Greek Fest Returns To Halifax
HALIFAX-For more than 30 years, a group of dedicated volunteers has put together an annual celebration of family, friendship, community, and the beauty of Greek culture.
Over the weekend of June 9-12, that celebration is back, and in-person. For the last two years, the Covid-19 pandemic forced organizers to take Greek Fest virtual. But this year the event takes place at 1146 Purcell’s Cove Road in Halifax. Attendees can expect two things Greece is famous for: great food and great dancing.
“Greek dancing has always been such an integral part of the culture, if you’ve ever watched Zorba The Greek,” says event organizer Natasha Compton, who learned Greek dancing as a child. “We love to express ourselves through dance. For our Greek community here, dancing and food are the two things that really unite us.”
Even though Greek Fest is back to being a live event, people who are still wary of going out because of Covid can order their food online. But for those who are ready to celebrate in person, be prepared for a warm welcome.
Antonia Panogitoakos is the head cook and volunteer organizer of Greek Fest. She has been involved since the very first Greek Fest, three decades ago. She recalls growing up in Greece, before immigrating to Halifax in 1966, and the large gatherings the communities would have back then.
“The fun that people have over there; families were more together,” she says. “Baptisms of the children and weddings were all big affairs, a big festival. Everybody was together; in a village anything that would happen, everybody would be involved. There was no ‘invitation to you but not to me,’ everybody was invited.”
That notion of a whole village being invited is what motivated the Greek community to start the festival in the first place. Greeks are known for their hospitality and they wanted to share their culture.
“Everybody from the old country wanted to share whatever we had with this community,” said Panogitoakos.
Greek Fest also acts as a major fundraiser for the St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church. The proceeds help with things like new construction and charitable programs.
But the event wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers and the business community. There is a long list of sponsors, including Greek-owned Halifax businesses like Cosmo Properties + Development, Hanias Properties, Totally Electric, and J2K Properties.
“The business community really comes out every year and supports the GreekFest from the very beginning,” said Compton.
As one can imagine, many man-hours for Greek Fest are put into preparing the massive amount of food that will be sold to festival goers. Ingredients include 100 pounds of butter, 150 litres of milk, and 250 kilograms of sugar.
“The recipes are homemade,” says Compton. “The food you will eat at the festival is the food they’d serve at their house if you were a guest.”
“Us Greek ladies, we only know how to cook for large groups. I never learned how to make a small spinach pie for four people. I only know how to make a pan for 30.”
The festival will also contribute to the local retail and wholesale economy. This year, Greek Fest is buying as many local ingredients as possible. The event will also feature drinks from New Scotland Brewing and Chain Yard Urban Cidery.
So, whether you choose to order your food online or enjoy the music and dancing in-person, festival organizers say everyone in Halifax and beyond is invited.
“For the weekend, it’s our way of inviting everyone to join a Greek family,” says Compton.
Derek Montague is a Huddle reporter in Halifax. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].