Greek Fest Plus

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courtesy Greek Fest

Tables on the street filled with people.

Tables filled with diners at a past Greek Fest.

Greek Fest is always a fun one, with its cultural scope and deliciousness, and it’s back after a three-year pandemic-caused hiatus. Greek music and dancing (lessons on the traditional steps will take place) should probably come first — before you dig into the array of homemade foods, from gyros and fries to lemon chicken and spanakopita, plus a bake sale. Loukoumades, or Greek doughnuts, will be hot and honey-dipped. The fest runs noon-7 p.m. on Sept. 9 and noon-6 p.m., Sept. 10.

media release: Festival hours are Saturday 9/9  Noon - 7 PM & Sunday 9/10  Noon - 6 PM. 

Assumption Greek Orthodox Church is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated return of its annual festival, Greek Fest +. Known and loved as Madison’s longest-running ethnic festival for 56 years, this streak was broken by a three-year-long hiatus due to the global pandemic. This year, the vibrant celebration of cultures, traditions, and community is set to take place on Saturday, September 9, and Sunday, September 10, on the church’s grounds.

Assumption Greek Orthodox Church members welcome you to join them for Greek music and dancing, delicious handmade food, church tours, and their much-loved bake sale. Fresh gyros, fries, and falafel will be available to enjoy with a cold Greek beer in the church parking lot, while baklava and a variety of homemade desserts are set to be sold in the basement bake sale. Church tours exploring the iconography of the ancient faith will start every hour, while folk dancing lessons and DJ Manny "Manoli" Papadakis call you to the dance floor. Shop our Agora for imported goods, and don’t forget the hot, honey-draped loukoumades

“The festival’s return is a testament not only to the shared heritage and resilience of our faith community, but to our deep appreciation to be a part of the Madison community. After such a long time apart, we are beyond excited to bring everyone together once again to share in the joy, camaraderie, and rich heritage of our parish,” said Christy Chappell Belkin, Assumption Greek Orthodox Church Parish Council vice president.

Greek Fest began as an annual church picnic at Hoyt Park in 1963. Over the decades, the celebration has grown into a weekend-long block party bringing joy to the corner of Seventh Street and East Washington Avenue on Madison’s East Side. Greek Fest changed the official name of the celebration to “Greek Fest +” to honor an increasingly multiethnic church community. The AGOC church family includes people from Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Russia, Syria, Jordan, Ethiopia, and Greece. Don’t miss the opportunity to reconnect with culture and community, food and friends at Greek Fest + 2023!

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About Assumption Greek Orthodox Church

Founded in 1951 by a small group of Greek immigrant families, AGOC is a landmark fixture of Madison’s East Side serving the spiritual needs of Orthodox Christians in Southern Wisconsin and supporting area schools and charities. AGOC is a multicultural Orthodox Christian community, and part of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, Metropolis of Chicago.