5/7/2016 MICHIGAN Kalamazoo - OK, Zia (and the Greeks)

Zia translates to aunt in Italian. My totally fun Auntie Joan shamed me into getting some blog work done. Her last email to me said, "I can't wait to hear all about Greek Fest!" That was early June. So here is the Greek Fest review.

We live very near to the festival site in town, so we get to see (or at least hear) them all up close. Usually you can get in before 4pm and see all the fun for free. After that there is a charge because the bigger entertainment shows start at that point. But we can sit on our balcony and hear all the wonderful music.

Friends stop by when they see our balcony lights on (a sign that we are open for company). Some stop for a short visit or to use the bathroom!! (instead of the sometimes stinky port-a-potties at the site). Others bring their food up to eat with real silverware instead of plastic forks. Always a cocktail on the ready for those that wish to linger longer.

The festival season starts each year with Greek Fest. This event started 40 years ago in the basement of the Dionysos restaurant owned by Theo (now passed) and Stacy. They wanted to share their heritage and culture--food, drink, music, dance--with a small group of friends and family. Over the years it morphed into a 3-day outdoor fundraising event that welcomes the entire community. Thousands of people attend.

It was announced earlier that this will be the last year for the festival in its present form. Stacy is getting on in years and says 40 years is long enough for such a huge operation. Per Stacy's daughter, the family will continue fundraising with a large indoor dinner event that still includes traditional Greek food, music and dance.

Stacy personally cooks and directs the kitchen in making ALL the food for the festival with fresh ingredients. No store bought or processed frozen products here. The fare includes gyros on the spit, handmade dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), spanakopita (spinach pie), and other traditional Greek dishes. They also serve Greek salad (with Kalamata olives and feta cheese). Desserts include all manner of Greek sweets including baklava and kourampedes (powdered sugar cookies).

Greek items are also for sale--olive oil products, souvenirs bearing the blue and white Greek flag, dangly belly dancer belts, and other Greek items.

Family entertainment is pure Greek culture immersion with the Levendes Greek Show. It is a Greek orchestra with traditional instruments. Folk dancers perform in full cultural costumes.

For kids, there is the Wonders of Hercules tent. There you could see a clown or magic show. There was also balloon twisting and face painting and a bounce tent.

But the most popular bit is the belly dancers. The star is Joette. Above see her walking under our balcony headed to the stage. How often do you see belly dancers walking down the street in full costume!! She stopped to pose as folks took her photo. Me included (from above).

Here is Joette in action during a performance. She is just one of about four dancers.

This is not only a belly dance demo, but the dancers entice audience members to come up and take lessons. It is a wonderful hoot and you learn some key moves.

No people pix here because we can no longer see the stage from our balcony. Trees in the park have grown to high, but that is OK, we can hear the music quite clearly.
We hope to attend Greek Fest, in whatever form, next year. Huge thanks to Stacy and family for all you have done for our community over 40 years. OOPAA!