STROUDSBURG, Pa. — Volunteers are busy in the kitchen of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church on Stokes Avenue in Stroudsburg preparing a taste of Greece for the church's Greek Fest.
"It's a great way to show Orthodoxy, we are Greek Orthodox but we accept everyone. You don't have to be Greek. I think it lets us enjoy our heritage and share it with everyone and let them really come and experience it," said festival chair Izzy Skarlis.
Newswatch 16 stopped by as people lined up to pick up their favorites. The food festival is a community staple that's been around for 30 years.
"I think it's that block-party feel. People love to come have some food, have a beer, relax, see friends they haven't seen in a long time," said Skarlis.
Festival goers tell Newswatch 16 that while they love the sense of community and the culture, the real star of the festival is the food.
"Spanakopita, pastichio, two gyros, I got pikilia, two packages of that, and this is my meal for the whole weekend, maybe," said Beth Engel of Saylorsburg.
"It's the food, absolutely the food. It's fantastic and good. The dolmades are my favorite, the grape leaves," said Marjorie Simmonds of Reeders.
Over the course of the four-day event, organizers say they're ready to serve.
"We sell probably a ton of gyro meat throughout the festival, but other things like bashido and moussaka are very popular. Baklava is always a favorite," said Skarlis.
Greek Fest runs through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church.