If you had looked up at the Saanich sky while savouring the intoxicating aroma of lamb being roasted on a spit late Friday morning, you might have felt as if you were just an olive鈥檚 throw from the Aegean Sea.
The blue skies, brilliant sunshine and warm temperatures that greeted visitors to Greek Fest 2017 on Elk Lake Drive have boosted attendance this year, said event chair Jim Koutougos.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we鈥檝e had a weekend where every single day it鈥檚 been like Greece in Victoria,鈥� said Koutogos as he geared up for the local Greek community festival鈥檚 second and final weekend that ends Monday.
Koutougos, marking the 12th time he has volunteered during its 16-year history, said that aside from expanding its entertainment repertoire and museum, the Greek Heritage Project, there have been few changes.
鈥淲hy change a good thing, right?鈥� he said, adding most feedback is in the form of compliments about the food. 鈥淲e also love to hear how much people just enjoy being here for the atmosphere and the sense of community that we create.鈥�
Sandra Abatis, one of the army of volunteers festival organizers rely upon year after year, said there鈥檚 a good reason she came back to assist visitors and sell raffle tickets for a Greek vacation.
鈥淚鈥檓 married to a Greek, so I聽have no choice,鈥� joked Abatis, wearing a red, wide-brimmed hat to shield herself from the sun and a white T-shirt that reads: 鈥淚鈥檓 not yelling. I鈥檓 Greek.鈥�
She said it wasn鈥檛 until she visited Greece that she learned that the locals are not arguing but 鈥渁re actually just having a discussion鈥� when they appear to be yelling at each other.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e very animated. I聽asked my husband: 鈥楽o what do they do when they really get angry?鈥欌��
Alex Anderson, a security officer who has worked this event for four years, said his team has always felt the strong sense of hospitality that such community festivals are known for.
鈥淎fter working plenty of festivals, I鈥檝e noticed that this one is by far the most relaxed,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a definite plus.鈥�
Athens-based choreographer Konstantina Efentaki and her traditional Greek dance group Elkelam love travelling overseas for the Saanich-based festival, she said.
鈥淲e love to be able to present our culture to others, not just people from Greece who live here, but we also get lots of comments from people who are not Greek,鈥� she said.
With a laugh, Efentaki and her troupe also claimed responsibility for the glorious weather.
鈥淲e bring the sun,鈥� she said.
鈥淎nd the temperature!鈥� added one of her dancers with a smile.
While five-year volunteer Danny Kaye loves the Greek music and dance that visitors can enjoy while dining on Greek salad, spanakopita, pork souvlaki, roasted lamb and sweet treats such as baklava and kourambiedes (almond shortbread cookies), he said he has come to appreciate the addition of multi- cultural performers over the years.
鈥淚t gives everybody a different perspective from the different countries and cultures,鈥� said Kaye, who served for 23 years in the British army and lived between Leeds and York.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e had Polynesians, Spanish flamenco dancers, belly dancers, Scottish and Irish dancers. There鈥檚 loads of them now.鈥�
He said he was looking forward to today鈥檚 scheduled 6:25 p.m. appearance by the Sampaguita dance troupe, with Filipino dancers stepping over and in between bamboo poles during a traditional folk dance.
鈥淭hey dance on bamboo sticks they bang together,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou think to yourself, you wouldn鈥檛 want to get your ankle stuck in one of them because you鈥檇 have a right clatter and could break your ankle.鈥�
The affable middle-aged volunteer said it鈥檚 entertainment like this that has accounted in part for the festival鈥檚 growing popularity.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just a really good event for people to be able to let their hair down.鈥�
