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Chicago Tribune

Food takes center stage at Aurora Greek Fest

Sheri Sadler of West Chicago and her family were seeking out some Greek food in Aurora on Friday afternoon that wasn't served in a high-end restaurant, but tasted like it should be. 'We've been coming here for well over a dozen years – myself, my brother, my dad,' she said Friday on the first day of the three-day Aurora Greek Fest at St. Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church at 1855 Fifth Ave. in Aurora. 'It's the food that keeps bringing us back.' The church's largest fundraiser of the year, which officials say nets nearly $100,000 over a three-day weekend, runs through Sunday. It is the first of two Aurora Greek Fests planned at the church this year, with the other set for the fall. Admission to the fest is free. A portion of the proceeds from the festival will go to two local organizations that help veterans in the Fox Valley area, church officials said. The event, according to the church's website, is 'a taste of Greek hospitality, culture and most importantly, delicious Greek food' including Greek entrees like chicken, moussaka, gyros and more as well as a plethora of homemade pastries. Co-chair of this year's fest Tracey Collins of Naperville said she has been a member at the church for over 20 years and that in addition to an outdoor dining tent with music and dancing, the fest has daily raffles 'in addition to our annual one on Sunday.' 'We usually see about 3,000 people,' she said of Greek Fest. 'Probably 80% of them have been here before and the rest are first-timers or those who came once before. Over the past few years, our attendance has been pretty steady. We do a big social media push – it's how we market, as well as word-of-mouth from people and members of the church.' Each day, Collins said the event 'would have about 75 volunteers working' and that there is never an issue about people showing up. Chris Procopos was supervising the grills at the event on Friday and said work began for the weekend fest about two weeks ago. 'Through the weekend, we'll go through 800 pounds of pork, and about 1,500 pounds of chicken, which always sells out,' he said. Kay Van Vreede of Naperville on Friday said it was her second time at the fest and that she was back because 'of the delicious food.' 'My favorite is moussaka. I'm not Greek but I'm honorarily Greek today,' she said. Kay's friend Cassandra Flambouras of Chicago said she is Greek and that this was her first time at the event. 'I wouldn't be here if I didn't believe the food was going to be good. At the Greek festivals, you get the best food,' she said. Longtime volunteer Christina Parhas of Lake Zurich said while she now lives far away, 'I am a native of this parish.' 'My mother and father are founders of this church along with so many others,' she said on Friday. 'Seeing all these people, they love it,' she said of the fest at St. Athanasios. 'They love the interaction, they enjoy touring the church. The food is all homemade and is made with love and I think they feel it. And we love to share our culture.'