Friday June 24th at 5pm, the 43rd Annual Ventura County Greek Festival opens at 5 pm until Midnight with Greek Happier Hour and Dancing 9 pm until Midnight. Get a jump on the crowds and show up early for great food and beverages.
Visit our Giant Food Tent, “Yia Yia’s Kitchen” (YYK) serving a la carte salads, appetizer and main courses with vegetarian and meat selections. Almost 20 delicious offerings will be available.
- Main courses: Vegetarian and gluten-free Moussaka and Beef Pastichio Casseroles, Lamb Chops, Souvlaki Kebobs (Pork or Chicken Breast), Bone-In Chicken leg quarters
- Side Dishes: Greek Green Beans, Rice Pilaf, Macaroni & Cheese, New Vegan Lemon-Garbanzo Stew, Horiatiki Village Greek Salad
- Appetizers: Hummus & tzatziki dips, Feta & Olives, vegetarian stuffed grape leaves, Greek Village Fries & Seasoned Fried Calamari are all-time favorite for kids and adults.
Other Specialty Booths include:
- Saganaki Fried Cheese and Loukanico Greek Sausage will be served from its own tent near the Main Stage.
- The Gyros Pita, an all-time Greek favorite, also available with Chicken or vegetables.
- Greek Pastries - several styles of baklava, Greek cookies, and cakes lovingly baked by our Ladies & Gents.
- Loukoumathes - delicious, sweet donut holes.
- Ice cream – featuring Soft-Serve Sundaes, Sodas, Root Beer Floats and Pagato.
- Greek Coffee, our authentic “Kefeneion” will feature Greek coffee, and Lemonade and Nescafe Frappes.
- Greek Taverna with Mythos Greek Beer, Greek Wines, Ouzo, Metaxa Greek Brandy, and New Specialty Cocktails.
PRIZE DRAWING: WIN $3000 cash, a beautiful necklace from George Thompson Diamond Company and other great prizes by purchasing a $5 Drawing ticket which also includes FREE FESTIVAL ADMISSION (regular admission is $5).
LIVE Music provided by the Orange County Greek Band; the “Olympians” will have you dancing like a Greek in no time. Several youth and professional Greek Dance groups will tantalize you with their expertise and precision footwork, providing free dance lessons to help you feel a little “more Greek”. Extended Hours on Friday and Saturday nights until Midnight will feature Greek DJ Pete Loukatos with his vintage Greek Music for “Taverna Style” dancing. A group of Pontian Dances will arrice Saturday early evening to tantalize and entertain you. Being so close to Hollywood, we never know if a “Greek Celebrity” might show up unannounced.
Now mosey through the Vendor Marketplace area and explore some unique finds to share with family and friends.
All credit cards and cash are accepted in Yia Yia Kitchen’s Tent and at each booth run by St. Demetrios throughout the Festival. In our Greek Agora Marketplace, most vendors will take credit cards as well.
KID ZONE 411!!!!!!
Families will enjoy the new and revamped KidzZone with rides and activities and children’s fun foods and snacks. Domino’s Pizza is providing Pizza by the Slice in the KidzZone. Another FIRST this year is Camarillo-based “Macaroni KID” bringing several new vendors like face painting, story time, balloon art, a new Petting Zoo and Horse and Pony rides for kids and adults presented by Prancers Farms in Santa Paula.
- Petting Zoo - by Prancer Farm
- Sand Art - by
- Story Time, Face Painting and Balloon - by
- Cotton Candy - by
- Free Mosaic Crafts - by
- Rides and Inflatable
Other activities:
- Introduction to Orthodoxy presentations by Father Constantine
- Greek Wine Tasting and Seminars by Greek Wine expert Michael Pavlidis
- Greek Imports Shop with clothing and novelty items is back by popular demand
SCHEDULE
Friday:
- 4:30 pm - Opening Ceremony Main Stage
- 5:00 pm - Gates Open with all booths open, Prancers Farms Petting Zoo, Horse & Pony Rides – Area behind Main Stage KidzZone rides and Jumpies Open
- 5:00 pm -“The Olympians” Main Stage
- 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm – Greek Wine Seminar – Greek Cultural Center (Across from Main Stage)
- 9 pm - Midnight - DJ Pete Loukatos “Greek Taverna Dance Club”. Main Stage
Saturday :
- 11 am – 7 pm – All booths open, “The Olympians” on Main Stage
- Noon - Fr. Constantine “Intro to Orthodoxy” - Greek Cultural Center (across from main stage inside)
- Noon - “Storytime Hour” with Greek Goddess - Domino’s Pizza KidzZone Stage
- Noon - 6 pm Ventura County Sheriff’s Explorer Program with two vehicles and Presentation with officers and Cadets present – KidzXone Lawn area
- 1:30 pm - Thavmatakia Dancers “Little Miracles”
- 2:30 pm - “The Greek Ventura” Dancers
- 3:00 pm - “Table Dance” by Aristedes
- 3:30 pm - Dance Lessons
- 4:30 pm - “Tharros” Dancers
- 5:30 pm & 7:30 pm - Greek Wine Seminar - Michael Pavlidis - Greek Cultural Center (across from main stage inside the building)
- 9:00 pm - Midnight - DJ Pete Loukatos leads “Taverna Dance Club”
Sunday:
- 10 am – Divine Liturgy – Main Stage
- 11:00 am – Festival officially opens
- 11:00 am – “The Olympians” Main Stage
- 11:00 am – all booths open, Games, Rides, Prancers Farms Petting Zoo and Horse & Pony Rides
- 12:00 – “Intro to Orthodoxy” – Fr. Constantine Greek Cultural Center across from Main Stage Inside building - FREE
- 12:00 - Storytime Hour at KidzZone Stage – FREE
- 12:00 – 6 pm – VC Firetruck on display with Firemen onsite – KidzZone Lawn area
- 1:30 pm – Thavmatakia Dancers “Little Miracles”
- 2:30 pm - “The Greek Ventura” Dancers
- 3:00 pm - “Table Dance” by Aristedes
- 3:30 pm - Dance Lessons- FREE
- 4:30 pm - “Tharros” Dancers
- 5:30 pm - Greek Wine Seminar - Michael Pavlidis - Greek Cultural Center (across from main stage inside the building) Purchase Tickets at Door of Seminar @ 5pm or at Wine Tasting Booth
7:00pm – Drawing for Winners of all prizes as Festival comes to a close. Main Stage
For more information visit http://vcgf.org/
Follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/vcgreekfestival/
Follow on Twitter https://twitter.com/vcgreekfestival
