The longest-running Greek festival on the Treasure Coast returns this weekend.
The 45th annual Greek Festival at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Fort Pierce features authentic Greek food and pastries, imported Greek wine and beer, Greek dance performances, live Greek music, a vendor marketplace, silent auctions items, church tours and a Greek cooking demonstration on Sunday by Think Greek.
The three-day festival was created to raise awareness about the Greek community and to be a fundraiser for the church, whose members volunteer their time and talents to showcase their Greek heritage. It has free parking and a free bounce house for kids, as along as adults are present.
Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Greek Festival in Fort Pierce.
Fort Pierce Greek FestivalAddress: St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 2525 S. 25th St., Fort PierceHours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. SundayAdmission: $5 per person, free for kids ages 12 and younger (free 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday)Church tours: Noon, 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m. Friday; noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4:30 p.m. SundayGreek dances: 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m. Friday; 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m. Saturday; 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m. SundayGreek cooking class: 2 p.m. SundayInfo: 772-464-7194; stnicholasfp.com/festivalWhat’s the Greek food on this year’s menu?
Appetizers
Spanakopita (Greek-style spinach and cheese pie in a crispy filo crust)Tyropita (Greek feta cheese pie in a crispy filo crust)Soutzoukakia (Greek meatballs)Dolmades (grape leaves)Greek salad
Taverna Dishes (served with rice pilaf, Greek-style peas, Greek salad and roll)
Moussaka (baked layers of eggplant, potatoes and ground beef, all topped with béchamel sauce and grated Parmesan cheese)Pastitsio (baked ziti with ground beef, topped with béchamel sauce and grated Parmesan cheese)Chicken Athenian (half-roasted chicken seasoned with lemon juice and oregano)Lamb Shank
Grill Station (served on pita bread, garnished with sliced onions, tomato and tzatziki sauce)
Gyro (beef and lamb meat seasoned with special herbs and spices)Pork or Chicken Souvlaki (grilled chunks of marinated pork or chicken)Greek Veggie Wrap (lettuce, tomato, onion and feta cheese)
Sides
Greek fries (crumbled feta cheese and seasoning)Peas or riceTzatziki sauce
Beverages
Imported Greek or domestic beerRetsina (white wine, by the glass or bottle)Mavrodaphni (sweet red wine, by the glass or bottle)Ouzo (anise-flavored liquor, by the shot)
Kafenio
Greek coffeeGreek frappeBaklava sundaeLoukoumades (fluffy sweet honey balls)
Greek Pastry Shop
Almond crescentBaklava (layers of filo dough with walnuts and honey syrup)Cannoli (pastry puff filled with cream cheese and whipped cream)Chicago baklava cheesecakeChocolate kok cakeDiples (deep-fried dough soaked in honey with walnuts)Éclair (dough filled with custard and topped with chocolate icing)Galaktoboureko (Greek custard cream, filo dough, honey syrup and spices)Karydopita (spiced nut cake with honey syrup)Kataifi (shredded filo dough with walnuts and honey syrup)Koulourakia (Greek-style twisted butter cookies)Kourambiedes (butter cookie sprinkled with powdered sugar)Melomakarona (honey cinnamon cookies topped with walnuts)Paximadia (Greek biscotti)Rice pudding (Greek style, homemade)Tsoureki (Greek sweet bread)
Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm’s entertainment reporter dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Email her at laurie.blandford@tcpalm.com. Sign up for her What To Do in 772 weekly newsletter at profile.tcpalm.com/newsletters/manage.