Opa! Spend a weekend at the New Orleans Greek Festival. The festival returns on Memorial Day Weekend 2024 at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral by its congregation, located at 1200 Robert E. Lee Blvd.
The sounds of Greek music fill the air, as does the wonderful aroma of Greek food during this indoor and outdoor fete. There is dancing and feasting, and of course ouzo – sold by the bottle or the shot at the quaint taverna set up at the festival. There are also Greek wines to sample along with iced Greek coffee. There are kids activities and fabulous, colorful arts and crafts for sale.
There is entertainment for all ages, from an Athenian playground set up outside with face painting and crafts, to fun things for the adults to do, including cooking demonstrations and canoe rentals to take out on Bayou St. John. There will also be cathedral tours throughout the weekend and a 5k run/walk on Friday evening.
There are tons of food options, including souvlaki, baklava, dolma (stuffed grape leaves), spanakopita (spinach pie), and gyro sandwiches (pita bread pockets stuffed with lamb, pork and zesty sauce). An ad hoc Greek pastry is shop set up with more 20 traditional homemade Greek pastries, including baklava, galaktoboureko, kourabiedes, cakes and cookies, all available to take home and savor.
There is also music for Greek fans, especially the distinctive sounds of the bouzouki guitar, with Hellenic dancers in colorful native costumes sway to the driving rhythms. There is a dance floor set up as everyone is encouraged to try some steps in this very friendly atmosphere.