Lifestyle

The 28th Annual Columbia Greek Festival

GET YOUR GREEK ON, COLUMBIA By Liz Gunn || Going on now through Sunday on Sumter Street in Columbia, adjacent to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, you will find one of the city’s longest running and most anticipated festivals – The Greek Festival – where you can “Be Greek…

GET YOUR GREEK ON, COLUMBIA

liz gunnBy Liz Gunn || Going on now through Sunday on Sumter Street in Columbia, adjacent to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, you will find one of the city’s longest running and most anticipated festivals – The Greek Festival – where you can “Be Greek for a week!”. Technically it lasts four days (Sept. 18 – 21), but what rhymes with that?

The Greek Festival will draw you in with the smell of grilled kebobs wafting through the air, but you’ll stay for the Baklava Sundaes. Hmm? That would be soft-serve ice cream topped with crumbled Baklava. I don’t know who thought of that, but I’d like to thank them.

You will find everything in between as well; gyros, souvlaki, spanakopita, dolmades and more. You won’t find a more authentic Greek experience in South Carolina!

Of course it wouldn’t be much of a festival if it was just about food. (Although I’d attend for the food alone – but that’s just me.) They also have live music, folk dancing, face painting and crafts. Church tours and discussions on Greek history and heritage will also be presented each day. I personally find Greek culture so enticing…and yeah, the food isn’t my least favorite part.

The festival opens at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and will remain open until 10 p.m. Sunday’s hours are noon to 8 p.m. and admission is always free. If you plan to pop by on your lunch hour tomorrow, check out this map so that you can maximize your time once inside.

Opa, Columbia!

(Pic: The Greek Festival)

Liz Gunn is a wife, mom, author, businesswoman, travel enthusiast, food snob, fashionista, lover of great wine and the No. 1 Gamecock football fan … ever. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, she lives in Columbia, S.C. with her husband and daughter.

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33 comments

sparklecity September 18, 2014 at 2:33 pm

There’s one here in Spartanburg every year about the same time at St.Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church on Asheville Highway.
Always a big crowd and Greek beer to boot!!!!!!
Damn them Greeks can cook!!!!!!

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Will Folks aka Sic September 18, 2014 at 3:25 pm

Hey Sparkle City go to our contact page and shoot us the info on that festival!

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sparklecity September 19, 2014 at 11:11 am

it’s next Thursday – Sunday(25 – 28 Sept)
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
701 Asheville Highway
Spartanburg,SC 29303
I’ll copy to contact page as well.
Hope you and other “FITS’ers” can make it!!!!!

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Smirks September 18, 2014 at 2:35 pm

I’ll have ten baklava’s please.

No, not ten in one package, ten packages.

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sparklecity September 19, 2014 at 11:03 am

I heard that!!!!!!!

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John Belushi September 18, 2014 at 2:41 pm

Chee-burga Chee-burga!

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I'm a racist September 18, 2014 at 2:53 pm

Greek’s make the best marinate and grilled chicken.

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Enos The Anus September 18, 2014 at 4:23 pm

Do they have demonstrations of Greek Sex?

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Deo Vindice SC September 18, 2014 at 4:29 pm

What is that ?

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Tazmaniac September 18, 2014 at 4:42 pm

They love their cooking so much they never want their food to leave their body, so they get a friend to help keep it packed in there.

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Bravo! September 18, 2014 at 5:11 pm

My ADD almost kicked in, but in the end it was worth it. (literally,not figuratively)

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Deo Vindice SC September 18, 2014 at 5:32 pm

as in both ends ?

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9" September 18, 2014 at 5:36 pm

Actually, Greek Love is much better after an enema. Tazmaniac is obviously inexperienced in the more refined methods of man on man…

Tazmaniac September 18, 2014 at 5:41 pm

Guilty as charged. I’ve always just ate more Greek Food.

CorruptionInColumbia September 18, 2014 at 6:34 pm

When I think of that term, I automatically think of it involving a woman.

9" September 19, 2014 at 1:15 pm

Both ends? That’s Greek/French territory.’The French they are a funny race,they fight with their feet and fuck with their face.’

