Gyros, baklava and Byzantine dance are set to take over Franklin Pike as Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church prepares to host the 38th Annual Nashville Greek Festival from Friday, Sept. 25, through Sunday, Sept. 27. The three-day celebration will run Friday from 4 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., organizers say.
According to WKRN News 2, the festival returns to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church with live music, dancing, authentic Greek food and family-friendly activities meant to draw in the wider Nashville community. Festival chair Danita Chamaa shared what makes the event a Nashville tradition, per the station's report, pointing to the mix of food, culture and hospitality that keeps visitors coming back year after year. More than 10,000 people were expected at the 37th annual festival in 2025, according to a Reddit discussion tracking the event's local popularity. The event is a Nashville tradition.
Food, Dance and Live Cooking Demonstrations
The menu leans heavily on festival staples, with the station's report highlighting gyros, spanakopita, kataifi and baklava among the dishes on offer. Live cooking demonstrations add an interactive layer for attendees who want to see the dishes made before they eat them, and organizers describe activities for all ages spread across the grounds.
Beyond the food tables, the festival leans into its cultural mission. Guided tours of the sanctuary will highlight Byzantine iconography, while live folk dance performances fill out the entertainment schedule, according to 6AM City.
Tickets, Payment and Parking Details
General admission runs $5 per day or $12 for a full weekend pass, and children 12 and under along with first responders showing valid identification get in free, according to The Greekend. The festival is also entirely cashless this year, accepting major credit and debit cards as well as contactless options like Apple Pay, Google Pay and Cash App, per the Nashville Greek Festival's own schedule page.
Organizers have arranged free off-site overflow parking with continuous shuttle service, including ADA wheelchair-accessible van transport, at First Presbyterian Church and Judson Baptist Church nearby, according to festival organizers.
A Parish With More Than a Century of Nashville Roots
The festival's 38-year run sits atop a much longer parish history. Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church moved from Sixth Avenue South to Franklin Road in May 1986, according to the Historical Marker Database. The current sanctuary building at 4905 Franklin Pike was completed in March 1992 and follows a traditional Byzantine architectural design modeled after historic Orthodox churches in Greece, according to Holy Trinity Nashville.
Festival proceeds support the church's ministries and enrich community culture, according to the Nashville Greek Festival's website. Similar Greek Orthodox parish festivals are held annually in cities like Portland, Long Beach and Bayou St. John.
