Community Corner
Bayport-Blue Point Goes Greek
St. John's Greek Orthodox Church hosts annual Greek Festival.
The 32nd annual St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church Greek Festival went off without a hitch last week, as local residents wined and dined on traditional Greek cuisine.
Started in 1979, the St. John’s Greek Festival has become a local favorite pastime. Every year from June 23- 26, the church organizes a festival on its grounds in Blue Point to raise money for its religious efforts.
Rev. John Kefalas said the Greek festival was started to raise money for the church, but ended up being a tradition for the community. “We just found out recently that the local community likes it,” he said. “They actually start their summer with our festival.”
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This year the festival featured a few shops with Grecian gifts, a large grill and eating area, a carnival with rides and games, the Greek band The Atlantic Orchestra, and its locally renowned sweepstakes.
For an $85 ticket, you could buy a chance to win a brand new white BMW 328i or a cash prize of $28,000. Other prizes included a 2011 Hyundai Accent and a Caribbean cruise.
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“Believe it or not, that sweepstakes probably makes more money than the festival itself,” Rev. Kefalas said.
Local residents who didn't want to play with luck, said sampling all the Greek food was the best part of the festival.
Mallory Rivera, 22, of Bayport said the Greek festival is one of her favorite events of the summer because of the atmosphere. "It signals the beginning of summer," she said. "At night its fun to watch the musicians and the dancers, but the best part is the Greek food, hands down."
