A Taste of Greece Festival in the Mission

Every fall, the Annunciation Cathedral, located at 245 Valencia St. in the Mission, holds an annual Greek festival known as “A Taste of Greece.” I decided to attend this year, and am extremely happy that I did so. Upon stepping though the gates and onto the grounds of the church, my senses began to immediately overload. Loud and lovely traditional Greek music, played on the small elevated stage by obviously skilled musicians, filled the air, for all ears to enjoy. The rich, colorful costumes worn by the dancers produced a beautiful sight for all eyes to enjoy and revel in. And finally, the delicious scents of a variety of Greek delicacies wafted over, under, and through the crowd, all around the festivities for your nose to take in and set your mouth watering. There was not one thing that seemed to stand out for me above all others, as everything presented to me at the “A Taste of Greek” annual Greek Festival was marvelous and unabashedly traditional. The sights, smells, and sounds of the festival were undoubtedly unique and extremely loved by those whose Greek culture plays a primary role in their lives. These three things also served as the highlights to my experience, with the Greek identity, culture, and warmth being completely revealed through their music, dance, and food during the festival. In a neighborhood largely known for its Hispanic culture, I loved seeing the true diversity of the Mission first hand. There are so many different cultures represented in the Mission, but most outsiders are unaware, blinded by the districts name and numerous taquerias you will run into while walking down the street. Even I had no idea what a strong Greek community was present in the neighborhood until I heard about and attended this festival. I had an amazing time, and I would highly suggest that everyone participate next year in this awesome cultural experience brought to you in the Mission.

For more information visit these helpful sites:
http://www.annunciation.org/
http://www.annunciation.org/festival/

To read what fellow residents had to say about this year's festival, go here!
http://www.yelp.com/biz/taste-of-greece-greek-festival-san-francisco