There’s a reason members of Victoria’s Greek community never think twice about volunteering countless hours for its annual Greek Fest.
The community that comprises about 125 families is doing what comes naturally, says Jim Koutogous, who has been involved for 12 of the festival’s 15 years. Koutogous is president of the Victoria and Vancouver Island Greek Community Society.
“We have a word called ‘philoxenia’ that means the love of strangers,” he said, taking a break on a sunny and windy Saturday afternoon outside the Greek Community Centre, 4648 Elk Lake Drive.
“It’s ingrained in our culture.”
And, that’s what motivates the society to stage its largest annual fundraiser held in front of Saanich’s Commonwealth Place, he said.
Victoria’s Greek Fest is an extension of an annual tradition that occurs in Greek towns and villages, when locals host a celebration to welcome and get to know people from neighbouring towns, Koutogous said.
“There are all kinds of festivals here, like the Buskers Festival, but there aren’t many community-type events like this anymore, where people can sit together, share a meal and watch entertainment in their neighbourhood,” he said.
This year’s free two-weekend event, which kicked off Friday, continues today and resumes Sept. 2-5 from 11 a.m.-10 p.m., is a fusion of live music, folk dancing, arts and crafts and Greek cuisine.
While the festival runs rain or shine — hence the presence of those huge white tents — Koutougos says organizers have often been blessed with good weather.
Planning for the festival, which began life as part of the original Folk Fest in Centennial Square, involves up to 200 volunteers and begins months in advance, Koutogous said.
Eight-year festival veteran Tim Petropoulos estimates the event will attract 22,000 people this year. It also raises money for other charities, including the Saanich Fire Department’s Hot Lunch Program for local schoolchildren.
While about 500 kilograms of lamb are used during the festival’s opening weekend alone, Petropoulos said, the loukoumades remain the most popular food item on offer.
“Thirteen per cent of our sales are from those little honey donuts,” he said. “They’re a guilty pleasure.”
Tours of the Greek Orthodox Church and heritage exhibits, where guests can learn more about how seaman Juan De Fuca was the first Greek to arrive here in 1592, remain popular, as well as dance lessons.
“It isn’t hard to learn Greek dancing, it’s something that you have to feel,” said Konstadinos Dimitropoulos, 16, a dancer visiting from Athens.
For more information, go to greekfest.ca.
