Tampa Greek Festival 2017

It's a food AND a cultural experience

-4 Snaps! Strongly recommended

Thousands visit the annual Greek fest at the St. Johns Orthodox Church in Tampa

The 2017 edition of the Greek Festival at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church kicked off this weekend and continues for 3 days. And, Orthodox Greeks know how to party. Along with loads of options for Greek food the festival offers traditional Greek dancing (with lessons if you are so inclined), lots of beer, wine, and mixed drinks, and tons of activities for the kids. 
I took the time to participate in the church tour which was complimented by traditional choir music and an interesting (but short) lecture by Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis about the history of the Greek Orthodoxy and the building of the Tampa church as well. If you go, take the time to take the tour! A little education and delish food all in one trip is a great afternoon!

Panigyri Dance Group entertained at the festival and is made up of students through high school are members of the church

Are you kidding me? Baklava Cheese Cake? Yep!

Getting to see the inside of St Johns Ortodox Church and hear about the tenets of the religion were high points of the festival

Like any foodie worth their salt, I started with dessert first. Loukoumades are balls of pastry pushed out 3 at a time into hot oil where they are deep fried until golden brown, the covered with honey, walnuts, and cinnamon. While the Baklava later was good, these little numbers are hot and crispy! 

Fresh Loukoumades- Fried doughnut puffs are then covered in walnuts honey, and cinnamon

Hands of experience make the fresh Loukoumades pastries. She used to make them by hand- thousands per festival- until they got a machine

​There's an entire table dedicated to desserts and coffee in the Great Hall. Go ahead, try to pick just one. Do you go with the traditional Baklava or try something new like Kataifi! Or, as pictured above, go all out for Baklava Cheesecake? Worry not. They are happy to pack up a sampler for you to take home!
​Greeks like honey and nuts on their desserts, not that there's anything wrong with that! But, it's the topping of choice for many sweet  dishes. What are you going to try?

Diples- Honey ripples with nuts and syrup were just one of the offerings on the dessert table

The Great Hall located next to the main church and the OPA tent outside are party central. The hall features 2 huge food serving tables, 2 dessert tables, a stage where bands play Greek dance music, and shopping booths with wears and Greek food ingredients to take home. It's also where the Panigyri Dance group, made up of up to high school aged kids, performs. The OPA tent is where the booze and the the Gyro station are. The tent also houses a small stage with upbeat recorded music playing.  Just outside the tent is the kids play area with a climbing wall, face painting, bounce houses and some small carnival games,  all at extra cost.

Dancers practice for months before the festival to prepare. If they do it well it's a tradition to shower them with money as they dance.

Even with all the great food around I still went with a favorite- The Gyro. It had tender slices of lamb that are nice and peppery, the tomatoes are fresh, and the tzatziki is creamy with just enough to make a mess. It may have tasted better because of the high energy atmosphere with pop greek music playing in the Opa tent. At at any point, hand clapping breaks out to the time of the music, people start dancing in place, and bells at the bar ring from tips.

Greek Combo meal- 2 dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves) 2 meatballs, pastitsio (Greek lasagna), and spanakopita. Wow, that's a lot of food. And, for $13.00 it goes on my great bargain list!