Asheville Greek Festival Guide From Locals (2023)

Learn what to expect and whether or not you’ll love the Asheville Greek Festival as much as we do – from locals.

Every September, the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Asheville hosts the Asheville Greek Festival in the Historic Montford District.

The festival is a celebration of Greek culture and heritage, including delicious food and drink, lively dancing, church tours, local and Greek vendors, and more.

Even better, the festival is budget-friendly and perfect for the entire family.

And, you don’t have to be of Greek descent to appreciate all that this great cultural event has to offer. In fact, it’s a wonderful time to learn more.

Back in its full form from recent years, determine whether or not this terrific fall festival is for you. Get all of the must-know details to plan your visit – from Asheville residents. Let’s get started!

Top fall events in Asheville Greek Festival Guide featured image of Gyro in wrapper with falafel, lettuce, and tomato held up by white hand — See what you can eat, drink, and do at the Asheville Greek Festival – from locals.

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Table of Contents

Asheville Greek Festival Dates, Location, & Pricing

Asheville Greek Festival Agora Area with tables and chairs filled with people eating and talking surrounded by food and vendors with Greek flags hanging as decor — Shop, eat, and spy that vibrant fall foliage in Asheville.

Asheville Greek Festival entrance with fence with signs, Greek flags, and Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Asheville in the background — Shop, eat, and spy that vibrant fall foliage in Asheville.

When: September; the 2023 Asheville Greek Festival took place from September 22nd and September 23rd from 11 AM to 9 PM
What: “Explore the tastes, sights, and sounds of Greece”
Where: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church at 227 Cumberland Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801 (Montford neighborhood)
Cost: $3 in advance online, $5 at the door; under 12 is free (2023 prices)
Website: https://www.avlgreekfest.com/

Discover even more of the best autumn events and festivals around the greater Asheville area. We also champion the Maggie Valley Arts & Crafts Festival and Asheville VeganFest.

Greek Food & Drink

Asheville Greek Festival Mythos Beer and local craft cider with two white hands holding each and doing a cheers over a table with a falafel in the background — Cheers to another gorgeous fall in Asheville.

If you cannot tell by our noses (or abundance of hair), we are Italian-American, but we honeymooned in Greece and Turkey. Our mouths water for the Mediterranean flavors found in Greek cuisine.

One of the main reasons we attend the Greek Festival in Asheville is because we cannot resist all of the tempting Greek food and drink.

This is one of the best places to try those famous traditional foods and trust us, there is plenty to select from, ranging from gyros and meatballs to beer and dessert.

There are two ways to enjoy food from the Greek Festival: attend the festival in person or use the local food delivery service to have to-go containers delivered straight to your door.

Much of the menu is listed on the event website. Plus, as you enter the festival, be sure to grab a program. Inside, you will find sponsors, vendors, and events along with a complete food and drink menu.

What type of Greek food can you find at the Asheville Greek Festival? These are just a few of their delicious menu items.

Greek Meals & A La Carte Items

Asheville Greek Festival Gyro in wrapper with falafel, lettuce, and tomato held up by white hand — We had to try the falafel gyro.

Food prices range anywhere from $2.00 (dolmades) to $20.00 (lamb). However, most dishes are around $8.00 to $10.00.

Lamb, chicken, or falafel gyros (there is an entire gyro tent)
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 and vegan eaters. However, still exert caution here if you are incredibly sensitive or allergic (we are a part-Celiac household). Not everyone serving was fully aware of each item’s ingredients. You might want to message the event coordinator in advance.

Asheville Greek Festival Greek Fries with seasoning in plastic holder on brown table with Greek band playing music in the background

Asheville Greek Festival Dolmades with white brunette female with blonde highlights in pink dress sitting and eating one with a plastic fork

Beverages

After grabbing gyros, we headed straight to the music and dancing tent with the bar. Make sure to have your ID on you if you are purchasing alcohol.

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)

We also did a wine tasting in the second food area, which we will talk about below in more detail.

Greek Pastries

Of course, who can resist those delectable pastries? They even have a gluten-free option from Solci di Maria.

A few treats you can find at the Greek Festival:

Baklava
Kourambiedes (butter cookies)
Almond cookies
Gluten-free lemon bar
Galaktoboureko (custard)

And, don’t forget to pair your dessert with a Greek coffee.

Activities & Things To Do

There is plenty to do at the Greek Festival for families with younger children and adults. All of the activities are included in your ticket price. Be sure to check the times for all scheduled events in the program book.

Asheville Greek Festival 2023 Program, blue with white writing, held up in front of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Asheville — Be sure to grab your program as you enter the festival. Inside, find all of the vendors, scheduled performances, and delicious food you can eat.

Along with dining, 5 of the best things to do at the Asheville Greek Festival include:

Watch a Greek dance
Listen to live Greek music
Take a guided tour of the church (typically offered twice each 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 the swing set and a large grassy area with games in front of the church. We also spotted face painting.

