By Guest Bloggers, Rodanthe Koufaliotis & Vickie Micronis
Yiasou Charlotte Smarties! Back for its 34th year, The Yiasou Greek Festival welcomes you with open arms as we bring the aromas, sounds and tastes of Greece to your doorstep! Held on the grounds of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral located at 600 East Boulevard, the festival will take place from September 8th through September 11th and is one of Charlotte’s largest cultural festivals. The festival offers delicious Greek cuisine, mouthwatering pastries, history of our culture, shopping, entertainment, art and more.
Use these Smarty tips as the must-see and must do’s of the Yiasou Festival!
-Pick up your “Festival Guide” at entrance of festival.
-Make the best of your visit by dressing comfortably and travel with compact strollers.
-Learn the history of our religion by taking part in a church tour.
-Enjoy live Greek dancing on 3 stages every 15 minutes.
-Enjoy the sounds of the Mediterranean as you indulge in Greek cuisine.
-Don’t have time to stay? Drive up and pick up your favorite Greek foods on Winthrop Ave. between East Blvd. and E. Worthington Ave. For faster service, print the drive-thru menu (located at bottom right corner of our home page), fill it out, and present it to an attendant servicing the drive-through line.
-Join the crowds as they witness the reenactment of the Changing of the Guards by the elite group of soldiers known as Evzones.
-Make it a special night for your loved one as you taste test some of Greece’s finest wines.
-Stroll through the many gift shops and take a piece of Greece home with you.
-Learn to cook like a Greek by purchasing A Taste of Greek Tradition cookbook.
-Pre-purchase ride tickets ahead of time.
-Allow the kids to enjoy the many cool rides @ the Children’s Play Land.
-Don’t hassle with trying to find a parking spot. Consider your admission ticket taken care of by catching a ride on the LYNX light rail (East/West Blvd Station) and using your LYNX ticket for a free admission into the festival.
-Consider your holiday cookie baking complete by stocking up on delicious pastries and freezing them for the holidays.
-Take a stab at winning a trip to Greece for just $2.00!
-Coffee drinkers must try a Greek Frappe and a baklava sundae for desert!
-Enjoy a lecture on Greece and browse the cultural rooms.
-Have your photo taken with a Greek Soldier!
For more detailed information on the Yiasou Festival, visit Yiasoufestival.org.
How can Y-O-U win tickets??
Just forward this link to your besties so they can be in the know with the Smarty Newsletter AND leave a comment on facebook (you might as well “like” us while you’re at it!) as to what your favorite thing about the Greek Festival. We’ll pick our winners on Wednesday, Sept 7th. Good luck, Smarties!
