WILKES-BARRE — Residents can savor genuine Mediterranean meals at the Wilkes-Barre Greek Food Festival, which started on Wednesday at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church.
The festival showcases popular Greek dishes such as gyros, baklava, and dolmadakia.
The Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church was founded in 1912, but the food festival has its origins in the 1970s and 1980s. Tom Iliadis, head of the church council and festival chef, mentioned that the original food festival held by the church faded for a while but was revived in the mid-2000s.
The revival of the food festival was led by the church council in 2004. The 2004 edition of the food festival occurred at the Fine Arts Fiesta, but by 2007, the church was hosting its own event.
As per Iliadis, the Wilkes-Barre Greek Food Festival is the church’s main fundraiser of the year. Through the funds raised, the church is able to contribute to various causes, including college scholarships and Orthodox Ministries.
The food festival takes place twice a year: Once in the spring, and once in the fall. The spring version typically happens just before Mother’s Day, and the church prepares special pastry baskets for the occasion.
Iliadis stated that people from various backgrounds support the food festival and its distinctive and affordable offerings, making it more than just a niche event for the local Greek community.
“You can find similar food around here, for sure, but homemade, home-cooked food is hard to come by,” Iliadis remarked, “and the prices are quite reasonable.”
Despite the shrinking of the Greek community in Wilkes-Barre over the past few generations, the members of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church continue to support each other through events like the food festival.
“[Wilkes-Barre’s Greek community] is much smaller than it used to be, but we are a very close-knit community. We have become like a family,” Iliadis said. “You actually see this in this food festival, because everybody comes and helps out.”
The food festival will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 32 E. Ross St., across from the Wilkes-Barre Post Office.
Organizers are urging customers to place their orders — only available for take-out — at least two hours in advance.
Information about the festival can be found at www.greekfoodwb.org.