What could be more fun in the summer than going to a Greek Church festival? Which was also known as a Greek picnic in my day. The workers and volunteers at St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church labor for weeks preparing for an onslaught of crowds who are eating and working it off on the dance floor. In the first photos are my mom, Georgia Alexander to her left is Gladys Kalogeras and Evangeline Mistaras who ran the bookstore at church. My Thea Effie Harduval is in the next three photos preparing the dough for loukoumades which are fried puffs of dough smothered in honey and cinnamon. My mom is also a photo with Thea Effie in #04. We continue on with a child on horseback, a bouncy castle, carnival rides and Greek dancing. The man leading the dance would appear at Greek festivals across the city all summer long where he would lead the dance for hours at a time. One of my favorite photos is of the band in #15 with a Farfisa electric organ, guitars and bouzouki and drums. These guys are hipsters in disguise as a Greek band. The park on the other side of the chain link fence is called Kathy Osterman people are peering over to see what's going on at the festival and next to the park is Lake Shore Drive and finally beautiful Lake Michigan. In the final photo is my dear Aunt Bess Wilson at the pastry table inside the auditorium where visitors gobble up baklava, and goodies filled with honey, nuts and sugar. In 2026 St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church with be celebrating 100 years as a parish. Come dance with us and join in the fun!
© Diane Alexander White PHOTOGRAPHY