Santa Cruz Greek Festival Celebrates 35 Years

Enjoy Food, Music, Dancing, and Spirits • September 9, 10, and 11

The Santa Cruz Greek Festival has been voted Best Street Festival in Santa Cruz County for many years and is one of the most eagerly anticipated community events. Come and enjoy this showcase of authentic Greek food, pastries, spirits, live Greek music, folk dancing and more! The festival is located at 223 Church Street, between Church and Center Streets, downtown Santa Cruz. Visitors will have a chance to taste many Greek dishes including specialties like:

• Lamb Shanks with Orzo – marinated lamb shank, roasted and served with orzo pasta
• Calamari – golden fried strips of calamari, served with dipping sauce
• Greek Fries – New! Crispy fries topped with minced garlic, feta and oregano
• Gyros – savory grilled meat wrapped in freshly baked pita bread, topped with a garlicky tzatziki sauce
• Tiropita – a savory pastry made with layers of buttered lo, filled with an egg and cheese mixture
• Moussaka – layers of eggplant, ground meat sauce, topped with béchamel sauce and cheese
• Vegetarian Moussaka – layers of eggplant, potatoes, zucchini, red peppers, béchamel sauce and cheese
• Pastitsio – Greek macaroni, ground meat sauce, topped with a layer of béchamel sauce and cheese
• Dolmades – ground beef, rice wrapped with grape leaves; also available vegetarian style with rice only
• Spanakopita – savory spinach and cheese filling wrapped with buttery filo pastry
• Baklava – a layered confection of nuts, honey and buttery filo
• Kourabiedes – butter cookies topped with powdered sugar
• Loukoumades – deep-fried delicate puffs of pastry topped with honey syrup and nuts
• Koulourakia – small, twisted cookies excellent to dip in your coffee
• Greek Coffee – a slightly sweet, brewed on the spot, specialty Greek coffee

Enjoy live Greek music performed by The Spartan Band throughout the three-day event. Bring the family and come live and eat like a Greek for a weekend! Our Greek taverna features imported Greek spirits, wine, and beer, as well as local selections. Greek dancers from all over the Bay Area will be dressed in traditional costumes and performing a variety of folk dances that have been handed down for hundreds of years. Please, no pets — service animals only.

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Santa Cruz Greek Festival
223 Church Street Santa Cruz

Dates and Hours: Friday, September 9 from 5 – 10 p.m. • Saturday, September 10 from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. • Sunday, September 11 from 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.

For more information, visit www.livelikeagreek.com. All proceeds benefit Prophet Elias Greek Orthodox Church.