Oakmont Greek Food fest goes on, with major changes

The annual Greek Food Festival in Oakmont will take place this month, but in a different way.

The event is scheduled for 2 to 8 p.m. June 26-28 at the Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church at 12 Washington Ave.

Organizers said much had to change for the celebration’s 46th installment in order to make it safe for volunteers and patrons during the covid-19 pandemic.

“We’re trying to follow guidelines” co-chair Christopher Doas said. “Once a year, our church looks forward to hosting a very large event. It’s almost like the Greek church is hosting the community. I was really impressed with how the community looks forward to it.”

The Grecian Odyssey Dancers of East Pittsburgh and the church’s other Grecian stars won’t perform, and there will be no other live entertainment. Additionally, there will be no tents or indoor dining. It will be drive-thru only, with a limited menu.

Volunteers will adhere to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, and use hand-held devices to process orders and credit and debit card transactions to help people move through the line. Cash transactions are prohibited.

Oakmont police and Allegheny County Sheriff’s deputies are likely to help with traffic.

The drive-thru route will be from Allegheny River Boulevard or Allegheny Avenue onto Washington Avenue toward the church, then left at the church lot, where the line will be split, with four to six volunteers serving guests.

Food will be packed and delivered to vehicles.

Doas estimates between 300-400 cars may come through this year.

“Maybe they come through our drive-thru and meet somewhere with their friends in Oakmont to host people in their house,” Doas said. “We can’t host the outdoor seating. The whole thing’s been very emotional for all of us. There’s so many unknowns.”

What is known is the gyro tent and dessert spread, where people selected from a plethora of delicacies, will not be available this year.

Co-chair Andy Gavrilos said the limited menu is designed to keep the drive-thru line moving.

Pastries will be offered pre-packed with two finikia, two walnut baklavas, one apricot baklava, kataifi (shredded phyllo with ground walnuts), and kourambiethes or cookies.

Dinners will include chicken alexis with rice pilaf, souzoukakia (meatballs), pork suvlaki over rice and traditional gyros with lettuce, tomato and tzatziki sauce on the side.

Grape leaves, spanakopita — spinach pies — and koulourakia are also expected to be available. Honey balls will not be served.

“With the fried stuff, it’s really hard to know the timing and keeping the drive-thru moving,” said Doas. “The drive-thru process is new to all of us. We’re doing the best we can.”

Gavrilos and Doas have been involved in the festival for decades. Doas can be found in the kitchen while Gavrilos roams the grounds, ensuring volunteers and guests are having a good time.

Gavrilos said the festival survived heavy storms, transformer explosions and loss of power, a tornado touching down in Fox Chapel and other challenges through years.

“We’ve had to deal with a variety of different issues over the years, but this one I’d say takes the cake,” he said. “This year would have been a great year since we’ve all been locked up inside, but we can’t support the large crowd (with the safety regulations). People would come down and sit there all day and eat, listen to music, get some pastries (and) see some people they know.

“We’re not going to have that luxury … We’re all in this together and we’re going to do our best to at least get some good food out to the folks.”

The festival is the church’s biggest fundraiser of the year.

Festival planning usually begins in February. However, the coronavirus outbreak in March postponed all decisions.

“We really struggled with (the question) how long do we wait to make a plan,” Doas said. “Maybe the restrictions would be lifted … When the pandemic started, we realized we were going to have to do something different. You just don’t know what you’re allowed to do when.”

At least 20,000 people usually attend the festival, which is traditionally held the last week of June.

Gavrilos said he could not discuss specific dollars, but the three-day event generates about 20 to 25% of the church’s budget. He anticipates they’ll raise about a sixth of what the festival normally takes in this time.

More information is available at dormitionpgh.org or by calling 412-828-4144.