THRU OCTOBER 2

ASTORIA –?Greek?Nights at?Athens?Square?Park, 30th Avenue and 30th Street in Astoria, presents live music every Tuesday at 7:15 PM, July 10-October 2. Thirteen musical events are scheduled, including performances by Nikos Nikolaides and the Cosmopolitans with Olga Pantelis, Giorgos Fotakis and the Laiki Compania,?and the Noora Belly Dancers. Free admission. More information is available online:?athenssquarepark.org.

THRU OCTOBER 6

TARPON SPRINGS, FL – The City of Tarpon Springs will present Night in the Islands –a free event on the world famous Sponge Docks (Dodecanese Blvd. between Athens and Roosevelt Streets) on August 4 and October 6 this year. Enjoy a Greek panygiri with music, dancing, and dining! And we will offer an hour of free Greek dance lessons by the Levendia Dance Troupe from 6-7 PM. Night in the Islands will feature the engaging music of Odyssey in April and May, and in July, August, and September we will feature Ellada in front of the Sponge Exchange.?To reserve a table for dinner, please contact participating restaurants Costa’s, Hellas, Mama’s, or Mykonos. This popular event is free, thanks to funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Tarpon Springs Merchants Association.?For more information, contact Tina Bucuvalas at 727-916-0235 or [email protected].

JULY 20-22

CENTERVILLE, MA – The Cape Cod Greek Festival at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 1130 Falmouth Road (Route 28 and Strawberry Hill Road) in Centerville, takes place July 20-22. Celebrating the 36th year of the Grecian Festival the parishioners proudly share their culture, ethnic heritage, and faith with dedication and enthusiasm. Delicious Greek pastries baked by the ladies of the community will be offered for sale. Patrons can shop at the Agora (market place) for Greek food products, or stop at the Kafenio (coffee shop) for a cup of authentic Greek coffee and a piece of pastry. Live Greek music will be played all weekend and the St. George youth group will perform Greek folk dancing. The grand prize cash raffle will be drawn on Sunday afternoon. Hours: Friday, Jul. 20, 4-11 PM; Saturday, Jul. 21, 11 AM-Midnight; and Sunday, Jul. 22, 12-6 PM. Free admission, free parking. More information is available by phone: 508-775-3045 and at stgeorge-capecod.com.

NEWPORT, RI – Newport Hellenic Festival at St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church, corner of Thames and Brewer Streets in Newport takes place July 20-22. Experience the traditional culture, food, pastries, wine, music and dancing. Join us for the sights, sounds, and tastes of Greece at this fun, family-friendly celebration and get the chance to win one of our ruffles prizes! Live modern and traditional Greek music by Georgios Karatzas and his Orchestra, and Athenian Entertainment Greek Orchestra. Hours: Friday, Jul. 20, 4-11 PM; Saturday, Jul. 21, 12-11 PM; and Sunday, Jul. 22, 12-6 PM. More information is available by phone: 401-846-0555 and at hellenicfest.org.

JULY 26

CHICAGO – Summer Movie Night at the National Hellenic Museum, 333 South Halsted Street in Chicago, takes place Thursday, Jul. 26, 7-9 PM with the screening of The Tree and The Swing. The film?is about a?Greek woman living in London whose English husband loses his big bank job. When he finds a job in China, she has to decide whether or not to go with him. Seeking guidance, she visits her father in Greece, and meets a Serbian lady and her daughter, both refugees, who are taking care of him. Non-member admission $15, NHM members $10, Students $5. For tickets and more information visit nationalhellenicmuseum.org.

JULY 27-29

SIOUX CITY, IA – Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 900 6th Street in Sioux City, holds its annual Greek Festival July 27-29 Enjoy Greek foods like gyros, spanikopita, baklava, gift shop with jewelry and clothes, and a Mediterranean grocery store, plus Greek music and dancing. Admission is free. Hours, Friday, Jul. 27, 5-10 PM; Saturday, Jul. 28, 11 AM-11 PM; and Sunday, Jul. 29, 11 AM-3 PM. More information is available by phone: 712-255-5559 and at holytrinity.ia.goarch.org.

