LEWISTON — An annual festival celebrating all things Greek — from the Greek Orthodox Church to dancing, fellowship and food — is being expanded to include bits of other cultures.
“We created the festival to remind the community that we exist,” said David Rivet, who co-chairs the annual Lewiston/Auburn Greek Festival hosted by the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. “A lot of people are converting. We have a multicultural church.”
This year’s festival — beginning Thursday afternoon and ending Saturday night — will also have Lebanese, Ethiopian and Armenian foods.
“We created a greater array of food items,” said John Stass, a spokesman for the festival. But people will also get what they have come to expect of the festival every year, from the baklava and kabobs, to the live music and dancing.
“It’s become a sign of the season,” Stass said. “People know it comes the weekend after Labor Day. They see the purple signs and they get ready.”
The festival plans to offer authentic Greek food, singing, dancing and teaching. There will be dance lessons, Greek games for kids and tours of the church at 155 Hogan Road in Lewiston, led by the Rev. Ted Toppses.
This year, the festival is also trying to offer more covered space in case of showers. Past festivals have drawn thousands of people, but the numbers fall with the rain.
People need not stay away, Stass said. “We’re giving people shelter or shade from the sun.”
They are also doing it for the same price as last year.
“We didn’t go up on anything,” Rivet said. People can get a full meal, with a salad and a roll, for less than $10.
“We’re trying to give back,” he said.
What: Lewiston-Auburn Greek Festival
When: 4-8 p.m. Thursday;
11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Where: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
Admission: Free
Food: Available for purchase
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