Adorned in authentic multicolored costumes, child and adult dance troupes will demonstrate ebullient dance customs at the festival.

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Every year, the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church gives everyone else a true taste of what it means to be Greek at its Annual Greek Food Festival. The annual event is the largest ethnic festival in Arkansas, and since its creation 25 years ago, members of the church have been serving authentic food, sharing their traditions of dance and hospitality, and donating event proceeds to local charities.

"The festival has distributed more than $1 million to local charities [through the years]," said parish council member Kevin Wilcox. Annunciation also puts a portion of the proceeds toward a college scholarship fund for its actively involved church students.

Centers for Youth & Families, Easter Seals, Love Truth Care Ministries, Harmony Health, Arkansas Food Bank, Community Connections and Youth Home are the charities receiving a portion of the proceeds this year. But they're not just benefiting, they're bearing some of the workload, providing volunteers to staff the event alongside church members.

"It's humbling, and it's a blessing that they want to come and be a part of the parish," said Stephanie Wilcox, the festival's volunteer coordinator. "It's amazing that they look forward to coming back year after year to work with our parish."

Fancy Footwork
Beyond the philanthropy and food lures, one of the most celebrated aspects of the festival is the live dancing, which enchants and entertains visitors throughout the three-day event.

Adorned in authentic multicolored costumes, child and adult dance troupes will demonstrate ebullient dance customs for crowds of central Arkansas families. Dancers include members of the church performing traditional Greek and Middle Eastern folk dances, as well as local, regional and national dance groups who travel to the festival to perform.

"The festival is a celebration of the diverse cultures that make up our parish and the Little Rock community," said Rev. Dr. Nicholas Verdaris, Annunciation's priest. According the Verdaris, his church members hail from beyond the Mediterranean and Middle East to Russia and Eastern Europe (including Serbia, Romania, Ukraine and Georgia), India, and Africa - just to name a few. "It's all reflective of the American experience - many nationalities and cultures coming together for good causes!"

Some extra special treats at this festival - and we're not just talking about the gyros, spanikopita and baklava - include an exclusive tour of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church given by Rev. Verdaris and the drive-thru for hungry guests in a hurry.

"The church tours are a great opportunity to learn more about Annunciation's beliefs, traditions and customs," Verdaris said. "So, while one is getting something tasty to eat or between ethnic [dance] performances, people also have the opportunity to explore and get to know a little about Orthodox Christianity."

And for those who can't make it to the festival for an afternoon, the church has made it easy for you to still score some food. Call in an order ahead of time for pick up or just pull up - the Greek food drive-thru is back!