In 1982, the Tallahassee Greek Food Festival ran out of food on the first day.
It was its inaugural year, and Victor Gavalas remembers parishioners of the Holy Mother of God Greek Orthodox Church heading back to their kitchens that evening to cook through the night to provide food for the next day.
“They worked all day, worked all night, came back out, and it was such a success,” said Gavalas. “We needed the money desperately.”
What started as a fundraiser for the church has now become one of Tallahassee’s most established and beloved yearly events. The 2024 Greek Food Festival runs from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday on the church grounds with an array of tasty treats, beverages and dancing.
The Tallahassee Greek Food Festival is a way for residents to not only eat exceptional Greek food, like gyros, souvlaki and baklava, but also learn about the church’s culture and history.
Tallahassee’s Greek community has always been involved in the restaurant business, Gavalas said. Greek families have owned some of the city’s favorite eateries throughout the years, like Angelo’s downtown, the F & T, the Seven Seas, Brothers Three and Georgio’s, just to name a few.