GREEK FEST - New Orleans Online

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Enjoy a taste of Greek culture on the banks of Bayou St. John. New Orleans, LA ... authentic Greek music performed by the Greek Tycoons. Once the sun goes ...
GREEK FEST Enjoy a taste of Greek culture on the banks of Bayou St. John New Orleans, LA – For more than thirty years, the Greek Festival has brought a touch of Greece straight to the Big Easy on the banks of Bayou St. John. Held in late-May, the annual event features live Greek music, authentic cuisine, live dancers, an outdoor marketplace, and plenty of family-friendly activities. From the time visitors enter the gates of the festival grounds of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Grecian culture permeates the air. The exotic smells of the culinary delicacies are usually the first to welcome visitors and many come to the festival for just that. The main kitchen in the Hellenic Cultural Center serves up new specialties every night including Greek-style fish, oregano chicken, pastitsio, meat dolmades, rice pilaf, and braised artichoke. Outside, there are a number of booths serving such treats such as calamari, feta fries, homemade Greek sausage, grape leaves, baklava, gyros, and slow-roasted spring lamb. The Greek Fest is a great place for relaxing and festival-goers often sprawl out on blankets and in chairs on the grassy grounds along the bayou. Admission tickets also enter visitors in a raffle awarding two round trip tickets to Greece. The event brings a bit of the Mediterranean country to New Orleans with Hellenic dancers and authentic Greek music performed by the Greek Tycoons. Once the sun goes down, everyone flocks to the front of the stage to learn new dances like the Zorba and the Hassapiko. Those looking for a more active festival experience will find plenty to do here. Festival-goers can rent a canoe and paddle the slow-moving waters of Bayou St. John or try their hand at climbing “Mount Olympus”, a 24-foot tall climbing wall. And for those with the stamina, there’s an Olympic Run/Walk 5K Race featuring cash prizes and awards. Tours of the cathedral are also available. Founded in 1866 on Bayou Road, the Holy Trinity Church is one of the first Greek Orthodox Churches in America. After relocating a few times over the years, the church finally settled in on the banks of Bayou St. John in 1980. For more than 35 years, the festival has served as the church’s primary fundraiser and its importance has grown even more post-Katrina.

Admission is $5 for adults and free for children ages 12 and under. For more information on the New Orleans Greek Festival, call (504) 282-0259 or visit www.greekfestnola.com. The New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation promotes the city as a leisure tourism destination throughout the year. Annually, NOTMC’s marketing campaigns include strategic print, broadcast, and Internet advertising and public relations. Web sites: www.NewOrleansOnline.com; www.NewOrleansMuseums.com; www.HearNewOrleansMusic.com. ###