GreekFest celebrates culture, food at St. Nectarios in Palatine

Greek culture, music, dance and, of course, food will be celebrated in Palatine this weekend at St. Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church's annual GreekFest.

The three-day festival kicks off at 4 p.m. Friday and runs until midnight at the church, 133 S. Roselle Road. The fest returns from 3 p.m. to midnight Saturday and noon to midnight Sunday.

Visitors can enjoy American music Friday night and traditional Greek music Saturday and Sunday. Traditional Greek dance troupes also will perform over the weekend.

But perhaps more than anything else, it's the food - from gyros to pork souvlaki to fried delicacies known as loukoumades - that will bring in the crowds.

"The highlight is always our food," said Alexandra Polites, who is co-chairing the fest with Mike Sakalaris and Bill Vlachos. "We have outstanding food prepared by our parishioners."

For those who can't find time to stay at the festival, but want to sample the cuisine, there will be drive-through service from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, and noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

One visitor will walk away with a $10,000 cash prize or a new Harley-Davidson motorcycle through the fest's raffle. Tickets are $20 apiece or six for $100. The winning ticket will be drawn Sunday night, and the winner does not need to be present, Polites said.

Parking with shuttle bus service is available at Holy Family Parish, 2515 Palatine Road in Inverness, and Marion Jordan School, at Palatine and Harrison roads in Palatine.

For more information, visit www.stnectariosgoc.org/greek-fest-home-page or call (847) 358-5170.