The San Luis Obispo Greek Festival returns to San Luis Obispo with its 16th annual event on May 31 and June 1, at the Madonna Expo Center, 100 Madonna Rd. The festival hours are Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
$5+ Tickets available now at GreekFestivalSLO.com. Parking and kids under 12 are free.
The Greek Festival is one of San Luis Obispo’s most highly-anticipated cultural events and a SLO tradition; and is hosted by the parishioners of Saint Andrew Greek Orthodox Church, located in San Luis Obispo. The family-friendly weekend features authentic mouthwatering Greek cuisine, delectable desserts, live traditional music and dancing, as well as shopping and cultural exhibits.
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 called “Kefi”! a feeling of joy and good vibes!
Highlights of the 2-day festival include:
- Authentic mouth watering Greek food and pastries
- Beer and local wines made by Greeks
- Live 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.
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, St. Basil Academy in New York and more. 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 the community.
The SLO Greek Festival is looking for energetic and reliable volunteers to help out with the festival. To get involved, please send an email to: [email protected]
For more information, visit the website at www.greekfestivalslo.com.