HOLMDEL – Be Greek for a day! That’s the motto for this year’s Bayshore Greek Festival, which will take place through Sunday, June 7 at Kimisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church. This year promises a lot of new food and entertainment options for young and old, Greeks and non-Greeks. “The majority of visitors are not Greek,” said Demetri Orfanitopoulos, one of the chair people for the event. “The Greek com- munity is mostly working at the festival.” The event includes rides, games, cook- ing demonstrations, Greek music, dance shows, a church tour, vendors and cigar rolling. Last year, more than 8,000 visitors attended the festival, many coming for the wide range of delicious, homemade Greek delicacies, including souvlaki sticks, stuffed peppers, lamb shanks, stuffed grape leaves, baklava and Ouzo cake. “The ladies of the church have been prepping food for three months,” said Orfanitopoulos. “I even made baklava myself when the ladies were shorthanded.” Orfanitopoulos is one of six chair people this year, along with Steve Bontales, Bob Bucco, Fay Makrinos, Rosanna Panagakos and Greg Ploussas. “Everyone on the team adds their own talents,” he said. With six people sharing the duties, they were able to organize better and therefore bring in some new additions to the festival, such as a live band instead of a DJ. This year’s entertainment is provided by The Trojans, who will perform Greek-American music. “They are very well-known in the Greek community,” Orfanitopoulos said.
This year, for the first time, the festival will have cooking demonstrations where visitors can learn from professionals or parishioners how to prepare items such as moussaka, spinach pie and tzatziki sauce. Full meals will be served inside the church’s gym, and food stands will be set up outside in the parking lot. Also new this year will be vendors stationed inside and out, selling art, jewelry and housewares. “We wanted to try to give people some- thing else to do besides eat, drink and dance,” Orfanitopoulos said. In addition to Greek beer, mixed drinks will be offered for sale, along with “My Big Fat Greek Wine.” Cortez Cigars of Eatontown will be on hand to offer cigar rolling demonstrations. There will be rides and carnival games for the younger set, and about 80 children from the church will don authentic Greek cos- tumes and perform a Goya dance show each day. “They represent different parts of Greece,” Orfanitopoulos said. “They wear different costumes for different dances that come from the various parts of Greece.” The first Bayshore Greek Festival took place in 1976 at Pleasant Valley Farm in Colts Neck. Church construction began in 1987 and the first on-site festival was in 1995. Orfanitopoulos has been involved in organizing the festival since he moved to the area 20 years ago. “I love the community spirit and working for a common cause,” he said. “The guests learn about another culture and they feel like they’re in Greece, right here in Monmouth County. It’s like one big, happy party for four days.” The festival mainly takes place under two 50 x 150-foot tents and there are several smaller ones in case of inclement weather. “If it rains, it’s not a problem,” Orfanitopoulos said. “We won’t skip a beat.” Admission is $2. On Friday, June 5, admission is free before 6 p.m., and free before 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Limited parking is available at the church. Shuttle buses are available for guests who park at St. Benedict’s Church. Kimisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church is located at 20 Hillcrest Road, Holmdel. For more information, visit www.greekfestival- holmdel.com.
Arts and entertainment writer Mary Ann Bourbeau can be reached at mbourbeau@tworivertimes.com.
