42 OCTOBER 6 - OCTOBER 12, 2017 BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP
Fourteenth annual Greek Cultural
Festival brings the fun again
BY JAIME DEJESUS
JDEJESUS@BROOKLYNREPORTER.COM
One of Bay Ridge’s most famous
festivals closed out the summer
in style.
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox
Church hosted its 14th annual Greek
Cultural Festival, a community
fixture that brings traditional foods
plus rides and games to Bay Ridge.
For the second consecutive year,
the festivities were held for four
days, from Thursday, September 21
through Sunday, September 24 for
the majority of each day. Attendees
gathered on Ridge Boulevard between
84th and 86th Streets to enjoy
the diverse activities that the local
tradition offers.
This year’s fun-filled four days
included performances by New York
Melodia and Orchestra and Galaxy
Orchestra with
Vaggeli Kouris,
Greek food and
pastries, vendors,
rides, games, a
flea market, an
outdoor taverna
and more.
Past President
of the festival
Sandy Vallas was
pleased with the
event geared towards
the entire
family.
“It was another success this
year,” he said. "It was very well
attended from Thursday through
Sunday. Aside from being a
fundraiser for the church, it’s
also a promotion
of our Hellenic
heritage. We have
various foods
from Greece. We
have Greek music
playing. And our
school kids were
dancing.”
Because there
was so much to do
during the nearly week-long event,
“Everybody has a different favorite
whether it’s the Greek music, food
or the Greek items that we sell,” he
added. “Everything combined makes
our festival as great as it is.”
Vallas stressed the significance the
festival has for the entire neighborhood.
“Bay Ridge is a melting pot of
different ethnicities and the Hellenes
are just one part of it,” he said.
Youngsters ruled the day, he added.
“There were rides for the kids, games
inside and lots of great events,” Vallas
said. "We had the same set-up as
most years and from what I saw and
heard, they enjoyed themselves and
we always enjoy providing it.”
BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photos by Arthur de Gaeta
Scenes from this year’s Greek Cultural Festival put on by Holy
Cross Greek Orthodox Church.