Food fest joins pantheon of cultural events
November 19, 2009
This year’s Greek Food Festival was greeted with clear skies, bright sun and bustling crowds. The festival is one of Tallahassee’s most popular fall events, drawing an estimated 20,000 people over the weekend.
The coordinators and attendees of Tallahassee’s Greek Food Festival alike enjoyed a variety of food and entertainment showcasing Greek cultural traditions. The Holy Mother of God Greek Orthodox Church hosted the festival, which took place over Oct. 23 and 24.
Hosting such a large number of people requires an equally large amount of preparation. To have an adequate amount of food for the guests, church volunteers began preparing in June, cooking foods that can be frozen and preserved until the festival in October. A whole pantheon of Greek favorites were included in the festival’s menu including gyros, souvlaki, pastitsio, baklava, finikia, and dolmades.
Despite the heavy preparations, the food never seems to last. The dolmades ran out at 2 p.m. on Saturday with eight hours in the festival remaining.
“This is the biggest Saturday ever in the record for us,” said festival coordinator Harriet Kanelidis.
While food remains the centerpiece of the festival, other elements of Greek culture are also on display. Greek musicians and dance groups not only performed for festival goers, but invited them up to the stage to dance as well.
Georgea Polizos, a graduate student at FSU, teaches the advanced dance group that performed at the festival. According to Polizos, the dances performed and costumes worn are indicative of where a performer is from. Polizos said she found the audience’s interest in the performances gratifying.
“When people clap along and come up to us afterword and ask us questions, it’s really rewarding.” said Polizos.
The festival also gives the Holy Mother of God church the chance to educate festival-goers about their Greek Orthodox faith. Rev. Father Robert O’Loughlin hosts the church tours.
“Our church doors are open to let people see what the church is all about because not many people know where to place the orthodox church.” said Father O’Loughlin.
However, the festival serves a purpose aside from educating and entertaining the Tallahassee community. Proceeds from the festival go toward several charities, including the Children’s Home Society of Florida, Eldercare Services, the Boys Town of North Florida, and others.
The Greek Food Festival is a a popular community and family event that will likely be around for years to come.
“We just love the comraderie, the fellowship that the people have here,” said Olibia Coumanis Drzewiecki, a festival volunteer. “It’s a good time.”
