Opa! Fayetteville’s Greek Festival returns this weekend. Here's what to know before you go

Fayetteville’s Greek Festival, now in its 33rd year, returns Saturday and Sunday at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church.

Thousands are expected to attend the event, located at 614 Oakridge Ave., from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Festivalgoers will feast on baklava, gyros and loukoumades, all while enjoying Greek music, dancing and culture.

“It shows our cultural influence in the community,” said Basil Hasapis, a church member and restauranteur who helps run the kitchen at the festival.

Headed there? Here’s everything you need to know.

How much does it cost to attend the Fayetteville Greek Festival?

Parking and entrance to the event are free. Food, drinks, jewelry, art and olive oil will be for sale.

What's on the menu this year?

A team of about 20 volunteers and paid help are running both indoor and outdoor kitchens to produce a menu of sweet and savory Greek dishes, Hasapis said.

The kitchen crew has been chopping vegetables, marinating meat and making sauce from scratch in the days leading up to the event.

Last year, the kitchen sold out of some items, Hasapis said.

“We got slammed,” he said. “We’re trying to be even more prepared this year.”

The food stands accept credit card and cash payments. All proceeds benefit the church. Here is what will be served:

Savory dishes

• Gyro, $8: Lamb and beef served in a warm pita with lettuce, tomatoes and tzatziki sauce

• Chicken gyro, $8: Marinated grilled chicken served in a warm pita with lettuce, tomatoes and tzatziki sauce

• Souvlaki, $8: Pork kabob served in a warm pita with tzatziki sauce

• Dolmathes, $6: Grape leaves stuffed with seasoned rice and onions

• Spanakopita: Greek savory pie with spinach and feta cheese wrapped in a flaky phyllo dough

• Pastichio, $10: A Greek-style lasagna-like dish, made with macaroni, bechamel, cheese sauce and spiced tomato and meat sauce.

• Greek salad, $8: Tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, olives, feta and lettuce with Greek dressing

• Chicken tenders, $4: Chicken tenders and a choice of ketchup or tzatziki

• Greek fries, $3: Served with Greek seasoning

Sweet treats

• Baklava, $12 for 6: Layered pastry made with phyllo dough, chopped nuts and honey

• Galaktoboureki, $6 for 2: Phyllo dough with custard filling and a honey, cinnamon and lemon syrup

• Finikia, $10 for 6: Spiced cookies dipped in honey, traditionally served at Christmas

• Kataifi, $10 for 4: Shredded wheat topped with honey and nuts

• Kolourakia, $10 for 12: Butter and vanilla pastry with egg glaze, traditionally served at Easter

• Kourambethes, $12 for 6: Shortbread-style cookie made with ground almonds and topped with powdered sugar

• Amygdalota, $10 for 4: A Greek twist on the macaroon

Overwhelmed by the choices? Hasapis said he recommends the souvlaki and galaktoboureko.

Will alcohol be served at the Fayetteville Greek Festival?

Wine, as well as ouzo, an anise-flavored Greek spirit usually enjoyed over ice, will be served at the event, Hasapis said.

Things to do at the Fayetteville Greek Festival

The festival will have a D.J. and a Greek band featuring a bouzouki, a musical instrument popular in Greece akin to an electric guitar.

“It gives it that Greek sound,” Hasapis said.

Young dancers, ages 5 to 7, will take to the stage to perform traditional Greek dances. An all-expenses-paid trip for two to Greece will be raffled off.  Raffle tickets are sold for $5 apiece.

There are also free church tours available, led by Father Alexander Papagikos.

Food, dining and business reporter Taylor Shook can be reached at tshook@gannett.com, on Twitter, or Facebook. Want weekly food news delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the Fayetteville Foodies newsletter. 

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville Greek Festival schedule, parking, food and prices