Is the Asheville Greek Festival in Historic Montford worth a visit? Absolutely! See what to eat, drink, expect, and shop for—from Asheville locals.
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Toward the end of every September, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Historic Montford transforms into a magical Greek experience, filled with dancing, gifts, and delicious food and drink. Think gyros, live demonstrations, and church tours.
See why the Asheville Greek Festival should be on your fall bucket list, including pros and cons, what to expect, and more nearby things to do. The festival is budget-friendly, delicious, and perfect for the entire family. Tom and I love going, and it is one of the annual events that makes Asheville so special.
🍂 Then, plan more of your fall in Asheville with this guide, including ghost tours, paired with our yearly Asheville events and festivals calendar. 📸 All photos are our own from years of living here and attending. 💙 Christine of Uncorked Asheville
Asheville Greek Festival Must-Know Information
Plan Your Magical Adventure: Our Free Asheville Guide + Bucket List
Asheville Greek Festival Menu Highlights
You know we are Sicilian/Italian, but Tom and I honeymooned in Greece and Turkey. Think Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, and Istanbul. Our mouths water for those Mediterranean flavors and traditional Greek foods. The Asheville Greek Festival’s food is out of this world. Go hungry. Leave happy. Take leftovers (and more to-go meals!). Here’s what to look forward to:
Greek Plates & À la Carte Items
Food prices range from $5.00 dolmades to $25.00 lamb. Most dishes are around $10.00-$15.00, which is well worth it for the portions. We always have leftovers for home. A few items on the menu:
- Lamb, chicken, or falafel gyros; there is an entire gyro tent behind the beverage station (don’t miss it!)
- Greek French fries
- Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves)
- ARNI (lamb shank)
- Souvlaki (pork tenderloin)
- Greek meatballs
- Moussaka (fried eggplant)
- Greek salad
🌾 Items are labeled for gluten-sensitive, vegetarian, and vegan eaters, with a dairy-free dessert option. Please exercise caution if you are incredibly sensitive or allergic; we are a part-Celiac household. Not everyone serving is fully aware of each item’s ingredients, and they get very busy. Volunteers and staff are incredibly nice and helpful, and you can message in advance with questions. We are so grateful they have these options and labels. I am able to order my gyros without cheese and tzatziki sauce (lactose intolerant here).
Beverages
After grabbing gyros, head straight to the music and dancing tent with a bar. If you are purchasing alcohol, make sure to have your ID on you. They check everyone and will give you a wristband.
Just a few American and Greek drinks you can enjoy:
- Soft drinks
- American & Greek coffee
- Local & Greek beer – Greek Mythos Beer as an example
- Greek Wine – Athena Red & White are two examples
Greek Pastries
A few desserts you can find at the Asheville Greek Festival:
- Baklava
- Loukoumades (fried bread dough “donuts” with honey and nuts)
- Kourambiedes (butter cookies)
- Almond cookies
- Gluten-free, dairy-free lemon bar
- Galaktoboureko (custard)
Best Things To Do At The Festival
Eat & Shop Your Way Around The Asheville Greek Festival With Us
🇬🇷 Each year, the festival changes just a bit. See what favorites we eat (and drink) along with shopping and wine tasting. Cheers! 💙
There is plenty to do for families with younger children and adults. All of the activities are included in your ticket price. Be sure to check the times for scheduled events here. Along with dining, 5 of the best things to do at the Asheville Greek Festival include:
- Watch traditional Greek dancing
- Listen to live Greek music
- Take a guided tour of the church (typically offered three times a day)
- Watch an iconography or cooking demonstration
- Shop for local and Greek goods in the various tents and marketplaces
If you are attending the festival with children, they have multiple play areas, including a swing set and a large grassy area with games in front of the church.
Shopping & Vendors
We’ve enjoyed the Greek winery vendor, Ariousius, who has wine tastings. More Agora gift shops sell items like honey, woodworking pieces, costume and fine jewelry, hummus, lemonade, kettle corn, and Greek goods, including religious icons, hats, and clothing. It took a lot of willpower not to buy a pound of Kalamata olives.
Pros & Cons Of Attending
If you are still undecided about attending—we are, of course, huge fans of this festival—there are a few pros and cons to consider. Festivals aren’t for everyone.
âś… Why visit the Greek Festival in Asheville/Pros:
- Family and budget-friendly
- A chance to try delicious Greek food & celebrate culture and heritage
- Indoor and outdoor spaces perfect for the Asheville fall weather
- An opportunity to celebrate and support the local and greater Asheville community
- Located in a beautiful area
- One of the friendliest experiences
- Great if you are an Asheville foodie; the food is spectacular
❌ Who Might Not Enjoy The Festival/Cons:
- It may grow extremely busy, especially on the weekend; we suggest going early afternoon on a Friday
- It’s harder to eat here with severe food intolerances/allergies
- For the general public, there is street parking in an already congested neighborhood. We park close to Montford Park and walk. Parking is rough, though, and we always find ourselves crossing busy intersections with no crossing guards and distracted drivers. Be careful. They have satellite lots after 5 PM on Fridays and all day Saturday.
Things To Do Nearby: Explore Historic Montford
While attending the Greek Festival in Asheville, take extra time to appreciate the city’s beautiful historic district filled with Little Free Libraries, parks, and restaurants. We most recommend:
- 🪦 Riverside Cemetery – Literary greats O. Henry and Thomas Wolfe are buried here. It’s a beautiful Victorian-esque cemetery with paved walking paths perfect for Asheville literary travelers. It’s also said to be a bit haunted.
- 🎠Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre – Watch a free play with the Montford Park Players Shakespeare in the Park. Performances typically start at 7:30 PM, and we suggest bringing your own comfy lawn chairs or picnic blankets.
- 🍴 Dining – Some of our favorite restaurants here include Nine Mile, All Day Darling, 5 Points (Greek diner!), and Tall John’s. Afterward, head to Little Jumbo for a drink. Discover even more great Asheville restaurants.
- đź‘» Haunted LaZoom Tour – We loved hopping on this purple bus comedy ghost tour with adult beverages. Parts take you through Montford, where you might see the ghost of Zelda Fitzgerald… Book your tickets here.
Let us know what you love about the Greek Fest in the comments. đź’™ Christine of Uncorked Asheville