Greek Festival at St. Demetrios in Seattle

A Seattle tradition since 1960, the St. Demetrios Greek Festival features savory Greek foods and sweet pastries. Everything is freshly prepared by members of the church community and served outdoors under a large tent on the church grounds.

Savory Greek foods

Calamari-Lightly breaded and deep-fried squid served with a side of tzazkiki
Dolmathes-Rice stuffed grape leaves
Falafel-Mediteranean vegetarian sandwich served with tahini sauce
Greek Fries-French fries tossed in Greek spices and topped with feta cheese
Greek Salad-Tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, kalamata olives and feta cheese in an olive oil vinaigrette
Gyro-Strips of spiced lamb and beef topped with tomato, onions and tzaziki sauce in a warmed pita.
Roasted Lamb Sandwich-Thinly sliced roasted lamb served in fresh French bread with cooking juices.
Souvlaki-Pork shish kabobs marinated in lemon juice and olive oil and seasoned with salt, pepper and oregano, served with a slice of French bread
Spanakopita-Spinach-cheese pita

Sweet pastries

Baklava-Layers of walnuts, cinnamon and sugar between buttered phyllo dough, topped with syrup
Baklava Sundae-Chopped Baklava mixed with a touch of espresso, served over vanilla ice cream and topped with whipping cream
Bougatsa-Creamy custard and chopped walnuts layered between buttered phyllo dough and served warm from the oven
Galaktoboureko-Creamy custard baked between layers of buttered phyllo and topped with a citrus-infused syrup
Kataifi-A mixture of walnuts, cinnamon and sugar wrapped in layers of shredded phyllo dough
Koulourakia-Braided butter cookies that go perfectly with coffee
Kourambiethes-Delicate butter cookies topped with layers and layers of powdered sugar
Loukoumades-Deep fried “Greek doughnuts” topped with honey-syrup and dusted with cinnamon
Pasteli-Sesame-honey candy

You’ll also find an array of Greek beer and wine in the outdoor Taverna bar, which features large projection screens showing all of the weekend’s major football, baseball, and soccer games. Rain or shine, under the giant white tent at the Greek Festival will be THE place to cheer on your favorite local team.

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While you eat, enjoy live Greek music and dancing from St. Demetrios’ award-winning groups. The church is proud to have a large and active Greek Folk Dance program. With over 100 dancers and singers enrolled from ages 4 years old to adult, this program aims to teach Greek folk traditions of dance, music, and song while maintaining the values of the Greek Orthodox faith. The St. Demetrios Dance Groups will be on hand all weekend and are excited to share this integral part of Greek culture with you. Dressed in authentic costumes and accompanied by traditional music, dancers from each of our age groups will perform dances and songs from throughout Greece. A must see!

Besides food and music, the Greek Festival also features shopping, Greek wine tasting, docent-led tours of the church, and a children’s booth with games, face painting, candy and prizes.

There are also Greek t-shirts, souvenirs, soaps, books on topics ranging from ancient to modern Greece. St. Demetrio’s Church Bookstore offers a large collection of books and literature on the Orthodox faith as well as icons, CD’s, and incense. A special attraction is the a rummage sale–unique collectibles and fascinating finds.

St. Demetrios Church is pleased to offer Church Tours for those wishing to view the beautiful sanctuary and learn more about the Orthodox faith. Docent-led tours last approximately 30-45 minutes and consist of a presentation on the history of Orthodox Christianity and St. Demetrios, followed by a question and answer period with the tour guide.

Before you head home, be sure to stop by the Greek Deli to stock up on Greek pantry staples like cheeses, olives, breads, spices, beans, and pastries. For more inspiration, be sure to pick up a copy of their cookbook, “Greek Cooking in An American Kitchen”, which features traditional recipes collected and preserved by members of the St. Demetrios Church community.

About St. Demetrios Greek Food Festival

Where: St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church is the Montlake neighborhood in central Seattle, 2100 Boyer Ave East, Seattle, WA 98112.

When: October 2023 TBA. Hours: Friday Noon to 9PM, Saturday 10AM to 9PM, Sunday – 11AM to 6PM.

FREE Admission.

Food: Food, pastries, and beverages are purchased with tokens. Food tokens are $1 each. Purchase tokens at the Token Booth using cash or credit cards. The suggested expenditure is $15 per person. You can exchange unused tokens for cash before you leave.

Parking:

Street parking is available on Boyer and Lynn Streets. The Greek Festival reminds you to be courteous of surrounding neighbors; do not park in front of driveways, fire hydrants, or crosswalks.
Off-site parking and shuttle service (Saturday-Sunday only, no shuttle service on Friday) is available from Montlake Elementary School, Seattle Preparatory School, and the University of Washington Link Light Rail Station. For more information, visit: http://seattlegreekfestival.com/parking/

Bike racks: If you bike to the festival, find bike racks located near the St. Demetrios Church entrance on Boyer Ave East.

But wait, there’s more!