Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church in Orange is holding “ODYSSEY 2018: A Greek Festival” from Aug. 31 through Sept. 3. The four-day party features all things Greek, including cuisine, live music, dancing, and a bustling Hellenic agora (marketplace). The festival, which is in its 38th year, will take place on the grounds of the Byzantine-style church, located at 480 Racebrook Rd.
The event includes:
- Classic Greek cuisine: appetizers (meze), Greek pastries (glyka), lamb on the spit (souvla), moussaka, gyro, spanakopita (spinach pie) and pastitisio (Greek style lasagna).
- A “gourmet Meze Grille”: gourmet appetizers, including saganaki (flaming cheese), gyro platter, loukaniko sausage, grilled shrimp, avgolemono soup, dips and pitas.
- Live Greek cooking demonstrations: learn to prepare some classic Greek foods.
- Greek marketplace: gourmet Greek grocery, t-shirts, jewelry, arts and crafts, and a bookstore.
- Treasures ’n Junque: ODYSSEY’s giant tag sale.
- Presentations on Greek culture and religion, along with tours of Saint Barbara Church.
- Greek dance performances: traditional Greek folk dances performed by the ODYSSEY Dancers.
- Greek dance lessons – taught by the ODYSSEY Dancers (8:45 p.m. Saturday and Sunday).
- Nightly dancing to ODYSSEY’s live Greek band, The Hellenic Company.
- Kids’ area: rides, games, and magic shows.
- Raffle: have a chance at winning the grand prize of $10,000 cash or nine additional prizes.
- Senior citizens’ day: senior citizens get a 20 percent discount on snack bar and restaurant tent purchases on Friday, Aug. 31, from noon to 3 p.m.
The festival runs rain or shine Friday, Saturday and Sunday from noon to 10 p.m. and from noon to 7 p.m. Monday. Admission is free. Parking is free on site and at Holy Infant Church next door. There will also be continuous free shuttle bus service from Good Shepherd Church at 680 Racebrook Rd.
For more information, visit saintbarbara.org or call 203-795-1347.