Story and photos by Punya Wijetunge | Utica Phoenix Columnist
The St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church held their 11th Annual Mediterranean festival Saturday and Sunday with much extravagance despite the rainy weather.
Talking to the Utica Phoenix, the Chairperson of the Mediterranean Festival Cindy Nimey said the festival was a big hit with over 125 people attending this year, some coming from Syracuse, Herkimer, and even Bighamton.
“We had a cultural show with Ban Kidwell from New Hartford playing the Piano, traditional dancing, a 50- basket raffle, traditional Mediterranean food that topped the Baklava Ice cream Sundaes,” she said.
She also said there were Serian, Lebanese, and Russian descendants who found the festival an opportunity that brought their community together.
Nimey further mentioned the Mediterranean Festival that was founded with the intention of paying down the mortgage of the Church has also been funding a number of non-profit organizations in the area that included Hospice, Utica Rescue Mission, Sleep, and Heavenly Peace.
Nimey said there were a lot of first generation Lebanon, and Greek descendants that have found the festival a place to enrich their religious and cultural heritage, and were very fond of it.
If you would love to join the festival next year — mark your calendar. It is held annually at the St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, 350 Higby Road, New Hartford, on the weekend that follows the labor day. It will take place on Saturday from noon – 8pm and Sunday from noon to 5 pm.
