LEWISTON – The massive fires that have destroyed whole towns in Greece won’t tarnish this weekend’s Lewiston-Auburn Greek Festival.

Folks will dance, sing and eat.

Organizers hope to serve as many as 5,000 Greek meals over the two-and-half-day celebration, beginning Thursday afternoon and ending Saturday night at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Lewiston.

The fires will be remembered, though. Donations for an estimated 4,000 homeless people will be collected.

Among the people affected are many relatives of the small parish. About half of the 125 member families have ties to Greece.

“Imagine a fire that burns half the state of Maine,” the Rev. Ted Toppses said. “It’s that huge.”

Help needs to be offered, he said. Likewise, celebrating the culture is a need.

“People need to refocus on what is important,” he said.

It’s the same principle that guided the church in 2002. That festival was held near the anniversary of 9/11.

“Life always has the bittersweet,” Toppses said. “You emphasize the joy to help us get through the tough times.”

The joy ought to be easy to find at the festival.

Regular attendees will recognize much: from the Greek articles for sale to the tours of the church to the music and food.

All of the regular menu items will return – mousaka and spanikopita, gyros and baklava.

The festival will also feature children’s games, dancing lessons and a taverna. Live music will be featured each night.

If the trend holds, more people than ever will attend.

Last year saw an increase of more than 1,000 people over 2005.

This year, the festival has added Thursday evening events, complete with a full menu and live music.

“God willing, the weather will hold,” Toppses said.

In 2006, the dinner crowd was entertained by an explosive thunderstorm.

From beneath their tent, people watched and listened as one lightning strike hit particularly close.

Then, they applauded. Some people even gave Toppses a bit of the credit for the display, given his heavenly credentials.

However, the weather is not his department.

“I’m in labor, not management,” he joked.