“It’s amazing,” Paul Pliakas said while watching the Church of the Annunciation’s Baking Brigade the other night in Cranston. “This is what makes our festival such a special success.”
During last week’s baking session, nearly four-dozen proud parishioners – mostly women and even some young children – teamed up to make the famous cookies and pastries that will be sold during the 31st annual three-day Cranston Greek Festival.
The event – which attracts people from all over Rhode Island as, well as Massachusetts and Connecticut – will be held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Sept. 9-11, on the Greek Orthodox Church’s grounds at 175 Oaklawn Ave.
Meanwhile, the Baking Brigade – as several people dubbed the all-volunteer group several years ago – dedicates two and sometimes three nights a week to preparing the festival treats, using only the finest ingredients.
“Hey, we’ve got a reputation to uphold,” Pliakas said with a smile. “Our festival is known for having the best Greek food and pastry around. That’s why our people work so hard preparing for three of the most important days of the year for our parish.”
In keeping with tradition, the Cranston Greek Festival will again serve authentic, delicious dinners like roast chicken, souvlaki, spanakopita, tiropita, and roast lamb.
“For the sweet tooth, we’ll again feature our famous baklava as well as many different Greek pastries and coffee,” Pliakas said. “We’re really, really excited about this year’s event. Many of our people feel it could be one of the biggest years ever.”
But as Pliakas, who serves as chairman of the Festival Marketing Committee, reminded people: “There’s more than just food at the Cranston Greek Festival.”
Guests will be entertained by the Church of the Annunciation’s award-winning Odyssey Dance Troupe, which will perform in several shows throughout the event.
“The dance troupe does so in authentic costumes that resemble the many different villages in Greece,” Pliakas said. “They will perform traditional dances from the mainland of Greece and the Greek islands.”
This year’s festival will open at 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9, and run until 10 p.m. Saturday’s hours are noon to 10 p.m., and Sunday’s are from noon to 9 p.m.
A variety of vendors will be selling items from Greece, including jewelry, CDs, and clothing. There will be a special children’s area with games and crafts, and tours of the Greek Orthodox Church will also be available.
“Our church tour offers the opportunity to learn about the Eastern Orthodox Christian church, the second largest Christian church in the world,” Pliakas said. “We also have gift cards that can be purchased in advanced by calling the parish office at 401-942-4188.”
With parking always at a premium, Pliakas issued a reminder to people who’ll take in the three-day event that the festival’s popular free shuttle program will again run from the Cranston High School West parking lot right onto the grounds at 175 Oaklawn Ave.
And like the parking, Pliakas said, “admission to the festival is free.”
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