Why The Asheville Greek Festival Should Be On Your Fall Itinerary

Is the Asheville Greek Festival in Historic Montford worth a visit? Absolutely! Learn what to expect, and see what to eat, drink, and shop for – from Asheville locals.

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Every September, the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Asheville hosts the Greek Festival in the Historic Montford District. A celebration of Greek culture and heritage, find delicious food and drink, lively dancing, church tours, and local AVL and Greek vendors. It’s where Tom and I go to devour grape leaves and gyros, and buy Greek wine and olive oil. Not to mention, the festival is budget-friendly and perfect for the entire family, even if you aren’t Greek. Peruse our local guide below, and be sure to check out our favorite fall festivals across Asheville. There are so many! See all that you can do for a great Asheville adventure.

Must-Know Information

What’s On The Menu

Tom and I honeymooned in Greece and Turkey. Our mouths water for those Mediterranean flavors and traditional Greek foods. There are two ways to enjoy food from the Greek Festival: attend 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 grounds, grab a program. Inside, find sponsors, vendors, and events along with a complete food and drink menu.

Greek Meals & A La Carte Items

These are just a few delicious menu items. 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

Beverages

After grabbing gyros, head 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)

Greek Pastries

A few treats you can find at the Greek Festival:

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

Best Things To Do At The Festival

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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 all scheduled events in the program book. 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 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.

Shopping & Vendors

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We most enjoy the vendors, including wineries like Ariousius, who offer wine tastings. For fans of fall candles and the Asheville breweries, we buy 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 kalmata 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.

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
• An opportunity 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

More About The Area: Historic Montford

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While attending the Greek Festival in Asheville, be sure to 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-like cemetery with paved walking paths perfect for Asheville literary travelers. Enjoy a self-guided or guided walking tour.
• Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre – Catch a free play 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.
• 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.