Greek Glendi Festival kicks off weekend of fun, food and culture

MANATEE -- Oopah!

That word alone signals the beginning of Manatee County's 32nd Greek Glendi Festival at St. Barbara Orthodox Church.

It's a familiar cheer to many festival-goers who have been coming to the event for food, fun and familiar faces for years, or even decades. This year, visitors might hear a few more Oopahs! as Saganaki has been added to the menu and practically requires the cheer every time the flame hits the cheese-filled pan.

"We come every year and the food is fabulous," said Ann Jackson, who has attended the festival with her husband, Tom, for the last eight years. The assortment, availability and affordability of festivals and events like the Glendi make Bradenton an ideal place to retire, she said.

"It's the super neat activities like this that attract you to Florida in the winter," Jackson said. The Jacksons brought their Lakewood Ranch neighbors, Calvin and Susan Stoddard, to the festival at 7671 N. Lockwood Ridge Road

for the first time. While the Jacksons are seasonal residents from northern Wisconsin, the Stoddards moved permanently to Florida in 2011.

It's not just the food and wine that attract visitors, the organizers share their culture with dancing and music.

Aldo Trifka made his first trip to the festival Thursday, too. He's from Albania and thought Glendi would give him an opportunity to feel his roots.

"The culture is sort of the same and I thought it'd be nice to see what they have," Trifka said. He's been to other festivals in the area and said Glendi's food selection, in addition to the cultural experience, sets it apart.

"I've been to other festivals where the food selection isn't as good," said Trifka, a 10-year Sarasota resident.

For the festival's volunteer preparation crew, Thursday is almost like a trial run for the rest of the festival. Festival co-chairman Tony Vlahides said they had already added two more cash registers to the food line by 2 p.m. to help it move faster.

"It's hectic, but the first day always is," he said.

The last day of the festival is on Super Bowl Sunday, but they will still make the most of the day. Because the church doesn't have a license to show the game, they'll show the pregame warm-ups and then raffle off two TVs and an XBOX.

The volunteers look forward to the festival every year almost as much as the guests. It gives them a chance to get in touch with the community, see snowbirds who they might not have seen in a year and to give back to the church.

"It's a great community," said Tina Georgas, who was working the information desk Thursday. "Everybody's so giving and they're friendly, too."

Kathy Coulis, who used to live in Greece and moved to the United States at age 19, served traditional Greek dish spanakopita to festival attendees. It's her 13th year volunteering at the festival.

"I enjoy helping out my church, seeing people and meeting new people," Coulis said.

Janelle O'Dea, business reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7095. Follow her on Twitter @jayohday

This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 11:34 PM with the headline "Greek Glendi Festival kicks off weekend of fun, food and culture ."