Buffalo, NY (WBEN) After the pandemic forced a shutdown of events including summer festivals, events like Allentown Art Festival and Greek Fest are ready to back a comeback in June.
Greek Fest is set to return to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church the weekend of June 3-5. Father Christos Christakis says he's thriled to have it back. "We're excited for Buffalo also to have this festival again, as you know, this is the festival that starts usually the festival season buffalo. So we're getting ready, we're very excited," says Christakis. He says the content will be the same as before COVID hit, with lots of music and food.
The event is the biggest fundraiser for the church, however Fr. Christakis says it's more than raising money. "It's a great opportunity to come together to work together to volunteer together. And we see it as a great opportunity to open our community to our city," says Christakis. He says bringing the people of Buffalo together, and eating and drinking and dancing together and talking about Greek culture is more valuable than funds raised.
After being canceled for the past 2 years, the Allentown Art Festival will also make its return the following weekend. "We are a go this year and we are absolutely delighted to be back," says Rita Lippman. She says it was sad to not have the festival because of COVID as artists couldn't display their works.
Lippman says exhibitors are just as excited about coming back. "They're delighted, they're really, really happy because they haven't had a chance to, to do shows for a long time," says Lippman. She adds the artists have been working on their pieces for a long time, and can't wait to show them at Allentown.
Lippman adds she's working with the Theodore Roosevelt Inauguration Site to have live music. "We're looking at at this as a celebration of a great return for all of us. And I know that they are planning quite a few events during the summer so this will be a kickoff to for us and for them and a great way to start the summer," says Lippman.
WBEN has also learned the Italian Heritage Festival will return this summer. Details are expected to be announced later this month.
