The San Luis Obispo Greek Festival returns to San Luis Obispo with its 15th annual event on June 1 and 2, at the Madonna Expo Center, 100 Madonna Rd. The festival hours are Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 11 p.m. to 5 p.m. The festival will take place rain or shine.
Admission and parking are free.
The Greek Festival is one of San Luis Obispo’s most highly-anticipated cultural events and is hosted by the parishioners of Saint Andrew Greek Orthodox Church, located in San Luis Obispo. The family-friendly weekend features authentic Greek cuisine, homemade pastries, live traditional music and dancing, as well as shopping and cultural exhibits.
The Greek Festival has become a San Luis Obispo tradition. This is an opportunity for the Saint Andrew parish to share the Greek culture, sounds and tastes of Greece with the community in which it resides. It’s a way of showing the people in the community the true meaning of Greek hospitality.
Highlights of the 2-day festival include:
- Authentic Greek food and pastries
- Beer and local wines
- Greek music and dancing
- Performances by traditional Greek dance groups
- Hellenic cultural booth
- Community booth
- A marketplace with unique gifts and souvenirs
The Greek Festival brings different groups in the community together in many ways. The local parish of Saint Andrew bands together in its largest community outreach of the year. Saint Andrew’s parishioners and friends pull together for weeks to prepare the traditional dishes and pastries that everyone comes to enjoy. These Greek dishes are prepared by using fresh ingredients from cherished family recipes and vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options will be available.
Festival guests will witness a variety of traditional Greek dances performed by youth and adult groups. Our Cal Poly outreach brings students who rally to help prepare and serve at the festival; and they have their own competitive Greek dance group that performs at the festival. Also, other traditional Greek dancers, who come from outside the parish, will participate in the dance performances at the festival. After learning a few steps from the free dance lessons provided by the dancers, you’ll be dancing along with them and doing traditional Greek dances like the Syrto.
The Greek Festival is a fundraiser for Saint Andrew Greek Orthodox Church. However, an important aspect is that a portion of the funds raised goes back into the community to the outreach programs that Saint Andrew’s supports. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the SLO Noor Foundation and the SLO Food Bank. Saint Andrew’s also works to support Kids ‘n Cancer and Prison Fellowship Ministry. So, attendance supports far beyond the festival itself.
While the Greek Festival is steeped in tradition in many Greek Orthodox churches, it brings together many cultures. The Saint Andrew Greek Orthodox parish is attended and represented by people not only from Greece, but, by those from many other countries: Romania, Serbia, Russia, Syria, Israel, Bulgaria, Ethiopia and Ukraine, to name a few. They all share the same Orthodox faith. And some parish attendees are not Orthodox, but they have found a home in the St. Andrew parish and attend regularly to learn more about the faith and its parish. Everyone comes together to celebrate their commonality and differences. The Greek Festival is just one way for everyone to come together and to celebrate the community.
The SLO Greek Festival is looking for energetic and reliable volunteers to help out with the festival. If you would like to get involved, please send an email to: [email protected]
OPA!