49th annual Salt Lake Greek Festival to be the biggest, fattest ‘this side of the Mississippi’

Editor’s note: This article features an interview with Fr. George Nikas on KSL NewsRadio’s Midday with Maria Shilaos. Tune in weekdays from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. 

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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s capital city is ramping up to celebrate its 49th Greek Festival in the heart of downtown. 

The festival prides itself on its size, thanks to the settlement and community carried on the backs of those who immigrated from Greece in the early 1900s. According to the festival and its host, the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, only three Greeks were listed in the 1900 census of Utah.

Flash forward to 1935, the Greek Festival began in its earliest form — a one-day Bazaar held inside the church, which was then stationed just a block away at 439 W. 400 South. It went on until 1975 when another day was added. In 1976, the festival was held in the same iteration it is today, with a three-day celebration. 

Fr. George Nikas said nowadays, the festival is a “lifeline” for the church. 

“This is our major fundraiser,” he said. “So from a financial point of view, it’s our lifeline.” It’s what enables us to be able to keep our community going, to support especially our many youth programs. But it’s also an opportunity to give back to the community because a percent, I believe it’s 10%, of our net proceeds we give back to charities in the local community.” 

Nikas said the event hosts somewhere between 30,000 and 40,000 people each year, and according to the festival, that’s one of the largest cultural events “this side of the Mississippi.”

Preparations for each year begin immediately after the festival is over, Nikas said, and it ramps up five to six months ahead of time.

“It’s a tremendous undertaking, but it is done with joy because we anticipate the large crowds as an opportunity for us to share our Greek heritage, our culture, our faith for that matter with the Greater Salt Lake area and beyond because we have people who come even from out of state,” he said. 

Food 

“Every year we try to have a different dish,” Nikas said,” whether it’s a different pastry or a different dish in the food lines.” 

Nikas joked about the different display of lamb meat — which in recent years has featured a whole lamb on a spit. 

“If the lamb starts talking to you, then come get me because something’s wrong,” he joked. 

In all seriousness, it’s not a Greek party without food. Nikas argued the food is unlike anywhere else you can find in Utah, and touted some of the many delicacies the festival offers:

• pastitsio — like lasagna with béchamel “but better, even though I love lasagna,” according to Nikas.
• stifado — “a beautiful meat and onion mixture” 
• tyropita — cheese pie 
• spanakopita — spinach pie 
• kourabiedes — known otherwise as “snowball cookies” 
• baklava — a popular, layered pastry dessert 

Nikas said the festival also imports greek beer and will have Greek cocktails that are “ingenious, if you will,” mixed by premiere bartender Bill Zoumadakis. 

‘Become Greek for a weekend’

“You know, Greek Orthodox has always been referred to as the best-kept secret in America,” Nikas said. “Sometimes it’s time to release some of these secrets.” 

For Nikas and his community, it’s more than just fun. To him, it’s about spreading hope.

“Every time we turn on the radio or TV, we hear of something devastating that is taking place,” he said. “And so, you know, we need faith, more than ever in this world, and especially here in the U.S., where sometimes faith takes a backseat to different trends that take place in the world.” 

The festival features traditional dancing that students of all ages, including college, participate in. It’s one of the many activities that has continued every year since the festival’s genesis. 

Nikas also said tours of the church will be given that include t the Hellenic Cultural Museum, which is located on the lower-level floor of the cathedral building. 

According to Nikas, “it’s fair to say it’s a complete sensory experience.” 

Details

The Salt Lake Greek Festival takes place at the Holy Trinity Cathedral on 279 S. 300 West on Sept. 5 – 7. The festival hours will vary each day: 

• Friday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. 
• Saturday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. 
• Sunday: 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. 

Admission is $5 and free for children 5 and under and seniors 65 and older. Free admission is also extended to veterans with an ID or uniform, first responders and students with an ID. Find more information before you visit.. 

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Contributing: Maria Shilaos, KSL NewsRadio