November 7-8, Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
If it’s early November in Lancaster County, it means one of our favorite events – the Greek Bazaar – is on the horizon. This year’s dates are November 7-8.
According to a history compiled by the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, the bulk of Greek immigration to Lancaster took place primarily in the early years of the 20th century. By 1921, a thriving Greek community had taken root, prompting the establishment of a Greek Orthodox parish. Named Evangelismos (Annunciation), the first church was located on the 200 block of South Queen Street in Lancaster.
By the ’50s, the parish had outgrown the location and ground was broken on Hershey Avenue for a much larger church, which opened its doors in 1959. The mortgage was paid off by the mid ‘60s and a new project was launched to build an all-purpose center next to the church.
In celebration of the new church building, Greek culture and the church’s long-held tradition of giving back to the community, Annunciation members held an event that featured Greek food, dancing and music. What became known as the Greek Bazaar was an instant success, prompting an eventual expansion to two days.
A tradition was also established: When one bazaar ends, planning begins almost immediately for the following year. The year-long timeline has to do with the fact that the Greek Bazaar is an all-volunteer effort that continues to span generations. After all, you don’t make 10,000-plus stuffed grape leaves overnight! In a recent Facebook post, the recipe for the church’s famous cookies was shared: “a little butter, a ton of powdered sugar and a whole lot of love.” Even the pandemic didn’t stop the event … volunteers pivoted (and masked up) and offered a drive-thru bazaar. However, the bazaar did suffer a hiccup two years ago when kitchen renovations forced the event to be suspended for a year.
The success of the Greek Bazaar prompted the introduction of a spring event in 2013. Gyrofest, which is held Mother’s Day weekend, features, as its name implies, gyros, plus other goodies. In an article that appeared in LNP (2017), organizers of Gyrofest recalled a woman who once ordered enough baklava to enjoy on a daily basis from May until early November, at which time she could replenish her supply at the Greek Bazaar. Because of ongoing renovations at the church, last year’s Gyrofest was suspended, but is slated to return in May 2027.
Giving back is a hallmark of the church. One-third of the proceeds from both the Greek Bazaar and Gyrofest are earmarked for local nonprofits and charities. In addition, church members support the work of numerous nonprofit organizations. During the pandemic, the church inaugurated a Food Box Ministry to aid neighbors in need. Mission teams have also traveled the world, helping to build homes, schools and churches in underserved areas.
Now in its 67th year, the Greek Bazaar offers Dine-in or Take-out options. Online ordering is available. The famous dinner platter is comprised of chicken with tomato sauce, Pastitsio, Spanakopita, Greek salad and a roll. A pastry tent will be filled with all sorts of Greek specialties. A Gourmet Room (offering frozen specialties) will also be open to shoppers. Entertainment will consist of folk dancing, music and more. Tours of the church will be available. Hours are Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 64 Hershey Ave., Lancaster.
Information: Annunciationorthodox.org
Leave a Reply