NEWS

Greek Festival a sellout

By PETE FONTAINE
Posted 9/13/22

What event serves the best Greek food and pastry – as well as unmatched entertainment, music and hospitality – unlike any other Rite of Summer in Rhode Island?

It’s the Cranston …

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NEWS

Greek Festival a sellout

Posted

What event serves the best Greek food and pastry – as well as unmatched entertainment, music and hospitality – unlike any other Rite of Summer in Rhode Island?

It’s the Cranston Greek Festival and is presented and hosted by countless parishioners at Church of the Annunciation located at 175 Oaklawn Avenue.

The CGF made its 36th annual appearance celebrating The Nativity of the Virgin Mary and offered 23 hours of fun, food and fellowship and, as many people discovered Sunday several hours before closing, was a sellout thanks to what may have been a record-setting crowd.

“The attendance was phenomenal, so many people came -- long time Cranstonians that I recognized from past years but people from other cities who identified themselves to me and some from out of state – one who was from Seattle,” said Rev. Andrew George, pastor of the Greek Orthodox Church. “I especially noted a lot of young adults attended and many came on church tours.”

Likewise, as Father George said with a smile: “A good number of people approached me complimenting on the full program of activities while here and others simply saying thank you for having the festival again. I thanked them for coming. Other people specially noted how smooth the food line was and the pre-packaged meal choice was a great idea.”

When asked who keeps everything running smoothly?  Father George quickly answered “it’s Theofanis (Frank) Markos. He has served as general chairman every year since 1996. “He has long had it down to a science and loves doing it.”

Even the special visitor’s list was much larger than usual, beginning with His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios of Boston who came with Counsel General of Greece in Boston Symeon Tego and his family and offered words of praise after enjoying a delicious dinner and prolific performance by the award-winning Odyssey Dance Troupe under the direction of Dr. Steven Rougas and his mother, pasty co-chair Koula Rougas.

Gov. Dan McKee headlined the list Rhode Island leaders that included Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins and a number of candidates for local and state offices.

Rev. Nick Lanzourakis, Annunciation’s assistant pastor, added: “We are overjoyed with pride and thanksgiving to our Lord for all the blessings of this weekend. The weather was perfect; our visitors enjoyed our hospitality and our volunteers enjoyed providing it. This novel event displays what can be accomplished when we work tougher in fellowship and love as a parish. The joy is seen in all involved and while we just wrapped up our weekend we can’t wait for next year!”

However, as Father Lanzourakis went on: “We look forward to once again opening our doors to the community in form of our Philoptochos Christmas Bazaar in November which among many other things gives the opportunity to share our hospitality and culture once again.”

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