By Mark Hallum
The Church of St. Nicholas in Flushing will show off a bit of Hellenic flair at its 45th annual Greek Festival Oct. 6-9, and those who attend will have the opportunity to enjoy all the food, music, goods and atmosphere the country has to offer.
St. Nicholas, located at 196-10 Northern Blvd., has been staging the event since 1971 and was one of the first community churches in New York City to sponsor an ethnic festival.
Musicians will set the tone of an Athenian-style cafe in an outdoor seating area where visitors can enjoy baklava, loukoumades and other pastries. Cuisine from Cyprus will be the centerpiece of the dining experience.
For those interested in shopping, there will be a flea market with vendors selling antique and new items, and there will also be stands for games, popcorn and sweets.
While at the festival, attendees are encouraged to take a tour of the shrine. The church became an official shrine in 1972 when Archbishop Iakovos received the relics of St. Nicholas from the Roman Catholic Church in Bari, Italy. Its architecture has been recognized by the Queens Chamber of Commerce.
The parish was founded in the 1950s and now has four schools, 60 ministries, more than 30 community organizations and serves more than 1,800 families.
The festival will run from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6; noon to midnight on Friday, Oct. 7; noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8 and noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 9. Admission is free.
Reach reporter Mark Hallum by e-mail at mhall
