The 97th annual Greek Festival fundraiser for Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Bayard is today (August 20) at the Prairie Winds Community Theater in Bridgeport.
The “Outside” portion of the festival starts at 1:30, including cooking demonstrations at 2:00 and a performance by the Athenian Dancers at 3:15.
The “Inside” Festival opens at 4:00, a fundraising auction begins at 6:30, the food booths close at 7:30, and the Greek Festival wraps up at 9:00.
Festival Committee Chair Nicole Dean says it began as a simple church picnic for one of the few Greek Orthodox churches in the region, then grew to include family and friends of church members, and finally to a beloved event for the Panhandle.
Dean says the Festival became bigger and in many ways easier with the opening of the Prairie Winds Center because the building allows organizers to do more things while not having to worry about the weather.