Print
Restaurants

Greek Festival Returns This Weekend

By Justin Williams Pope, posted May 11, 2022
The Wilmington Greek Festival is back with full programming after a two-year period of pandemic-impacted offerings. (Photo courtesy of Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church)
Like all other events forced to shutter festivities due to the pandemic, what’s become a tradition for many in Wilmington returns this weekend just in time to welcome the summer season: Greek Festival is back in full swing. 

For St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, the festivities will be even more special because it’s the 30th anniversary of the celebrated event.

“It’s been good to see the excitement, not just from our church community but from the community at large as well,” said Basile Katsikis, co-chair of the Greek Festival.

Katsikis promises lots of excitement for those who attend the Greek Festival this year. There will be Greek dancers, a live Greek band that will play the entire event for all 3 days and of course, Greek food.

“The smell of the food as you drive by draws you in,” he said, adding that it is pretty phenomenal food.

Katsikis said over the two years of the pandemic, the church served 4,800 vehicles for one drive-thru event and 5,200 for the most recent car-only festival. He said the festival has decided to keep the drive-thru open again this year, but festival officials are excited to bring the community back to the church with a full slate of festival activities.

The three-day event will involve the participation of the entire church congregation, from priest to parishioners, according to the Katsikis, but it’s something the church wouldn’t have any other way.

“This is a true Greek Festival. It allows our church community to showcase their talents and for us to display our heritage and bring our best to the Wilmington community,” Katsikis said.
 
The Greek Festival is also beneficial to other Wilmington nonprofits. Partial proceeds from the festival go to the Good Shepherd Center, First Fruit Ministries and Family Promise of the Lower Cape Fear.

St. Nicholas has deep roots in Wilmington. The church started downtown Wilmington over 76 years ago. After years of growth, it moved to its present site across from UNC-Wilmington in the mid-'80s.  Katsikis said the church will be open for tours this weekend as well.

“I never knew 30 years ago when we started this, it would turn into something this big," he said. "We embraced the community and they embraced us and we are very thankful.”

The festival kicks off Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and will remain open on Sunday until 5 p.m. Parking is free at the UNCW auxiliary parking lot behind Taco Bell and a free shuttle will be provided during festival hours. Visit the church's website for more information
Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT
Gretchen roberts 2021

7 Secrets the IRS Doesn’t Want You to Know

Gretchen Roberts - Red Bike Advisors
Jimheadshot

The Wilmington Construction Market: Trends, Recognition, and Challenges

Jim Hundley - Thomas Construction Group
Georgiarowe

Salling and Tate Dentistry Launches Annual "Gunner’s Runners" Shoe Collection Event, Aiming to Surpass Last Year's Success

Georgia Rowe - Wide Open Tech

Trending News

Conservation Group Signs $8M Deal To Buy The Point On Topsail Island

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 26, 2024

National Organization Bestows Top Award On Cape Fear Professional Women In Building

Staff Reports - Mar 26, 2024

Engineering Firm Hires Four Employees

Staff Reports - Mar 26, 2024

N.C. Ports Officials React To Baltimore Bridge Collapse

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 26, 2024

NCino's Fourth-quarter Earnings Signal Rebound From Liquidity Crisis

Audrey Elsberry - Mar 27, 2024

In The Current Issue

Hacking Cyberdefense Shortage

A shortage of cybersecurity professionals influenced professor Ulku Clark and her team to slowly evolve UNCW’s offerings to now include eigh...


Expanding Tastes On Castle Street

As John Willse and Beth Guertin, owners of Wilmington Wine bottle shop and now the recently opened Creative Tastings restaurant on Castle St...


Park Progress

The planning for Pender Commerce Park began in the early 2000s when the county wanted to create an economic driver on its largely rural west...

Book On Business

The 2024 WilmingtonBiz: Book on Business is an annual publication showcasing the Wilmington region as a center of business.

Order Your Copy Today!


Galleries

Videos

2023 Power Breakfast: Major Developments