Saint Sophia’s festival brings the best of Greek food, drink and culture to the D.C. area. An annual tradition, the festival will be held in May 17-19, 2024
(Fri 4pm -10pm -Sat 12:00 noon to 10:00 PM and Sunday 12:00 noon to 7:00 PM).
2024
WINNER OF THIS YEAR’S ANNUAL MERCEDES BENZ RAFFLE
CONGRATULATIONS TO
JANICE PETROS
WINNING TICKET NUMBER #250
Volunteers Needed for Saint Sophia Annual Greek Festival
Help support our community by volunteering this weekend! We need YOUR HELP in serving our delicious gyros, sharing our spectacular spanakopita, navigating our honeyed pastries and sweets, dispensing beer and wine, and, of course, selling Mercedes Raffle tickets. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE RAFFLE TICKETS
All profits from the festival are vital to underwriting the Cathedral’s operations…from maintaining the smallest tessera in our mosaics to providing the crayons our Sunday School students enjoy during the school year.
Can’t share your TIME? Help us underwrite the cost of the festival by sharing your TREASURE and making a donation towards the festival costs. Donations can be made at the church office or at the Festival Corner.
All donations of TIME (volunteering) or TREASURE (donations) will be recognized with a donation leaf at our Festival Corner!
Please contact the Cathedral office for more information at 202-333-4730.
Call for Festival Committee Leads
The festival committee is looking for help leading several committees vital to the festival’s success. Please contact the church office if you are interested in leading our efforts in cost underwriting, management of festival labor, volunteer coordination, festival prep and setup, and festival cleanup and takedown. We also have a special leadership opportunity running the children’s colored sand tent and selling Greek arts. If you’re interested, please contact the Cathedral office for more information at 202-333-4730.
Call for Festival Volunteers
Help support our community by volunteering at the Saint Sophia Festival. An annual tradition, Saint Sophia’s festival brings the best of Greek food, drink and culture to the D.C. area. But to keep the festival a success, we need YOUR HELP in serving our delicious gyros, sharing our spectacular spanakopita, navigating our honeyed pastries and sweets, dispensing beer and wine, and, of course, selling Mercedes Raffle tickets.
To volunteer, click the link below or visit the Festival Corner in the church auditorium.
Live Music and Dancing (LIVE BAND BEGINS AT 5PM on FRI-SAT and 2PM on Sunday)
Every evening under the stars, enjoy live Greek music played by local musicians. Spirited festival goers are welcome to join in and dance … OPA!
LIVE GREEK DJ XENIA ON SATURDAY
1PM-5PM
SURPRISE GUEST SINGER ON SATURDAY
6PM-10PM
LIVE GREEK BAND
(FRI- 5PM-10PM)
(SAT- 5PM-10PM)
(SUN- 2PM-7PM)
Our Greek Language School children
will perform on Saturday at 4:00 PM
and Sunday at 1:00PM
Byzantio Greek Folk dancers
will perform on Saturday at 6:00 PM
Food & Beverages
Saint Sophia’s festival is proud to offer a wide variety of Greek delicacies – made fresh and daily across the festival weekend.
2024 Greek Cuzina (“Kitchen”) ****(ONLY SPANOKOPITA, TIROPITA, MOUSSAKA, PASTICHIO AND GRECIAL GREEN STRING BEANS WILL BE SERVED INSIDE THIS 2024 YEAR!) ****
NOTE FOR NEXT YEAR 2025! Inside the church auditorium, festival goers can sample dishes from the Greek Cuzina (Kitchen) that include roast savory chicken and lamb, traditional casseroles including pastistio (pasta and ricotta cheese) and mousaka (eggplant and potato), spanakopita (spinach and ricotta) and dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) and the simple, but exotic garnish of taramasalata (whipped caviar spread…served best on warm pita).
The Grills
Outside on the festival grounds, festival goers can sample traditional Greek sandwiches as they are freshly cooked over coal fires and burners. The line for the gyro sandwich may reach incredible lengths, but it’s worth the wait as the fresh sliced meat melds with feta and tzaziki (cucumber yogurt sauce), lettuce, tomatoes and onions. Traditional pork souvlaki (roasted on skewers) sandwiches are also a favorite as the meat is seasoned in Mediterranean spices and cooked over coal fires.
Taverna
Soft drinks, water and Greek beer and wine are available from the taverna – Under the 100 ft tent.
Greek Pastry & Kaffenio (“Coffee Shop”)
Taste the nectar of the gods with Saint Sophia’s Greek pastry! From the traditional baklava with its mix of honey, walnuts and spices to more exotic finikia (spiced walnut cookies) and kataifi (shredded phyllo with honey and nuts), the pastry booth has something to tempt any sweet tooth. If you’re in need of an afternoon pick-me-up, grab an iced frappe or traditional hot Greek coffee.
Loukoumades (“Greek Donuts”)
Served fresh and hot with drizzles of honey and sprinkled with cinnamon, the loukoumades booth prepares these treats across the weekend.
Lemonade
Support our youngest parishioners by buying fresh squeezed lemonade from our Little Angels children volunteer group.
Marketplace
The marketplace showcases vendors with wares including fine and costume jewelry, pottery and home goods, clothing, music, Byzantine icons, and a traditional Greek grocer.
Children’s Games
A variety of children’s games and activities are available across the festival weekend including balloon toys, sand art and a moon bounce.
Tours of the Cathedral
Guided tours of the interior of Saint Sophia’s Cathedral are available on the Saturday and Sunday of the festival. With your guide, experience the Cathedral’s fully mosaic tiled interior, while learning about this special house of worship, Byzantine design and the Orthodox faith. CLICK HERE TO VIEW FESTIVAL MAP.
PLEASE NOTE THAT NEW MAP WILL BE PRESENTED AT CATHEDRAL!
