Experience ‘sights, sounds and tastes’ at 46th annual Birmingham Greek Festival

The annual Birmingham Greek Festival, in its 46th year, will take place at Holy Trinity – Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Cathedral from Thursday, Oct. 4, through Saturday, Oct. 6, from 10:30 a.m to 10 p.m.

As always, the festival offers plenty of food, including favorites such as gyros, lamb skewers, pita bread, stuffed grape leaves and fried doughnuts. But there’s also dance, music, traditional costumes and tours of the cathedral with its Byzantine architecture.

The event gives the local Greek community “an opportunity to share our faith, tradition, food and culture,” event spokesperson Elaine Lyda said.

Attendees “will celebrate life and experience the sights, sounds and tastes” of Greece during the festival, she said, which typically attracts than 15,000 people from as many as 10 states, according to organizers.

“This is a yearly tradition for many, and they’ll travel for good Greek food without the airfare,” Lyda said.

The festival has helped such local charities as Magic Moments, The Bell Center and Firehouse Shelter, according to Lyda.

Admission is free. Food is separately priced. Drive-through service is available each day from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

For more information, including parking and a live entertainment schedule, go to birminghamgreekfestival.net.