SAGINAW, MI – St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 4970 Mackinaw Road in Saginaw, will host two drive-thru events as an alternative to the annual Greek Festival of Saginaw in the summer, June 18-19, 11 AM-7 PM, WNEM reported on May 10.

Like many festivals across the country, the Greek Festival of Saginaw was canceled this year due to COVID-19, WNEM reported, noting that the drive-thru will “have the festival’s most popular menu items including gyros, Greek fries, and baklava,” and “guests must pay with cash or credit.”

Festival organizers told WNEM that the drive-thru “events will follow strict health safety measures to protect guests during the pandemic,” and “volunteers will be required to wear masks, social distance, sanitize surfaces regularly, have their temperatures checked, and fill out health questionnaires.”

The Greek Festival began in 1979 “as a way to share the faith and culture of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church,” WNEM reported, adding that “organizers hope the festival can come back in full force in 2022.”

“The festival contributes to different local organizations and charities,” WNEM reported, noting that “recent recipients include the CAN Council, City Rescue Mission, East Side Soup Kitchen, Hidden Harvest, Mustard Seed Shelter, Restoration Community Outreach, and Underground Railroad. Last year, the Greek Festival donated some of its profits to the Midland Area Community Foundation Flood Response Fund to help victims of the flood crisis.”

More information is available by phone: 989-793-8822 and online: http://stdemetrios.mi.goarch.org/.