It's all about the food at Greek Fest
For 38 years, St. Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church, 133 S. Roselle Road in Palatine, has hosted an annual celebration of Greek cuisine and culture.
Greek Fest returns this year from 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. to midnight Saturday and noon to 11 p.m. Sunday, June 22-24. Admission is a freewill donation.
Drive-through food hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Friday and noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
New this year, according to co-chairman and parish council member Aristides Smith of Palatine, are some non-meat options - a fried calamari appetizer, as well as lima beans, oven-baked Greek style, since the festival takes place during the Apostles' Fast.
In addition to the food, Smith said, "Visitors can enjoy live music - traditional Greek as well as more modern tunes - along with Greek dance exhibitions, kids' games and Plaka shopping."
The full lineup of music and events is on the festival website, palatinegreekfest.com/.
It takes a lot of work and organized leadership to put on such a large festival, Smith said, giving a nod to Peter Lembessis, chairman of the festival, who has been involved since 2007, and honorary chair the Rev. Peter Balkas, "who has been a prime motivator and spiritual leader for all of us over these past years."
A small army of support staffers makes sure everything runs smoothly.
"There are over 540 festival support positions, of which 320 are volunteers," Smith added.
Organizers expect about 15,000 people to attend the festival over its three-day run.
"(The festival) is a fundraiser to support the church's efforts in community projects and events during the year," Smith said.
Parking is free, with shuttle bus service that runs every 15 minutes from Holy Family Catholic Church and Marion Jordan Elementary School, both located off Palatine Road.
For details, visit the website or call (847) 447-1048.
St. Nectarios Greek Fest menu
<b>Main festival and drive-through dinners</b>• Souvlaki dinner: pork shish-kabobs marinated in lemon, oregano, and other Grecian spices
• Pastichio dinner (Greek lasagna): Oven baked pasta with meat sauce topped with bechamel sauce
• Athenian chicken dinner: one half charbroiled roasted chicken, steeped in lemon, oregano, and other Grecian spices
• Gyros plate dinner
• Small Greek salad with dinner (extra charge)
<b>Taverna Mezzedakia / Appetizers</b>• Spread of Greece: spicy feta, tarama, skordalia, olives
• Loukanika: Greek sausage
• Mini souvlakia: on the stick pork shish-kabobs, tyropita, spanakopita, mezedakia plate with loukanoko, tyropita, sagnaki
• Tyropita: cheese puff, four per serving)
• Spanakopita: spinach puffs, four per serving
• Mezedakia plate: loukanoko, tyropita (2), spanakopita (2)
• Saganaki: flaming cheese
<b>Fasting/non-meat options</b>• Fried calamari appetizer
• Lima beans, oven baked Greek style