Greek Fest offers taste of culture, faith

Dancers of the Ellas Dance Troupe in Chicago perform at Greek Fest in 2008. (Provided photo)

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What started out as a small church picnic has manifested into a summer staple in DeKalb.

Over the years, families that belonged to St. George Greek Orthodox Church brought their friends and neighbors to the church event, Greek Fest. It grew from there, and is now the church’s major fundraiser.

“You don’t need to be Greek in order to enjoy Greek culture and participate in our activities,” said the Rev. Chris Webb, pastor of St. George.

Bill Vassilogambrar remembers the early days of Greek Fest, which at that time was a small get-together of church members – unnamed and unofficial. It began about the same time as the church formed.

St. George was established in 1963 by a few local businessmen who saw a need for a Greek Orthodox church in town, he said. They pooled their personal money together and bought the former St. Paul Episcopal Church building at 320 S. Second St. The festival started there, moving several times over the years before settling at Hopkins Park.

Vassilogambrar, the parish council president and chairman of Greek Fest, said that new this year will be an arts and crafts fair.

Also, Kurt Becker of the 1985 Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears will sign autographs Sunday afternoon.

But what makes Greek Fest is the food and dancing.

On Saturday, performer Parry Tsangaris will play music on a bauzouki, a Greek electric guitar. There will be Greek dancing by the Chicago-based Ellas Dance Troupe at 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday.

On Sunday, D.J. Steve Markopoulos Mega Sounds will play music.

Both days include games for kids, a Greek grocery story and a handful of community booths.

The weekend’s menu offers authentic Mediterranean dishes of Athenian chicken, shish kabob, lamb, gyros and Greek salad. Greek pastries like baklava – a layered dough with ground nuts, cinnamon and dribbled with honey – and melomacarona – a spiced cookie hand-dipped in honey – are just a few of the fresh desserts.

The food is prepared by area Greek restaurants, and the pastries are handmade by women of the church – with recipes passed on from generations and from Greece, Vassilogambrar said.

Food has a strong connection with the Greek Orthodox faith, said Kathy Wright, a parishioner who moved to DeKalb about 25 years ago. For about one-third of the year, the Orthodox don’t eat meat, and in very strict times of fasting, dairy also is given up.

But this time of year is for feasting.

“When we’re in a nice, festive, summer season like now, there’s a lot of meat and a lot of rich pastry,” Wright said.

Greek dances, on the other hand, don’t have much religious significance, but are rather tied to the different regions of the Greek Isles.

Much of the dancing is done in a large circle, signifying friendship and unity, Webb said.

This all-inclusiveness is seen a fundamental part of the Orthodox faith.

“I’ve been raised to be very embracing of all faiths that believe in God,” Wright said. “Whether that’s Allah, whether that’s the Jewish tradition. ... That’s one of the most beautiful things to me about our faith is that it’s not judgmental at all.”

Only 5 percent of Greek Fest goers are Greek, Vassilogambrar stressed.

He and other organizers hope for good weather to enjoy the food, music and dancing, but if it rains, all food will be available by drive-through service at the shelter house.

If you go

Greek Fest

Hopkins Park shelter house in DeKalb

11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday