Regain some kefi (passion, joy, enthusiasm) and eat like a Greek god or goddess at the annual Panegyri festival. Eugene Nicholas, general chairman of the festival, says it is a way to celebrate Greek food and culture.
"This is basically a dance and a food festival," he says.
'EVERYONE AROUND'
At Panegyri (a word that literally translates to "everyone around"), festival-goers can gorge on gyros, souvlaki and pasticho made from traditional recipes and wash it all down with some Greek beer and wine.
"Most people come for the food, and that's probably the thing we take the most pride in, is the food that we're serving," Nicholas says. "Most of the food is homemade ... a majority of it is made by the parishioners. A lot of it's made that weekend. We're cooking lamb and gyro all weekend."
Non-Greeks and Greeks alike will enjoy the munchies as well as the entertainment and dancing.
"They definitely need to experience the dancers," Nicholas says of festival newcomers. "We have an enormous stage; we have a Greek band, a local parishioner's band called Lazaros, that's been playing the last two years; and our youth and adult dance groups dance pretty much constantly through the festival."
There are even opportunities for people to learn some traditional Greek dances, taught by the parish's dancers in authentic costumes. And in case a baklava sundae with soft-serve ice cream topped with crumbled pieces of baklava and drizzled with chocolate syrup isn't enough, attendees can also munch on a Skyline cheese coney. Yes, although Skyline is not necessarily Greek food, the company was started by a Greek named Nicholas Lambrinides back in 1949.
Baklava and chili aside, Panegyri is a way to celebrate Greek culture in Cincinnati and all it has to offer.
"This is probably the most family-friendly festival in town," Nicholas says. "We did not raise a price this year. In fact we've lowered the price on baklava, and we've held all the other prices to the same as last year … They can still come, have a good time and not spend a whole lot of money."
