GREEK ENTERTAINMENT — The Wheeling Grecian Food Festival will host a variety of events, July 24-27. -- Contributed

From staff reports

WHEELING — The parishioners of St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church are preparing for the 23rd-annual Grecian Food Festival in Wheeling, scheduled to be held from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. July 24-27.

“Come and connect with our heritage and traditions which are centuries old, yet timeless in substance,” exclaimed Gus Kayafas, festival director. “Our sanctuary tours will inspire you, the Orthodox Christian Bookstore will educate you, the food and drink will entice you and the hospitality will overwhelm you.”

New and returning favorites will be on the menu this year, totaling more than 40 items for guests to enjoy. New items include Opa fries, tavern fries topped with gyro mezze and tzatziki sauce.

A soon-to-be favorite big fat Greek hot dog is a deep-fried, all-beef hot dog topped with tzatziki cucumber sauce, fresh tomatoes, onions and crumpled feta. Salted caramel frappé, will be served at the kafenio, a Greek coffee house.

The festival will offer free cooking classes, focusing on desserts. Classes take place at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. each day. Two different lessons will be taught, the first being portokalopita, an easy and aromatic Greek desert known as Greek orange phyllo cake.

The demonstration will be given by Maria Kayafas at 2 p.m. each day in the second floor learning center.

“Among the Greek culture, there is a tradition of philotimo, the love of doing good for people,” Maria Kayafas stated.

“This comes across in our cooking, our desire to show hospitality to guests, neighbors and family, as we eagerly prepare Greek dishes to share our love for others,” she added. “It’s just another way to share our culture.”

Koulourakia, a butter cookie flavored with orange and sometimes anise, are hand-rolled and shaped into fun, twisted designs. They traditionally have an egg glaze and are topped with sesame seeds.

Typically served with a cup of coffee, the recipe will be demonstrated by Barb Landers daily at 4 p.m. in the second floor learning center.

“I attribute my culinary skills to my mother and yiayia,” Landers said. “My grandparents immigrated from Karpathos, Greece, and taught me recipes I use today. I look forward to presenting a traditional Greek recipe for those who wish to learn more about Greek culinary culture.”

The authentic food, electric atmosphere and contagious hospitality found throughout the festival makes this a summer event not to miss, organizers said.

“There is something for everyone to enjoy and the parishioners cannot wait to share their faith, food and fun with you,” Gus Kayafas said.

The outdoor setting allows patrons to enjoy gyro sandwiches, Greek tavern fries, wings of Ikaros or chicken kabob.

A flaming, aged cheese known as saganaki, will be served daily after 4 p.m.

Community youth will prepare golden-fried honey puffs, lemonade and baklava sundaes.

The Agape dancers will perform dances from various regions of Greece to live and authentic Greek music provided by the Greek Company and disc jockey George Yamalis.

In addition to outdoor activities, there will be a variety of festival favorites in the upstairs of Hellenic Center Hall, including roast lamb and chicken, pastitsio, moussaka, spanakopita, dolmathes or stuffed grape leaves, and Greek village salad, along with a plentiful selection of homemade Greek pastries.

Flavorful food items — only authentic to the Greek culture — are being offered.

Vendors will be on hand affording guests the opportunity to take home a piece of Greece.

“However, our greatest desire is to share the beauty of our Orthodox Christian faith with every single visitor,” Gus Kayafas commented. “When you visit the food festival, please consider learning more about the Orthodox Christian Church by visiting our St. John’s Bookstore, participating in one of our church tours, listening in on one of our youth and young adult choir showcase liturgical chant demonstrations, and, of course, conversing with the Rev. Demetrios Tsikouris if you have any questions about their ancient faith.”

The sanctuary will open at noon, 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. for guided tours.

The Byzantine Youth Choir will perform each day at 4:45 p.m.

A new item called mezze, a Greek appetizer of chopped gyro meat sauteed on the grill with peppers, onions and feta cheese and served with fried pita triangles, will be back at the taverna and kafenio, officials said.

The kafenio, or coffee house, returns this year with anticipated fanfare, it was noted.

“We are excited to bring back a festival favorite introduced in 2021,” stated 20-year-old Danyelle Dunlev, a festival participant who shared her enthusiasm with organizers. “You don’t want to miss the kafenio for an iced frappé, our newest salted caramel frappé, baklava cheesecake and ladopsomo — a cinnamon sugar fried bread.”

All food sales will be in-person, with no preorders upstairs in the Hellenic Center.

Foods can be packaged take home or to eat at one of the outdoor dining tents.

Follow the festival on its Grecian Festival page for the latest updates and news or go online and browse grecianfest.com for information or to download a menu.

For questions, call (304) 232- 4976. The festival is located in the center market historic district.

Free parking will be available on Chapline Street and in parking lots across from the church.