9" September 18, 2014 at 5:30 pm

If you’re Greek-passive,I can provide demonstration in the privacy of your own home/hotel…includes complimentary baklava..

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CorruptionInColumbia September 18, 2014 at 6:35 pm

Watch out man, you’re going to make Grand Tango jealous. Remember the old saying, “hell hath no fury like…”

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Tazmaniac September 18, 2014 at 4:48 pm

Whenever I travel up North, I seek out only Greek run restaurants(dienawhs) whenever possible. They do Italian food better than Italians. Eat at a Kosher diner at your own risk, like nursing home food, Oy vey!

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CorruptionInColumbia September 18, 2014 at 6:37 pm

Indeed they real do make better Italian food than the italians. I have got to make some time to get down there this weekend. On the years I miss it, things just don’t seem right for the rest of the year.

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Limbaughsaphatkhunt September 18, 2014 at 10:43 pm

Not so fast. Have you eaten at Zorba’s like in the last 10 years? They have no clue about Italian food…let alone Greek food.

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CorruptionInColumbia September 19, 2014 at 7:59 am

Ok, you do have a point, there. Last time I ate at a Zorba’s it was the “Express” in the Publix shopping center on Broad River Rd near Kennerly Rd. Yes, it was kind of lackluster and disappointing. I don’t know what happened to Zorba’s. Back in the 80’s, they were really good.

Still, as with many stereotypes, the one about Greek food and restaurants (having excellent food) usually fits them to a “T”.

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sparklecity September 19, 2014 at 11:00 am

Here’s one thing though…….
When we would be going to Iraq/Afghanistan or headed home after our rotation was over, normally we would RON (Remain Over Night) at Souda Bay (on the Greek island of Crete – that’s where we would either have our LAST beer before landing in-country and our FIRST beer after leaving those shit holes).
Believe it or not, the Greek food on Crete did not taste as good as some Greek places here in the states. The feta was not as flavorful and was served in a chunk about the size of a playing card and the rest of the food was OK but not as good as I expected/looked forward to.
Crete is a pretty cool and scenic place (I’d love to take a motorcycle tour of Crete and I know just the bike I’d use) but I expected the food to taste better and I ate at several places during my RON’s

shifty henry September 18, 2014 at 5:10 pm

Two fellows who hadn’t seen in other in months met on the street. One asks, “By the way, where is your wife?”
The other says, “Right now she is in bed with meningitis.”
His friend replies, ” Damn! Is that Greek back in town?”

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Tazmaniac September 18, 2014 at 5:40 pm

You know that old one where the punch line is “Son you never gonna have that baby if ya don’t roller over!”?

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shifty henry September 18, 2014 at 7:39 pm

The first restaurant on the Moon was opened by a Greek. The food was fantastic – but no atmosphere!

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shifty henry September 18, 2014 at 11:36 pm

Andreas had arrived in America and on his first day was walking down Main Street seeing the sights when two men approached him and asked, “Would you like to become a Jehovah’s Witness?”

Andreas replied, “I am sorry, but I really can’t.
I didn’t see the accident.”

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G.O.B. September 19, 2014 at 9:00 am

A Greek man and his son were visiting NYC and were told by friends that they must try a hot dog from one of the many hot dog vendors. The man and his son stopped at the first hot dog vendor they came across and enthusiastically ordered 2 dogs. The dad looked at his hot dog and quickly tossed it in the trash and turned to the boy and asked “What part of the dog did you get?”

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Bible Thumper September 18, 2014 at 6:30 pm

Finally! A festival where the women don’t need no stinking silicone.

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willblogformoney September 18, 2014 at 7:04 pm

Try the fried Greek yogurt on a stick

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willblogformoney September 18, 2014 at 7:21 pm

Greeks run the best diners

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Limbaughsaphatkhunt September 18, 2014 at 10:41 pm

Safe, informative, descriptive…well done.

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major major September 19, 2014 at 9:33 am

And in the case of cost over-runs, the Germans have agreed to bail them out!

Reply

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