OCEAN CITY, MD – The St. George Greek Orthodox Church Greek Festival takes place at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center, 41st Street and Coastal Hwy Bayside in Ocean City, July 27-29. Doors open daily at 12 noon to feed hungry Greek Festival goers delicious, authentic traditional Greek cuisine. All menu items are available for lunch or dinner, dine in or carry out, including: baked lemon chicken, lamb shank, keftedes, dolmades, spanakopita, tiropita, Greek salad, pastitsio, moussaka, baked veggies, and gyro sandwich. Have a leisurely lunch and shop from the many unique vendors of jewelry, imports and art. Buy a ticket or two for “The Best Odds in Town 1:200 Chance to Win up to $10,000.” For dessert, enjoy real Greek coffee and sweets from the amazing selection of pastries, loukoumades, or our Festival famous rice pudding. To extend your Greek Festival experience, stock up on pastries like baklava and other Greek pastries, they freeze great (if they last that long)! Air-conditioned hall, handicap access, ATM on site. Visa/Mastercard/Discover accepted for food and vendor purchases. Free admission and free parking. Live Greek band and authentic Greek dance performers. More information is available by phone: 410-524-0990 at oceancitygreekfestival.com.

JULY 28

LACONIA, NH – The 32nd Annual Summer Greek Festival at Taxiarchai Greek Church, 811 North Main Street in Laconia, takes place on Saturday, Jul. 28. Enjoy authentic Greek food, pastries, music and dancing. Raffle tickets are now on sale! Only 200 sold with a top prize of $5,000! Please contact Bob Baumeister at [email protected]. More information is available by phone: 603-524-9415 and online: taxiarchainh.org.

JULY 28-29

LOWELL, MA – The Greek Rebetiko Trio performs at the Lowell Folk Festival on July 28-29. Performances are scheduled for Saturday, Jul. 28, 4-4:45 PM at Saint Anne’s Churchyard, Saturday, Jul. 28, 6-6:45 PM at Market St. Stage, and Sunday, Jul. 29, 2:15-3 PM at JFK Plaza. The Greek Rebetiko Trio is led by singer and bouzouki player Dimitris Mann, who grew up on the island of Mykonos.?He’ll be joined by LA-based Greek-American classical guitarist Taso Comanescu and Cypriot singer Andrea Charles, who will be exploring the lesser-heard repertoire of rebetiko composed for women to sing. More information at lowellfolkfestival.org.

SANTA BARBARA, CA – St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church holds its annual Santa Barbara Greek Festival July 28-29, 11 AM-7 PM, on the grounds of?Oak Park, at the intersection of West Junipero Street and West Alamar Avenue. Exact address (for Google Maps):?600 West Junipero Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105. Going north on the 101 freeway from Los Angeles, exit Pueblo Street and go straight, turn right on Junipero Street and look for street parking. Enjoy delectable Greek festival favorites like gyros and moussaka, live Greek music and folk dancing, raffle and vendors. Free parking. Admission: $1. Raffle tickets: Donation: $1 per ticket or 6 tickets for $5.00 Drawing: Sunday afternoon at 6 PM at the Oak Park Stage Winner need not be present to win. Raffle prize: 2 round trip tickets to Greece, LAX to Athens. More information is available by phone: 805-683-4492 and online at santabarbaragreekfestival.org.

AUGUST 12

CHICAGO, IL – The Classics Book Club at the National Hellenic Museum, 333 South Halsted Street in Chicago, discusses The Bacchae by Euripides, translated by William Arrowsmith, University of Chicago Press edition, on Sunday, Aug. 12, 1-2:30 PM. Led by Dan Perkey the book club offers dynamic discussion of classic Greek works in translation for all levels. Free for museum members, $10 for non-members. Register at nationalhellenicmuseum.org.

AUGUST 16

CHICAGO, IL – Thursdays at NHM Sip & Paint at the National Hellenic Museum, 333 South Halsted Street in Chicago, takes place Thursday, Aug. 16, 6-8 PM. Come join us for BYOB Sip & Paint Classes on the roof! Each session, students will be guided to paint a unique Greek scene such as: Island sunsets and the Parthenon. Cost: $20 Non-Members, $10 NHM Members and Students. Must be 21 and over on or before the day of the event. Those under 21 are not permitted. This event is BYOB and allows wine, wine coolers, beer, and hard cider. Hard alcohol is not permitted. NHM will not serve alcohol nor provide supplies to open bottles or cans. Register at nationalhellenicmuseum.org.