The dates and times are Friday, June 7 from 4p.m. to 11p.m.; Saturday, June 8 from 12 (noon) to 11p.m.; and Sunday, June 9 from 11a.m. to 5p.m. The Festival will be held on the church grounds at 52455 N. Ironwood, in South Bend, IN, two blocks north of Cleveland.
The Annual Greek Festival is a chance for you, your family and friends to enjoy the food, music and atmosphere of Greece right here in South Bend, IN. In keeping with that objective as you walk the building and areas of the Festival you will come across posters with descriptions, anecdotes and other interesting facts about life in Greece. We also do our best to do something new every year. This year we will have a big festival raffle with $10,000 to the first prize winner!
Follow Presbytera Elaine through over 2000 years of Greek Orthodox history. She will discuss the Orthodox Church and its traditions, religious items and their uses, among other aspects of the Church. There will, of course, be a question and answer session following the tour. Please note: if you are planning on attending the tour you need to be in proper attire (no shorts or tank tops) and there is no food allowed in the Church. We thank you for respecting our Church. Tour times will be posted in several locations around the festival.
The menu will include our delicious and authentic food variety prepared in our kitchen. Many St. Andrew’s chefs are or were Michiana restaurateurs and were brought up in the business of pleasing the palates of their guests. Succulent Roast leg of lamb, flavorful Greek style chicken, Greek Pastitio, Pork or Chicken Souvlakia (kebobs), Greek green beans, Greek salad, rice, and mouth watering Gyros sandwich, Spinach or Cheese pies. Dine-in or carry-out (call 574-277-4688). To finish your meal, don’t forget to pick up an enticing Baklava or St. Andrew specialty the delectable Loukoumathes (Honey puffs). Beverages available will be soft drinks, bottled water, Greek coffee, Greek wine and beer, and draft beer. Seating is available inside and outside and the food lines inside are fast.
We have several forms of entertainment this year, a live Greek band Friday and Saturday evenings with the Dance Troupe performances inside and outside and an expanded children’s area. Again this year for the children, we will have carnival games, gyros sandwich, hot dogs, French fries and ice cream.
The Greek music generally played at the festival falls under the category of laika or urban songs. After World War II, music featuring the bouzouki (an eight-string instrument made in Greece) became the rage all over Greece. Popularly referred to as bouzouki music, nightclubs called bouzoukia flourished and continue to do so today. Most laika music today features the bouzouki sound. The bouzouki is now considered the premier Greek instrument. During a solo taxim, the bouzouki takes the listener from painful loneliness to exuberant happiness.
The live Greek band, Ormi Orchestra , will perform Friday and Saturday nights from 5-11p.m.
There will be set performances times of the Dance Troupe throughout the festival: Friday 6:00p, (indoors) & 8pm (outdoors); Saturday 6:00p, (indoors) & 8pm (outdoors); and Sunday at 1pm indoors. The Elwood Splinters Blues Band will perform Saturday and Sunday 2-5pm.
Outdoor seating under the big tent or under the stars is available for those who wish to enjoy the weather. It’s a wonderful place to enjoy your spanakopita, pastitio, tyropita, chcken, souvlaki or roast leg of lamb with trimmings in Grecian flair. There will also be indoor seating available in the Good Samaritan Cultural Center.
The ladies from Saint John Chrysostomos Monastery will joining us again this year. They have a beautiful selection of hand-painted icons, books and other religious items. We also have a Greek vendor who will have many Greek items, t-shirts, artwork and gift items. So don’t forget to stop by.
Let’s not forget the tantalizing Greek Pastry and Greek Coffee Shop. They have all your favorites baklava, melomakarona, loukoumades and kouroumbiedes just to name a few mouth-watering treats.
Carry out will be available during festival hours. Greek pastries can be frozen for your own pastry use or the family to enjoy. Just ask the ladies at the Bake Shop how. Beverages will be wine, beer coffee, Greek coffee, and Coca-Cola products. NOW ACCEPTING MAJOR CREDIT CARDS.
St. Andrew is home to 300 families that include members from South Bend, Mishawka, LaPorte, Osceola, Granger, Elkhart, Goshen, Michigan City, New Buffalo, Niles, Warsaw, Stevensville and Logansport.
The Festival Committee is headed by Father George and the Festival Chairman, Nick V. Giannakakis. Volunteers help in the kitchen, food lines, clean-up and set-up. They are the backbone of the Greek festival.
General admission for the festival is $3 per person after 5p.m. on Friday and after 2pm on Saturday; and $2 per person after 2pm on Sunday, children under 12 are free. Parking is free and located to the north and to the west of the Church building. BIG RAFFLE DRAWING on Saturday, June 8, 2013 at 10pm. First prize is $10,000. There is a 50/50 raffle daily.
So join us for a glimpse of Greek life!
For more information please call the Public Relations at 574-277-4688 or on Facebook under St Andrew Greek Church. HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!
FATHER GEORGE KONSTANTOPOULOS, PROTOPRESBYTER
FESTIVAL CHAIRMAN: NICK V. GIANNAKAKIS
FESTIVAL CO-CHAIRS: TIM KARAMALEGOS
TERRY KARASZEWSKI
TOM LIMBEROPOULOS
BILL GIANNAKAKIS