Orlando Greek Fest is back for its 48th year, taking over the grounds of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Maitland from Friday through Sunday, Nov. 6-8, with free admission for everyone who shows up. Expect the usual spread of gyros, souvlaki, dolmades, spanakopita and saganaki, plus sweets like baklava and galaktoboureko washed down with strong coffee, alongside live music, dancing and plenty of people-watching.
As Orlando Weekly notes, the festival has been introducing Central Florida to Greek culture and cuisine for decades, and this year's run keeps that tradition going at 1217 Trinity Woods Lane. The event's own website, orlandogreekfest.com, confirms admission is free and lists live Greek music and performances by the church's dance groups running throughout the festival weekend. The site also promises gyros, souvlaki, pastries and loukoumades on the food side.
Church Tours Join the Lineup
Beyond the food tables and dance floor, Holy Trinity is opening its doors for guided tours of the church itself, with time set aside for questions and answers, according to the festival's official site. Vendors will also be on hand throughout the weekend, rounding out a festival that organizers describe as a long-running local tradition of introducing Greek culture and cuisine to the Orlando area.
The gathering is billed as the 48th annual Orlando Greek Fest, per theorlandoguy.com, which also reports that admission is completely free every day of the event. That same listing notes Saturday, Nov. 7 hours run from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., giving festivalgoers a full day to sample the food and catch performances. The outlet adds that the festival operates as a cashless event, meaning only cards and digital payments will be accepted.
Parking Details and a Notable Change
Getting there comes with some caveats. Orlando Greek Fest's official site says church parking is limited, with off-site parking and a free shuttle offered as an alternative, while theorlandoguy.com's listing states that preferred parking on church grounds runs $10. Families planning the trip should also note that the festival's own site has posted a direct update: there will be no Kids Zone at this year's event.
The three-day festival brings Greek culture and cuisine to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Maitland Nov. 6-8, with traditional food, pastries, live Greek music, dance performances, vendors and church tours. For anyone craving a weekend of Mediterranean eats, dancing and a peek inside the church, the free, cashless festival offers a low-cost way to spend a few hours during the festival.
