Thousands of dolmades, spanakopitas, and lamb shanks are about to roll out of the kitchen at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, as the parish's annual Greekfest returns to the border of St. Clair Shores and Grosse Pointe Woods this weekend. Running from Friday afternoon through Sunday evening, the three-day festival brings a rare hometown moment with it this year: Olympic ice dancer Emilea Zingas, fresh off a 2026 Winter Games appearance and a world championship medal, is scheduled to meet fans on the festival grounds alongside her skating partner, Vadym Kolesnik.
Zingas and Kolesnik placed fifth at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina and won a bronze medal at the 2026 World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, according to Team USA. As WXYZ Channel 7 reports, the pair will attend the festival for a meet-and-greet, and for the Zingas family, the visit carries personal weight. Maria Zingas told the station that Assumption Greekfest holds personal meaning for her, and the connection runs deeper than local pride: Zingas, a Grosse Pointe Farms native who switched from singles skating for Cyprus to U.S. ice dance in 2022, bonded with Kolesnik over their shared Eastern Orthodox Christian faith when they formed their partnership that March, according to A Divine Sport. Kolesnik moved to the United States from Kharkiv, Ukraine, at age 15, while Zingas grew up in Metro Detroit, per the same report.
A Festival Built on Thousands of Volunteer Hours
The scale of the operation behind Greekfest is considerable. Roughly 250 parish volunteers prepare massive quantities of homemade food each year, including 10,000 dolmades, 5,000 spanakopitas, 5,000 souvlaki kebabs, and 1,200 lamb shanks, according to the Grosse Pointe News. The festival typically draws more than 10,000 visitors from across Metro Detroit over its multi-day run, the outlet notes.
Ahead of this weekend, parishioners have been setting up marketplace displays while volunteers prepare food, tents, and grounds, per WXYZ's report. Lou Pavledes described Greekfest to the station as a community event, and Greekfest co-chair George Dallas said the event has something for everyone, encouraging families to attend. Dallas added that the festival shares Greek heritage with the broader community.
Sweets, Souvlaki, and a Drive-Thru for the Rushed
Philoptochos President Lydia Villeneuve told WXYZ that the bake sale will offer homemade Greek treats, including baklava, kadayif, and galaktoboureko — custard rolls that are among the festival's signature desserts. Beyond the bake sale, Greekfest offers Greek favorites and homemade pastries along with activities for kids, church tours, and the Olympian meet and greet, according to the station's report.
For those short on time, the festival runs a dedicated drive-thru station alongside its outdoor Taverna and indoor marketplace, according to Hour Detroit. Drive-thru offerings include pastitsio, gyros, flaming cheese, and Greek salads, the outlet reports. This year's entertainment lineup includes folk dance performances by the Hellenic Society for the Performing Arts, local youth dance groups, and live Greek music from the Enigma Detroit Greek Band, along with dance lessons and guided church tours, according to information posted at assumptionfestival.com.
Nearly a Century of Roots in Southeast Michigan
Assumption's presence in the region stretches back nearly a hundred years. The parish was originally chartered in 1930 in Detroit, holding its first liturgies in private homes and east-side buildings before relocating to St. Clair Shores in the 1970s, according to Historic Detroit. The parish purchased 10 acres on Marter Road in 1972 and consecrated its 600-seat sanctuary in 1989, per the church's own historical account.
That sanctuary later endured a major setback. In December 2002, a fire destroyed much of the interior, including hand-painted icons and wood-carved furnishings, prompting a multi-year restoration. Presiding Priest Fr. Michael Varlamos was appointed in July 2003 to oversee both the physical reconstruction and the parish's spiritual recovery, according to Assumption Greek Orthodox Church's history page. The parish's arc mirrors the broader story of Greek immigration to Metro Detroit, which began in the late 19th century with the historic Greektown neighborhood near downtown before expanding into suburban Macomb and Wayne counties — a pattern Historic Detroit says suburban parishes like Assumption continue through annual summer festivals that draw regional crowds.
Raffle Prizes and a Year-Round Community Hub
Festivalgoers can buy tickets for $10 at the door, and the weekend closes with a Grand Raffle on its final day, selling $10 tickets that award cash prizes ranging from $200 up to $10,000 to support parish programs, according to Hour Detroit. Proceeds help fund the church's community outreach and cultural programming.
The festival grounds are more than a once-a-year attraction. The adjacent Assumption Cultural Center operates year-round, offering Greek conversational language classes, Kalosomatics fitness programs, indoor pickleball courts, and a nursery school, according to the Assumption Cultural Center. The center has also partnered with Marchiori Catering for more than 30 years to host local receptions, per its website. More information on this weekend's schedule is available at assumptionfestival.com.
