Annual Greek Festival in Pawtucket begins Aug. 19

Gail Ciampa, The Providence Journal
·2 min read

Save the date for a weekend of traditional Greek food, music, and dance at the 95th annual Grecian Festival at the Assumption Greek Church, 97 Walcott St., Pawtucket.

The 95th annual festival begins Friday, Aug. 19, and runs through Sunday, Aug. 21, indoors and out and with appropriate COVID-19 guidance. All the details are at greekfestivalRI.com.

The hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.

The Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church will be hosting its annual festival on the weekend of Aug. 19 in Pawtucket. Homemade Greek food and pastries are the stars
The Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church will be hosting its annual festival on the weekend of Aug. 19 in Pawtucket. Homemade Greek food and pastries are the stars

With a tradition for serving Greek Food to thousands of attendees, the community joined together with strict guidelines for all the cooking and baking. The dishes are all made with family recipes.

Food served on church grounds will include roasted lamb, pork souvlaki and chicken souvlaki dinners, pastichio, moussaka, spanakopita, and more. The pastry booth has homemade desserts such as baklava, rice pudding, almond rolls, baklava cheesecake and more.

You can visit the Kafenio (café) for traditional hot and cold Greek coffees, and bar serving Greek beer, wines, and spirits.

There will also be music, dance, vendors, and Greek “Philoxenia” hospitality. Admission is free.

There is free parking with shuttle service across from Pawtucket City Hall

Greek Butter Twist cookies, called Koulourakia, will be served at The Greek Festival at The Church of the Assumption in Pawtucket but you can make them at home.
Greek Butter Twist cookies, called Koulourakia, will be served at The Greek Festival at The Church of the Assumption in Pawtucket but you can make them at home.

Here's a recipe shared 20 years ago by the baking team for the Grecian Festival in Pawtucket.

Koulourakia

Greek Butter Twists

1 pound unsalted butter

2 cups sugar

5 eggs, plus 1 extra for glaze

2 tablespoons pure vanilla

5½ to 7 cups flour

5 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

Sesame seeds

In electric mixer, beat butter until light. Add sugar and beat 10 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, until mixed well. Beat in vanilla.

In large bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add creamed mixture to this, blending just enough to form a soft dough. Add more flour with hands until dough is soft but not sticky and able to be handled.

Cover dough with a damp towel and let sit for about 15 minutes.

To make cookies, take a small amount of dough and roll into a narrow log about ½-inch wide and 6-inches long. Shape into twists

Place twists on greased cookie sheet, brush with beaten remaining egg. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and bake at 350 degrees for about 20-25 minutes until golden.

Store when cooled in tightly covered container.

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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: The Grecian Festival takes place at the Assumption Greek Church