Opa!
Odyssey dance, opulent vendor offerings, ouzo and oh so much more was at the Greek Festival at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on Telfair Street Friday.
The lines were long as people came straight after work, but people moved through quickly. And the tzatziki sauce, a mixture of yogurt, garlic and cucumber, flowed as volunteers served up a variety of dishes such as gyros, spanakopita, Greek chicken and Greek potatoes to the crowds.
And there were plenty of delectable desserts for the sweet tooth.
The baklava half-dipped in chocolate with its flaky phyllo dough, nuts, and honey sat next to the diples bows, tempting festival goers.
One volunteer suggested taking at least one piece of baklava home, heating it up in the microwave, putting ice cream on it and enjoying it that way later.
It was like Greek pie a la mode, she said.
Not only was a variety of Greek food available, but Greek themed crafts and other items were available from vendors.
On Friday night, Marie’s Bakaliko, a dry goods and craft vendor from the Atlanta area, had some ouzo for sale among other Greek items. And Marie Chapman, and her daughter, Catherine, sold their handmade items.
They have been selling items together for five years – mostly at Greek festivals.
Catherine Chapman said she sublimated mugs and cups and engraved wood and acrylic.
“I did the graphic design work and placement for Athena’s owl on stickers and a reusable bag,” said Chapman.
She created a floral acrylic mosaic of which she was the proudest.
“It simulates stained glass,” she said.
Nowicki’s Chickies of Edgefield not only had handmade goat milk soap and lotions for sale but imported Greek and Turkish clothing.
Nearby Louisa Malchlouf and Jane Boulos of Crafts of Bethlehem had a table full of carved items of religious iconography made of olive wood and imported from the Holy Land.
And Soma Body, an organic business specializing in lotions, scrubs, toiletries, and sundries, is also on site.
Other vendors had cork purses and hats, olive oil, bowls, jewelry and even matryoshka dolls for sale.
And what’s a festival without entertainment? There’s plenty under the tents, and of course, it’s Greek-flavored. Musicians played some Greek songs while The Odyssey Dancers performed modern Greek dances, pleasing the crowds and evoking joyful shouts with their enthusiastic rhythmic stomping.
The festival continues from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Entry is free and open to the public.
The Asteraikia and Odyssey groups will be performing modern and traditional Greek dance at noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m, and 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4 and at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5.
South Carolina author, former teacher and veteran journalist Ron Baxley, Jr. is a social media manager working on a Southern television series. His latest novel, “O.Z. Diggs the Fifth Estate” is available in regional comics shops, bookstores, and gift shops. Reach him at ronbaxleyjr.com.