Asheville Greek Festival soy Candle in a beer can with pumpkin design on it and being held up by a white hand

Asheville Greek Festival Wine Tasting with white brunette male and female holding plastic cups filled with red and white Greek wine

We most enjoyed the vendors, including Ariousius Winery. We tasted 5 Greek wines for $6 and left with two bottles plus Greek olive oil.

Fans of fall candles and the Asheville breweries, we bought delicious-smelling soy candles with local beer can designs from Blaze on Creations. The owner, Michele, collaborates with the local breweries.

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.

Asheville Greek Festival Music and Dancing Tent with white brunette male and female taking a selfie and female is holding a bottle of Greek beer — We never go thirsty at Asheville events.

Asheville Greek Festival bottles of red, white, and rose Greek wine on table — We never go thirsty at Asheville events.

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 any type of Asheville fall weather
A chance to celebrate and support the local and greater Asheville community
Located in a beautiful area
One of the friendliest experiences you’ll have
Fabulous local shopping

Who Might Not Enjoy The Festival/Cons:

It may grow extremely busy, especially on the weekend; we suggest Friday early afternoon
It’s a little harder to eat here with severe food intolerances/allergies
For the general public, there is street parking/congested neighborhood; we park close to Montford Park and walk

As a partially immunocompromised household, a mask isn’t a bad idea if you have similar health concerns. While everything is spaced out, some areas grow pretty busy.

More About Historic Montford

While attending the Greek Festival in Asheville, be sure to take some extra time to appreciate the city’s beautiful historic district filled with Little Free Libraries, parks, and restaurants. Montford is truly one of the best residential and local neighborhoods just minutes from Downtown Asheville.

Montford Park Players Playbill with actors from a Midsummer's Night dream in front of stage with people sitting in lawn chairs around stage — Literary lovers will swoon for historic Montford – says this rogue librarian…

Thomas Wolfe Grave at Riverside Cemetery in historic Montford Asheville NC — Literary lovers will swoon for historic Montford – says this rogue librarian…

While checking out Montford Park and strolling past quaint Bed & Breakfasts, a few more places of interest closeby include:

Riverside Cemetery – Literary greats O. Henry and Thomas Wolfe are buried here. Read more about Riverside’s history and notable points for a self-guided walking tour. It’s a beautiful Victorian-like cemetery with paved walking paths.
Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre – From spring through October, catch a free play in the park with the Montford Park Players Shakespeare in the Park performances. Performances typically start at 7:30 PM, and we suggest bringing your own comfy lawn chairs or picnic blankets.
Former Highlands Hospital – No longer standing and with a grim past for its shock therapy practices, Zelda Fitzgerald perished in the fire here; the area is said to be a bit haunted.
Restaurants Like Nine Mile, All Day Darling, and Tall John’s – The WNC food scene is hot in Asheville, and Montford houses some of the best restaurants. We highly recommend Nine Mile or Tall John’s for dinner. Afterward, head to Little Jumbo for a drink.

Of course, see all that you can do in Asheville and its surrounding WNC neighbors.

Plan Your Fall In Asheville

Whether you live in Asheville or are visiting just for the Greek Festival, be sure to check out our top guides for fall planning.

Biltmore Estate in Asheville NC Fall Sunflowers with rows of tall sunflowers against setting sun over the Blue Ridge Mountains — From Biltmore Estate sunflowers to apple picking with family at Stepp’s Hillcrest, celebrate fall in Asheville with some of our favorite and most popular guides.

Stepps Hillcrest Orchard in Hendersonville Apple Picking with two white brunette women and two white brunette men in orchard and holding picked apples with box full of apples too — From Biltmore Estate sunflowers to apple picking with family at Stepp’s Hillcrest, celebrate fall in Asheville with some of our favorite and most popular guides.

When To See The Leaves Change In Asheville – Based on elevation, see when the fall leaves begin changing colors in Asheville and where you should head to catch those vibrant reds and oranges.
Top October Activities – One of our favorite months of the year, plan out your October in Asheville with this guide. Discover the prettiest pumpkin patch, pick apples, and wine taste in Hendersonville.
Our Favorite Fall Hikes In The Asheville Area – We love heading out on the Blue Ridge Parkway to see the fall foliage along with places like DuPont State Forest and the Pisgah National Forest. Chase waterfalls and hike among the gorgeous leaves.
Apple Picking & Orchard Guide – Every fall, we head to multiple apple orchards for apple picking, cider donuts, and corn mazes. See which apple orchard is best for you and your loved ones.
Master Calendar Of Events – See what is happening in and around Asheville all year long.

Have you attended the Asheville Greek Festival? What did you think? And more importantly, what did you eat? Let us know in the comments!

Thinking of attending next year? Save this guide for later:

Guide to the Greek Festival Asheville NC Pinterest pin with images of bottles of red, white, and rose Greek wine on table, Gyro in wrapper with falafel, lettuce, and tomato held up by white hand, and soy Candle in a beer can with pumpkin design on it and being held up by a white hand

Christine Frascarelli