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Enjoy Festival Events

Welcome to the Minneapolis Taste of Greece Festival! We’re happy to host you and look forward to spending time together. To help you plan your visit, here’s what you’ll find in addition to the food and beverages in the outdoor tents.

Music & Dancing

Throughout the weekend, live Greek music and dancing will take place at both the indoor and outdoor stages. Catch Greek dance performances at the bottom of the hour both Saturday and Sunday. Check out the beautiful costumes, enjoy the Greek beat, and maybe take a few steps on the dance floor yourself!

Friday Night at the Festival

Come early for Happy Hour food and drinks and stay for the outdoor party. Dance the night away to the great Greek tunes and Mediterranean beats by our own DJ Evie.

Courtyard Cafe

Enjoy a glass or flight of red or white Greek wines, along with calamari, grilled halloumi cheese, and keftethes (meatballs). Take in the gorgeous view overlooking Lake Bde Maka Ska. Enter the courtyard through the Narthex, just inside the main church doors.

Bake Sale & Sweets

Satisfy your sweet tooth with Greek pastries, baklava sundaes (vanilla ice cream topped with warm baklava topping), or a bowl of loukoumathes, the quick fried Greek-style donuts dipped in honey and dusted with cinnamon!

Pastries available for immediate consumption or to take home include amygdalota, baklava (classic and chocolate), galaktobouriko, kok (chocolate and vanilla), koulouria, kourambiethes, melomakarona, and thiples. Find it all in the Terrace Room and Great Hall at the south end of the church campus.

Greek Boutique & Bookstore

Come inside and wander through the Terrace Room and enjoy a wide variety of Greek and other items from several vendors in the Greek Boutique. Then, stop in the bookstore to peruse a large selection of Orthodox Christian icons and books. The bookstore is located off the hall in the south church campus. Watch for the pop-up boutique outside in the afternoon and evening. All proceeds from St. Mary’s tables and the pop-up go to philanthropy.

Philanthropy

It wouldn’t be the Minneapolis Taste of Greece Festival without philanthropic activities woven throughout the weekend. This year, all point-of-sale tips will be donated to two important charitable organizations: American Legion Hellenic Post 129 and FOCUS MN. Additionally, we have our annual food drive with Joyce Food Shelf. For every 3 non-perishable and non-expired food items donated, you will receive a token for a non-alcoholic beverage. And new this year, we’re raffling off TVs in the beverage area, and all proceeds go to IOCC. Buy your tickets in the beverage area.

Church Tours & Services

Come into the church for a 20-minute tour that explains the architecture, iconography, Orthodox Christian faith, and more. Tours are interactive and questions are encouraged. Tours start at the top of the even hours (2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00 p.m.) on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during Festival hours.

Consider attending a church service. Saturday evening we will gather at 5:00 p.m. for Thanksgiving Vespers. On Sunday morning, the Divine Liturgy begins at 9:30 a.m. and finishes around 11:00 a.m. Services are conducted in English. All are welcome to attend.

Take a Self-Guided Tour

New this year, explore the history and key landmarks of this beautiful parish steeped in history, culture, and faith. Under the Dome: A Self-Guided Tour of St. Mary’s is an opportunity to learn more about the unique features of this parish’s history and the Orthodox Christian faith. Maps are available to guide you to 12 sites around the campus. Use your smartphone to scan QR codes at each site to dig deeper.

Cultural Experiences

All weekend, join us for Faith talks, Greek food demonstrations, and Greek dance lessons. 30-minute food demonstrations will take place in the Fireside Room, located at the south end of the church campus. Faith talks will be in the Sanctuary/Nave and will cover a variety of topics from the lives of the saints and more. Greek dance lessons will take place on the outdoor dance floor. Check the posted schedules at the table stands in the dining areas for specific program topics.

Date and Time

Friday, September 6, 2024
2:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Saturday, September 7, 2024
12:00 noon - 9:00 p.m.

Sunday, September 8, 2024
12:00 noon - 5:00 p.m.

The Minneapolis Taste of Greece Festival is a three-day event featuring authentic Greek food, live music, and cultural events, hosted by St. Mary's Greek Orthodox Church in South Minneapolis.

3450 Irving Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55408

(612) 825-9595

stmarysgoc@stmarysgoc.org