Mediterranean Festival an enjoyable experience

by Terry Duffy
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, June 28, 2007
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, June 30, 2007

Summer festival time is now kicking into high gear along the Niagara Frontier.

One event that’s growing in popularity returns in just a few short weeks. It’s the annual Mediterranean Festival, presented by the folks at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 1073 Saunders Settlement Road, in Lewiston. Now in its third year, the fest takes place Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 13-15, on the church grounds.

The Rev. Paul Solberg, pastor of St. George, reports his church has always strived to reach out to others, and he sees the holding of a Mediterranean Festival, with all its divergent tastes, as one way of sharing cultures. “The original festival grew out of a desire to share our cultural heritage with the Western New York communities,” says Solberg, who notes that he first experienced such a happening while in Michigan. “It was a family, church-based event with Arabic music. There was dancing. People of all ages joined in – grandparents and children. Before we knew it, we had an intergenerational happening.”

Solberg recalled that the St. George’s event grew out of that experience, first off as a church picnic. “It started as a one-day event some 20 years ago,” he says. “We had Arabic dancing, foods. It started to grow in popularity.”

Sharing With Others

So much so that Solberg soon realized that others should share in the experience also. “I saw the need to share this (our culture) with others. Our belief was not to lose our culture but to share the culture.”

He points to the rather unique demographics of St. George’s, noting the church has active members who were either born in, or have direct descendents, from Greece and such Middle and Far Eastern countries as Armenia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Romania, Syria, Turkey and the Ukraine.

“Slowly we are trying to expand various cultural expressions within our Mediterranean Festival from more and more of these countries,” he adds.

St. George’s, whose membership includes 160 families locally, also extends its branches across the Niagara Frontier, with visitors to its services coming from such communities as Hamburg, Amherst, Clarence, Cheektowaga and others. As such, Solberg sees the Mediterranean Festival, like the Greek Hellenic Festival in Buffalo, as a way to further branch out into the community. “Our hope is in 10 years to have notoriety in the area as they do.”

Now entering its third year, the fest is certainly on its way.

Wide Appeal

Visitors will again find Greek culture at its finest, with foods, festive entertainment, weekend backgammon, dancing, craft and jewelry displays, basket auctions, raffles, a tea room, a Kids Village and much more. It’s a happening with appeal for visitors of all ages.

And talk about the food! Throughout the weekend, there will be such Greek culinary delights as falafels, stuffed grape leaves, Greek and Lebanese pastries, homemade breads, taboulis, spinach pies, hummus and kibbees. There will even be Peach Festival souvlakis offered. And all types of refreshments will be available, including specialty coffees, a variety of beverages and a beer tent on site.

Entertainment offerings include live Mediterranean music, dancing demonstrations – including family-line “Debke” dancing – a Byzantine icon display with a resident iconographer on site, plus a number of ethnic and cultural exhibits. Church tours will be offered and a variety of vendors are expected.

As in past years, the festival will again have its focus on helping out others, Solberg adds, with a portion of its proceeds going to benefit the health of the community and its residents through the programs of the Niagara Falls Memorial Heart Center and Mount St. Mary’s Hospital and Health Center.

“We have lost so many of our friends to heart disease in this area,” Solberg says. “We feel a need to help through awareness of promoting healthy lifestyles.”

He points out the festival does this through financial assistance as well as promoting increased health awareness in the community. All of its Mediterranean foods are heart-healthy, and the festival itself is expected to include health exhibits for visitors among its various offerings.

Do make it a point to visit this one next month. Rain or shine, the St. George’s Mediterranean Festival promises to be an enjoyable experience for area residents. Best of all, by attending it you’ll be further helping St. George’s in its efforts to help out others.

For more information, contact Solberg at 297-2668.