(OCEAN CITY, Md.) - An annual cultural festival kicks off in Ocean City this weekend inviting people to experience a taste of the Mediterranean.
The 29th Greek Festival started Friday afternoon at the convention center where hundreds of people from the community gather to share the traditions of Greek culture, from cooking to community.
"The festival is a tradition for the Greek church," said Peter Gikurias, president of the church hosting the weekend event.
"We have traditional Greek foods. We have a Greek band playing Greek music. This year we have a group from Boston coming. They're going to dance on Saturday [at] 4:30pm, 6:30pm and 8:30pm."
The festival features authentic homecooked meals and desserts from gyros to baklava to loukoumades.
"The loukoumades are made on the spot. It's a dough, and then you sprinkle syrup on it, it has honey in it. Then you put powdered sugar or cinnamon or walnuts," said Cleta Lizas, a volunteer at the event.
For some people attending Friday's opening day, the Greek festival is a family tradition.
"This is a tradition in my family because I'm Greek orthodox. It actually helps [the kids] because it gives them the foundation of where we're from," said Steven Curtis, who was visiting the festival with his family from Ocean Pines.
The three-day event is hosted by the St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Ocean City.
It's the same small church that recently made headlines for its financial hardship.
Last month Ocean City police arrested a church employee for allegedly embezzling upward of $10,000.
Church president Gikurias said he's unable to comment since the investigation is still ongoing but does say events like this help keep the church afloat.
"Everything we do is for the church, benefits the church. It's all for the community."
The Greek festival is free and open to the public opening daily at noon all weekend long.
