Anticipating a huge turnout for Greek Fest

Today was all hands on deck as volunteers prepare for the annual Greek festival. People from all around Bannock county as well as visitors from outside of Idaho come to this festival every year. “This community that puts this event on have been working for months,” says Pastor Constantine Zozos.

Preparation for this festival is never easy. Hundreds of chairs are set up in the courtyard of the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, in Pocatello, ready for the big day. Tressa Rockwood, a volunteer at the church has been helping with this festival every year. However, she is still surprised on the number of people who attend. “It’s been going on for days, so… someone once told me that we should do this every quarter and I thought it would be impossible because it almost takes 6 months to get ready for one of these. Soon as we get everything put away and finished, we’re on the planning next years,” Rockwell says.

Festival goers wait all year for their famous baklava pastry, which sells out by the hundreds. Seemingly enough, baklava is extremely hard to make. “Every year we make more baklava than the year before. And every year the baklava is always gone. So this year we’ve made an additional 350 pieces because last year we ran out two hours before the festival was over.”

All summer people have been waiting to enjoy authentic Greek food. Pastor Constantine says, “It’s an event for everyone, it’s food and festival and we want you to be Greek for the day and come join us have some good fun, some good food, good drink, and be with family and friends.”