AUTHOR’S NOTE: In 2014, this spring festival has turned into a drive-thru with no indoor activities or services. Therefore, although they are now calling it a Gyro Fest, it doesn’t match festival criteria and has been moved to the In Memorium listings.
This post documents my experience on May 21, 2010.
If you’ve been reading my blog, you know that I attended the St. Nicholas Greek Festival in September, when their main festival takes place. But this year, they’ve decided to do a Spring version.
So here’s St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in the Springtime…
…with cars already parked on the grass
I apparently wasn’t the only person excited to satisfy my Greek fix before their main event. With it only lasting 2-days instead of the usual 4, many people had the same idea that I did.
The line started just beyond the main entrance.
We slowly inched down the hallway as Greek music found our ears and the wondrous scents of Greek cuisine found our noses.
Hunger was upon us.
Eventually, we made our way to the eating room…
…as children in the back danced to lively music.
It was only a matter of time before we took our tray and filled them up.
Seems your normal Greek festival, right?
Well, yes and no.
Like the Greek festival in September, the Spring version was enjoyable for many of the same reasons I love their Greek festivals over others in the area.
Here are some of those reasons…
It’s a welcoming experience.
The church is smaller than other area churches and the community is small, when compared to the Greek festivals of the Cleveland suburbs. Although I also enjoy the Memorial Day Weekend Greek festival at Cleveland’s Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church (a great festival too), St. Nicholas always feel a tad warmer to me. I won’t even comment on the (lack of) personalities at some of the other festivals I’ve attended.
The food is cheaper than other area Greek festivals.
Moussaka (above), for example, is $4 compared to $5 at other festivals. Dolmathes are $0.50. Galaktoboureko is $2. Gyros are $5. It’s hard to do better!
The food is better than most others.
I can’t tell you how much I love their Galaktoboureko, which is a pain to find at the other places.
Also, their gyros and moussaka are incredible.
Their dessert selection is vast.
The Spring Version had probably 1/5 of what they typically carry and it was still bigger than a few festivals.…and finally….The Gyro Drive-Thru.
Okay, so there’s no pic of this one, but I think it’s a great idea for that quick dinner pick-up.
And it’ll be better if they start frying up some smelt in that drive-thru line as well!