Savannah Greek Fest
Written by: Emma Morris. Graphics by: Emma Morris.
74th annual Savannah Greek Festival
Each year, St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church hosts the Savannah Greek Festival, and this year marked the 74th annual celebration. The festival featured handmade crafts, traditional Greek dishes and pastries, dance performances, and a tour of St. Paul’s. With limited knowledge of Greek culture and tradition, I attended the festival in the hope of expanding my understanding.
In the courtyard of the Hellenic Center on Anderson Street, there were several stands selling jewelry, purses, bowls and other accessories. One stand displayed replicas of historic artifacts ranging from pottery to armor and ancient board games. Festivalgoers were invited to interact with the objects and ask an expert questions about them. As an art history nerd, I took this opportunity to play a round of the ancient Egyptian board game Senet.
Inside the Hellenic Center, several authentic foods and ingredients were for sale that you wouldn’t usually find in Savannah. These included pastries, olive oil, Greek soda, pasta and other goods. In the gym of the center was the main event: food and drink stalls and a floor cleared for dancing. Of course, I bee-lined toward the food. Options included meatballs, gyros, lamb and desserts. I tried the meatballs along with two desserts: kourabiedes, described as “butter cookies topped with powdered sugar,” and koulouria, vanilla and chocolate cookies meant to be dipped in coffee. All of the food and drink exceeded my expectations, and I can’t wait for next year to try something new.
Shortly after eating, a dance troupe performed several traditional Greek dances. Each dancer wore a different costume from a specific region of Greece. However, my main excitement for the night was the tour of St. Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church. The church, located on the corner of Anderson and Bull streets, is simple on the outside but decorated with murals and gold inside. A member of the church explained its history, how it was originally a theater purchased by the Greek community for $50,000, with its first service held in 1948. The building was filled with character and elegance, a beacon for the Greek community in Savannah.
I recommend the festival to locals, tourists and students. Along with great food and friendly people, you’ll learn about Greek culture and customs. The three-day festival occurs every year in October, and next year will be the 75th annual Savannah Greek Festival, which is sure to be more special than ever.
