It’s almost that time of year again, save the date for the annual San Diego Greek Festival at St. Spyridon June 3-5, 2011 in San Diego! The Greek festival is full of good eats (including homemade Greek pastries and cookies!), libations, Greek dancing and a great place to share Greek culture with Greeks and non-Greeks alike. You don’t have to be Greek to enjoy the festival. But you definitely should come hungry. From the grilled lamb to the homemade baklava you will find many temptations to enjoy. You’ll want to try some Greek dancing to burn it all off! And don’t be intimidated. Greek dancing isn’t as hard as you might think, there are a few Greek line dances that are pretty easy to follow along. I hope to find time to do a how-to post on dancing, but in the mean time this article did a good job of outlining the dance types and etiquette, here.
Even if you don’t venture onto the dance floor, you can enjoy the live music and dancing. I especially enjoy watching the young dancers in traditional dress that typically perform during the day. One of my favorite things about Greek festivals is the music. And actually beyond the festival is the timeless element of the music. The same songs are enjoyed by multiple generations and will continue to be enjoyed by future generations. The lyrics are akin to folk music with their story telling, and very poetic. They are a deep part of the tradition.
Can’t make the June date? Don’t worry, if the fun will continue again September 10-11 2011 with the Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church Greek Festival in Cardiff. Or visit this site for a full listing of all the Southern California Greek Festivals.