Holy Trinity’s three-day Greek festival is back at its Maitland campus Nov. 6–8 with free admission, a long menu of moussaka, gyros and loukoumathes, live Greek music and dance troupes under the pavilion, and guided tours of the church. Plan on the free shuttle; on-site parking is limited.
Quick Facts
- When: Friday, Nov. 6, 4–10 p.m. · Saturday, Nov. 7, 11 a.m.–10 p.m. · Sunday, Nov. 8, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Where: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1217 Trinity Woods Lane, Maitland
- Cost: Free admission; food, drinks and vendor goods sold separately
- Heads up: Church parking is $10 and limited. Two off-site lots have a free shuttle. No Kids Zone this year.
Come hungry
The festival kitchens run deep. The dinner side covers moussaka, pastitsio, dolmades, a Grecian lamb shank braised in red wine, lemon-herb baked chicken and shrimp saganaki deglazed with ouzo and topped with feta. Then there are gyro sandwiches, chicken or pork souvlaki, fried calamari and saganaki, cheese flamed with brandy.
Save room for the pastry table. Loukoumathes (Greek doughnuts with honey syrup and cinnamon) lead a lineup that includes baklava, galaktoboureko, kataifi, melomakarona, portokalopita and a baklava cheesecake. Wash it down with a blended Greek frappe.
Several dishes, including moussaka, pastitsio, spanakopita and souvlaki, are also sold frozen at the Take & Bake booth, so you can take some home for later.
Music, dancing and a look inside
Live Greek music from the Aegean Duo trades off with the festival’s own dance groups all weekend, from the youngest troupes to the Hellenic Dancers. Check the festival schedule for set times each day.
Holy Trinity also offers 30-minute guided tours of the church, with time for questions. Tours run only at set times: Friday at 7 and 9 p.m.; Saturday at noon, 2, 6 and 9 p.m.; and Sunday at noon and 4 p.m. Vendors fill the big pavilion, and it all happens rain or shine.
Getting there
Parking at the church costs $10, and spaces, including accessible ones, are limited. The easier move is one of the two free off-site lots, both on Wymore Road: Lot A at Hope Road and Lot B at Sandspur Road. Air-conditioned shuttles start at 4 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. On Friday, Lot A doesn’t open until 6 p.m., so early arrivals should head to Lot B. Ask the shuttle staff if you need the wheelchair-accessible minibus.
One change for families: there’s no Kids Zone at this year’s festival.
Why We’re Hyped
Free admission and a menu that goes from lamb shank to baklava cheesecake make this an easy weekend food stop. Line up a church tour with a dance set and you’ve got a full afternoon or evening, with Greek pastries to take home.
The Details
- Dates and hours: Friday, Nov. 6, 4–10 p.m. · Saturday, Nov. 7, 11 a.m.–10 p.m. · Sunday, Nov. 8, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Location: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1217 Trinity Woods Lane, Maitland, FL 32751
- Admission: Free
- Parking: Church lot $10 (limited) · free shuttle from Lot A (Hope Road and Wymore Road) and Lot B (Sandspur Road and Wymore Road)
- Shuttle hours: Starts 4 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday · Lot A opens at 6 p.m. Friday
- Church tours: About 30 minutes, at scheduled times only
- Kids Zone: Not offered this year
- Festival info: orlandogreekfest.com · Menu · Schedule · Parking and shuttle
