Opa! Augusta Greek Festival returns October 13. Here's what to know

Miguel Legoas, Augusta Chronicle
·3 min read

One of Augusta's most popular festivals returns Thursday, Oct. 13, through Sunday, Oct. 16. Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church is organizing its fall Augusta Greek Festival, with all of the food, music, dancing and other Greek delights guests have enjoyed for over 30 years. Plus, all of the proceeds benefit the church and its community missions.

When and where is the Greek Festival?

The festival runs 4-9 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It's located in the parking lot of the Greek Orthodox Church at 953 Telfair Street in Augusta.

The dance troupe Odyssey, representing the church's teenage ministry called the Greek Orthodox Youth of America, performs during the 23rd annual Augusta Greek Festival at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012.
The dance troupe Odyssey, representing the church's teenage ministry called the Greek Orthodox Youth of America, performs during the 23rd annual Augusta Greek Festival at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012.

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What's on the menu?

The headliner of the Augusta Greek Festival is the hundreds of pounds of traditional Greek food volunteers prepare and sell. Chairwoman Michelle Enis said during last spring's festival that they go through 400 to 500 pounds of lamb alone, which is served as sandwiches, gyros, and roasted leg dinner plates.

Volunteers make gyros during the Augusta Greek Festival at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on Telfair Street on Friday, April 29, 2022. The festival returned to all in-person activities this spring.
Volunteers make gyros during the Augusta Greek Festival at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on Telfair Street on Friday, April 29, 2022. The festival returned to all in-person activities this spring.

Some of the other staples include kota lathoregano (Greek half-chicken), souvlaki kabobs, and feta fries.

Lunches and dinners may be finished with a variety of pastry desserts like pastes Mickey (a kind of Mousse cake) and assorted baklava options, including the newer chocolate baklava.

To wash it all down, there will be sodas, beer, and Greek wines available.

A full menu can be found on holytrinityaugusta.org/fall-greek-festival.

Is delivery or drive-thru available?

The church partnered with Augusta To Go to offer delivery services, but they are not doing so this year. There will also not be a drive-thru.

What other entertainment is featured?

The festival features multiple vendors, selling a variety of Greek and religious gifts to take home from silvery jewelry to hand-carved wooden creations.

Maggie McBurney (left) and Sandi Savell shop during the first day of the Augusta Greek Festival at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on Telfair Street on Friday, April 29, 2022.
Maggie McBurney (left) and Sandi Savell shop during the first day of the Augusta Greek Festival at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on Telfair Street on Friday, April 29, 2022.

During the shopping and in between bites of food, there is both a live DJ and live musicians playing traditional Greek music, plus professional Greek dancers showing their moves and giving guests a small tutorial as well.

Where does the money go?

Proceeds from the festival help the church support community services and programs such as local college scholarships, the Bags of Care program, which serves the needy and homeless, and Holy Trinity Soup Kitchen.

The church saw an uptick in its proceeds last spring, when they were able to finally have a full in-person festival after being forced to organize a drive-thru only festival since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kallit Stewart, 19, takes customers' orders in the parking lot of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on opening night October 2, 2020, for the Greek Festival drive-thru in Augusta, GA.
Kallit Stewart, 19, takes customers' orders in the parking lot of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on opening night October 2, 2020, for the Greek Festival drive-thru in Augusta, GA.

Enis said the response to their return was "insane" and last festival was "probably the biggest spring festival yet. I think people were just so ready to get out and enjoy the food, and they worked with us and they were patient with us on the drive-thru, but people looked forward to the music and the vendors. It was epic."

What's new for the fall 2022 Greek Festival?

In past festivals, there were food booths and seating indoors and outdoors. But this time, there will only be outdoor dining and volunteers will serve all of the non-dessert food in one outdoor booth. The sweets will be sold from a second outdoor both separate from the savories.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Augusta Greek Festival's feta fries, baklava and more return Oct. 13