LYNN, MA – Every year the time around Labor Day brings bees to mind in the city of Lynn, MA.
The Church of St. George is a hive of activity in the run up to its annual festival, attended by as many as 3000 people, and the loukoumades are renowned for miles around.
The festival will be held on Friday, Sept. 4 from 4-10 PM and on Sept. 5 from 11 AM to 10 PM.
Anita Rassias, one of the organizers, told the Lynn Daily Item this week, “I’m getting excited…it’s getting crazy around here.”
“It grows every year,” Bill Booras, a parish council member since 1981, told the Item about the festival that began about 50 years ago. He noted as he spoke that “The tents and tables are being set up outside the church, banners are being hung, the driveway is lined with blue and white Greek flags and large Greek figurines are stalking at the gate.”
The men play important parts in the food preparation – many are either restaurateurs or love to cook – but the women are in charge of the baking.
“The men do the food and the ladies do the sweets and all of the pastries at the church,” said Manny Argiros, one of the event’s planners.
The Item reported “The men completed 82 trays of spanakopita, or spinach pie, and 50 trays of pastitsio. They also prepared moussaka and listed the names of the people helping with the pastries: Rassias, Zoe Haskell, Maria Williams, Ellen Argiros, Tina Mosho, Jane Baletsa, Connie Soto, Kathy Moulison, Teddy Yanakakis, Julie Stroumbos, Jeannie Scarmoutzos, Ginny DiVirgilio, Bessie O’Neill, Joanna Katsos, Marianne Spartos, Janice Koskey, Ella Alexander, Joan Vlahos, Maria Zamakis, Penny Kanellos, Claire Ofilos, Georgia Aucone, Barbara Stamos, Panagiota Tagis, Patrice Kotsakis, Anna Poulos, Eleni Katsoulomitis, Vasiliki Kalantzis, Georgia Powell, Elena Kirios, Kathy Andrews, Irene Mamos, Ann Hoomis, Mary Koutsis, Claire Ofilos, Georgia Aucone, Sophia Pentikis, Connie Speridakos, Christine Katsos and Teddy Paragios.
Zoe Haskell said “We started baking the week after the Fourth of July…A lot of Greek pastries are better after time as long as they are stored properly.”
Together, the ladies baked 4,700 koulourakia for the festival. Each one was shaped by hand.
“They also made 1,400 kourambiedes ahead of time,” according to the Item, which also provided descriptions of the items that have been part of Greek-Americans’ consciousness since childhood.
Traditional baklava is festival favorite, but Rassias said “We do baklava sundaes with ice cream….hose are very popular. We sold out of them last year.”
The “kafenion – café” will be dispensing coffee drinks including thick frappes and cookies
Vendors will be purveying toys, Greek jewelry, and plants, and there will be a booth for icons.
Children will be able to enjoy rides and games on Saturday afternoon and Greek folk dancers in full costume will appear throughout the festival.
Fr. George Tsoukalas, who has served as the pastor of since 1997, has blessed almost two decades’ worth of festivals, which are the parish’s biggest annual fundraiser.
Charlie Lambesis, who oversees all the cash flows – he also serves at the treasurer of the parish council – plays a very important role, but he also enjoys the festivities.
Big crowds come to the parish located in downtown Lynn Lambesis, whose grandparents met and married in Lynn around 1912, told The National Herald.
Lambesis, who was basking in the aroma of the baking as he spoke with TNH, said “we have the best loukoumades around – we have a really great recipe.
He also emphasized the festival’s $25,000 grand raffle, with tickets selling for $5. “Sunday night, if they pick the raffle with your name on it you can leave here with a check for $25,000.
DJ Thriller will be spinning Greek and American music on Friday night “and on Saturday and Sunday we have the best Greek band in the area – Orfeas – and they are an awesome ban,” Lambesis said. He also noted the dance groups include The Sons and Daughters of Alexander the Great”
When the participants recover for the working and eating, many will participate in the parish’s annual golf tournament, which will be held September 21.
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