By James FitzPatrick
Contributing Writer
Food, fireworks, and family fun will be on the menu when the Greek Festival makes its annual four-day run in Egg Harbor Township June 1-4.
There will be live music, folk dancing and rides for the kids. But the festival’s unique appeal is the selection of homemade Greek foods, prepared by parishioners of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.
Just about everything you can expect to find at a Greek taverna will be available.
“I think the pastitsio might be my favorite,” said Rev. George Liacopulos, pastor of Holy Trinity, when asked to name his top choice.
The baked pasta dish is made with ground meat and a creamy white sauce known as béchamel.
“Some people refer to it as Greek lasagna. They are not exactly the same, but they’re close in some ways.”
Guests will be invited to try gyros, shish kebab and lamb and potatoes. Spanakopita — pastry filled with spinach and feta cheese; moussaka, an eggplant casserole made with potatoes, beef or lamb, and tomato sauce, plus falafel will be available along with the pastitsio.
Festival-goers with a sweet tooth will love the desserts, especially the baklava — made with crispy layers of phyllo dough, nuts and honey; portokalopita — puff pastry with orange syrup; and kourabiedes, Greek cookies made with butter and almond along with Greek coffee.
If you are not a fan of Greek food, you can get a steak sandwich, hamburger or something at the clam bar. The festival will also offer adult beverages such as ouzo, retsina, Greek wine and beer.
All of that food is made possible through the hard work of the parishioners. It starts with a festival committee that meets regularly. There’s also the church’s chapter of Philoptochos (friend or lover of the poor), a nationwide women’s society dedicated to helping people in need.
According to Linwood resident Ritsa Kotoulas, getting ready for the festival ramps up weeks before the festival. Kotoulas said they usually start working on the pastries in March; for the cooked food it starts days before the festival. The rest of the year they’re getting donations and supplies.
“To put on the event takes a lot of people,” Kotoulas said. “It’s a lot of time, a lot of devotion, a lot of volunteer work, a lot of love.”
Liacopulos said they have it down to a system incorporating a large commercial kitchen with ovens and a walk-in freezer.
The Greek Festival is about more than food, rides and fireworks; it’s an opportunity for old friends to reconnect, neighbors to touch base with neighbors, and generations from the parish’s 200 families to work together to maintain an important tradition.
Liacopulos has been with the parish for nearly 28 years.
“When I came, my first son was only 5 weeks old. And now he’s one of the active members of the committee.”
Liacopulos said the Greek Festival is like an unofficial start of summer.
“It becomes a kind of reunion place where maybe an old school teacher meets up with a student that they had 15 or 20 years ago, or people who used to work together or used to be neighbors and haven’t seen each other in a while.
“They’ll bump into each other and reconnect. And I really like that part of the festival. I think that it’s just very important.”
Liacopulos also finds a connection with people who visit the church. One of his favorite parts of the event is church tours which are led by parishioners.
Sometimes people from other faiths come by out of curiosity. Sometimes it’s people he knows from festivals past stopping by to say hello. Other times visitors want to say a prayer or light a candle.
“I’ve noticed there are some people of other faith traditions who stop by every year, basically because they’ve gotten to know me or some of our other tour guides and they want to say hello,” he said.
About 10,000 people are expected to attend the festival over the four days. Liacopulos said most are from Atlantic County, but they get some tourists who are down the shore on vacation, or notice signs that have been posted or other advertising.
Although this is the 40th year, this is the 38th full-on festival due to a two-year COVID hiatus.
In addition to the food and church tours, there will be ethnic Greek dance performances Saturday and Sunday evenings. On Saturday night, patrons can enjoy the live band Neo Kyma.
Admission is $1. Children under 5 are admitted free. Parking is also free.
Festival times are from 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 10 p.m. on Sunday. Fireworks will go off Thursday and Sunday nights at 9:30 p.m.
The church is located at 7004 Ridge Ave. in Egg Harbor Township. Learn more at www.holytrinityegbert.com, find the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church on Facebook, or call 609-653-8092 ext. 5.
As Kotoulas said, “It is always a good time at the Greek Festival.”
