Enjoy three days of food and entertainment when the 38th annual “A Taste of Greece” festival returns to Irvine on June 24-26 at St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church (4949 Alton Parkway, between Culver Drive and Jeffrey Road). Besides authentic Greek dining, the traditional Greek festival features wine tasting, live music, Greek dancing with lessons, games, boutique shops, church tours, and more.
With the festival’s main focus on Greek cuisine, the event features authentic recipes for traditional Greek dishes, pastries and an array of beverages, with a wine “Taverna” offering Greek wine and beer. Items appearing on the traditional Greek menu include Chicken, Lamb Chops, Gyros, Greek French Fries, Pastichio (Greek lasagna), Loucanico (Greek sausage), Spanakopita (spinach and feta pie), Dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves), Saganaki (Greek brandy-flamed cheese), Loukoumathes (Greek doughnut holes), Greek Salad, Calamari, and Baklava. Additionally, Portola Coffee Lab will provide a Greek coffeehouse to serve Greek and American coffee drinks in a traditional Plaka setting—an attractive, historical district of Athens.
A fun-filled event for the entire family, the 38th annual festival is expected to attract more than 12,000 guests, and it offers something for everyone with delicious Greek cuisine, wine tasting, live music, free Greek dancing lessons, a variety of games, boutique booths, and church tours of the beautiful sanctuary filled with mosaic artwork. Festival hours are 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, June 24; noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday, June 25; and noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday, June 26. Festival admission is $3 per person, with children under the age of 10 admitted free. Seniors (65 and older) are offered free admission on Saturday, June 25, from noon to 5 p.m. Free festival parking and complimentary shuttle buses will also be available. With an abundance of traditional Greek dishes and so many Greek-themed activities to enjoy, “A Taste of Greece” festival offers much to celebrate. Opa!
