About
Ottawa GreekFest is the premiere event put on by members of the Hellenic Community of Ottawa every August to commemorate the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, the namesake of our church, which is celebrated on August 15th. During the Festival, visitors get to experience delicious Greek food and wines, live music, and dancing. And of course – everyone is welcome to show their Greek steps on the dance floor!
GreekFest is a tremendous undertaking and would not be possible were it not for HCO members that volunteer their time each year to ensure its success.
We celebrate our culture with this special event and invite everyone to join us and ‘Live a Day the Greek Way!’
History
The Ottawa Greek Festival began in the 1970s, as a small event for the members of our Community to celebrate an important religious holiday in the Greek Orthodox Church: The Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos. Indeed, this is the namesake of our church here in Ottawa.
Over the years, the festival began to grow, attracting Greeks and non-Greeks alike. More days were added, until it eventually stretched to 11 days.
During the first two years of the pandemic, the Festival transformed into a take-out system in order to follow public health guidelines and keep our volunteers and guests safe.
But in 2022, a full outdoor festival returned with live music, dancing, and the typical great party GreekFest is known for!
