Maria Zialelis, of Pawtucket, lets the grease drip off fried pastry dough for diples Tuesday, in preparation for the Annual Grecian Festival Friday, Aug.15th to Sunday, Aug. 17. Butch Adams/The Times

The 81st edition of Pawtucket’s annual Grecian Festival begins on Friday

By JON BAKER
 
PAWTUCKET — Busy at work in the community center behind the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary late Tuesday afternoon, Grecian Festival co-directors Peter Pagonis and Paul Microulis took a few moments for a bit of levity.
“We’ve spent thousands upon thousands of man and woman hours to get this thing organized since January,” Microulis stated. “Right now, I’m not that tired; the adrenaline has kicked in, but I know — when I wake up Monday morning — my body’s going to hurt.”

Quipped fellow co-director Pagonis: “I’ve been sleeping more than usual the past few days. It’s all in anticipation of this 52-hour marathon, because I’m not going to get much rest, that’s for sure.”
If you’ve got nothing to do this weekend and crave something different — not to mention economical — consider attending this 81st annual event, where officials promise a unique glimpse into how Greeks live and love their own and the surrounding community, eat and celebrate the anniversary of the assumption of the Virgin Mary.
It will be held beginning Friday (5-10 p.m.), and continue Saturday (noon-10 p.m.) and Sunday (noon-9 p.m.). The price tag: Nothing, excepting the nominal prices for food and drink.
Elli Panichas, for seven years the festival’s public relations/marketing director, stated a theme of “A Greek Village Festival in Our Own Backyard” was chosen this time around for a variety of reasons.
“I’m really excited about this thing this year, and it’s because it was more of a challenge,” she said. “The economy is really tough right now. What we wanted to do is make this a truly special event for all the families out there. They really can’t afford going to see the Boston Red Sox or professional soccer, or going to a theme park, where the prices are exorbitant. Even the gas prices are way up. Who has the money to travel?
“I want to convey to the people out there, ‘C’mon, bring the kids! You’ll have a great time, and the food and atmosphere is phenomenal,’” she added. “This has a two-fold purpose: First, it started 81 years ago primarily as a celebration of the feast for the assumption of the Virgin Mary; the parishioners began to gather at a picnic in Seekonk, and then it broadened into what it is now.
“Second, it’s the major fundraiser for the parish, and the monies will be used for our Greek school, our Sunday school, youth organizations and also our dance troupes. The good news is that our prices are the same, except for a couple of meat dishes, and those have only gone up a dollar. I will say it’s worth the price because we provide an authentic atmosphere as well.”
This time around, over 80 church members – all acting as volunteers – will provide new food dishes. Among them: Loukaniko (Greek sausages) and a special yogurt dessert, as well as a lamb roasted over a spit.
Of course, the usual items will be offered. On Friday night, highlight dinners include (with rice pilaf, salad and roll) roast chicken, pork souvlaki or beektaeki (at a price of $8); stuffed peppers ($7); fish plaki (cod with tomatos and vegetables, $9); and Greek Osso Bocco (lamb shank with vegetables, $13).
Other dishes provided on Saturday and Sunday include (ala carte with roll) moussaka (egg plant and hamburg, $5); pastitso (macaroni and hamburg, $5), gigantes (fava beans with dill, $4); spanikopita (spinach in fillo dough, $5); and tiropeta (feta cheese turnover in fillo, $4).
Naturally, they will provide an array of authentic Greek desserts – prepared by the women of the Philoptochos Society – among them baklava, kourambiedes, finikia (cookies) and kouloulakia.
In the “Kafenio,” one may delight in aromatic coffees while tasting paximadia (biscotti); village yogurts; almond delights; and a specialty, baklava cheesecake. Beer, wine and ouzo will also be made available.
But there’s so much more: For the first time in the history of the “glendi” (Greek for celebration) officials will provide three donkeys, all hailing from Rehoboth, to add to the ambiance. They will be adorned in real Greek garb.
“The goal of the parish is to replicate Greek adornments for such a festival,” Panichas said. “If you’ve ever seen the movie ‘Mamma Mia,’ you’ll understand. In it, which was filmed in the isle of Skiathos, the bride rode a donkey up the mountainside.”
In addition, two of the church’s “Greek Pride” dance groups, including the senior (ages 12-25) and junior troupes (5-11), will perform traditional and modern movements while dressed in full ethnic costumes.
“We’re going to showcase dances from the different areas of Greece, including the mountains, the islands and villages, but we’ll highlight three specific dances,” said George Microulis, the Senior Troupe’s co-director with Andrea Vastis, not to mention Nancy Georgitsis and Pauline Vastis.
“The first is Tsamiko, a men’s dance to exhibit the idea of strength and bravery; the second Karagouna, a women’s dance to show grace, beauty and elegance; and then Zorba’s Dance for children, which is to a playful sort of music,” he continued. “Those who don’t know a lot about the Greek arts would enjoy watching what we do.”
(Those dance demonstrations, with lessons, will take place on Friday at 7 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday at 2, 4 and 7 p.m.).
Just as occurred a year ago, co-directors Pagonis and Microulis will conduct a Greek Island Trip raffle to Skiathos. It includes round-trip airfare from Boston, lodging at the Nostos Luxury Hotel & Resort and all meals. (Raffle donations cost $20 per ticket).
Just last August, over 12,000 gravitated to the festival, which also has cooking demonstrations and a marketplace (for purchase of anything from jewelry and clothing to religious items) and Panichas is hoping to break that attendance record.
The festival, rain or shine, will be held at the church, located at 97 Walcott St. Those interested in attending may park on Roosevelt Avenue across from Pawtucket City Hall and take a shuttle to the event.