Greek fest a feast for the whole family
Money raised during weekend event to help pay for construction of new church
By Daniel Wolowicz camarillo@theacorn.com

DANIEL WOLOWICZ/Acorn Newspapers MEDITERRANEAN GOODIES- Women from St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church package thousands of pastries in preparation for the Ventura County Greek Festival, which begins tonight at the church, 400 Skyway Drive, and continues through Sunday.

Katherine Pappas has been busy this week.

The Oxnard resident spent most mornings directing a group of women who stood shouldertoshoulder along a makeshift assembly line to package the nearly 10,000 Greek pastries they plan to sell this weekend during the 29th annual Ventura County Greek Festival at Camarillo Airport.

"These women are very good," Pappas, pastry committee chair for the past 15 years, said of the group packaging the sweets. "These are homemade pastries, made fresh."

The stacks of baking trays laden with handmade baklava, cookies and other flaky treats overflow from the back room at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church. In other parts of the church, a small army of parishioners is working feverishly to prepare for the festival, which begins today, June 8, and runs through Sunday.

Pappas said the sweets sell out quickly. "We always run out."

That's good news for St. Demetrios' priest, the Rev. Gary Kyriacou, who said food sales at the festival- pastries, gyros, souvlakia and other Greek delicacies, will help raise nearly $80,000 over the weekend.

For the first time in the church's history, the money will go toward construction of a new $3.5 million church that the parish plans to build along Santa Rosa Road near Leisure Village.

"The funds that we make go directly to our building project," Kyriacou said.

The church recently retired its land debt on the lot, and Kyriacou said ground could be broken for the new church by 2010.

Kyriacou said money to make the church a reality will come from a number of sources, including donations, the festival, an annual golf tournament hosted by the church and a parish dinner and dance social.

Chris Pulos, the festival's lead organizer, said volunteers have been working since February to prepare for the event, which is expected to draw 7,000 residents from throughout the county.

The three days of events will include the annual 5K and 10K Fun Run on Saturday. The race will raise money for FOOD Share Inc., a countywide food bank. Now in its eighth year, the run raises an average of $2,500 a year for the nonprofit.

"We love our community, and it's important for us to support the ministry of our community," said Kyriacou.

The festival also will feature Greek dancing, live music and more than 20 vendors selling a variety of specialty items.

Kyriacou will host a number of church tours during the weekend and welcomes visitors to participate in festival events. "We might say it's a Greek festival, but it's really for everyone in the community."

For more information about the Ventura County Greek Festival, 400 Skyway Drive, call (805) 482-1273. Admission to the event is $2 for adults; it's free for children under 12.

Bring this article for one free admission to the festival.