The Sacramento Greek Festival is returning for its 60th anniversary. What’s new this year?
The Sacramento Greek Festival is returning to the city for its 60th year, celebrating Greek culture, traditions and food.
The family-friendly, three-day event kicks off Friday at the Greek Orthodox Church, 616 Alhambra Blvd., across from McKinley Park.
Koula Gianulias, a volunteer with the festival, told The Bee that they are expecting to see 10,000 attendees from Friday to Sunday.
“Our 60th anniversary is an incredible milestone and we are grateful that the Sacramento community has dined and danced with us for the past six decades!” Stefanie Hionis, 2023 Festival Co-Chair, said in a press release.
Gianulias said three generations of her family are participating in the festival. Her kids are in the Greek dance, their yiayia and papou — grandmother and grandfather — are making pastries, and she and her husband are running the bar and festival publicity.
“We are truly grateful for the community’s support over six decades, and we don’t take it for granted,” Gianulias said. “We hope we make it to 100 years, so that our kids and hopefully our grandchildren participate in this amazing event!”
According to its website, the festival has a village-style atmosphere, symbolizing the Greek passion for life, food, drink and dance.
In honor of its sixth decade, the festival is offering food specials featuring popular menu items that they’ve served since 1963 when it started, organizers said in the press release.
This includes an “Anniversary Pastry Box” with baklava, kourambiethes (almond cookies) and melomakarona (honey cookies), and a “Anniversary Meze Box” with dolmades, feta-stuffed cherry peppers and Kalamata olives.
There will also be commemorative 60th anniversary t-shirts, aprons and cookbooks, as well as performances and drinks.
Entertainment includes Greek dancers, free dance lessons and traditional live music from Mythos Band and DJ Chris Perris.
When is the festival?
The festival runs 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
Tickets
Tickets for people 13 years old and up are $5.
People 65 years and up are $3, and kids 12 years and under are free. Admission is also free if you ride your bike to the festival.
Tickets are sold at the door.
Parking
People can park for free at C and 40th streets, according to the festival website. There will also be a free bus shuttle that will get you to and from the festival.
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