Newport News Greek Festival

I've been coming to this location for several years now. I like to come when it's not too crowded so you'll find me on the weekdays of the festival. The drive from Virginia Beach is well worth the trip.We enjoyed the food as always and love how clean it is inside. Even the bathrooms are quite clean. I love the variety of desserts they have when you first walk in on the left and how they have the To-Go options and order online as well. The lines are much faster since they are organized and will see you all next year. Faves: Moussaka, Lamb Shank, Almond Cookies and Loukamades

Opa! The Newport News Greek Festival, I believe, is the best of several Greek Festivals I have attended. I arrived about 11.45 on Saturday, just in time to snag one of the few remaining parking spaces on the street. There appeared to be ample lot parking, but cars were queued up quite a way for that.The lions share of the activity is outdoors under one massive tent and several smaller tents. For food, there were two serving lines labeled 'Athenian Café' and "Mediterranean Kouzina," which translates to something like "Mediterranean Cuisine."Both have Greek Salad, Gyros, and drinks; and each offered a different variety of other Greek dishes. I took the Athenian route and ordered Greek Salad ($4.75), Grecian Fries ($3), and Coke ($2).The Grecian Fries were very forgettable. Crinkle Cut, probably frozen, and a smattering of seasonings. Very pastey. Thankfully, the serving was rather small. On to the Greek Salad. It was a mediocre Greek Salad: Lettuce (Iceberg, I think), Grape Tomatoes, Sliced Cukes, Sliced Yellow Onions, Kalamata Olives with pits, a small block of Feta, and a blasphemous packet of Ken's Greek Dressing. I ate every bite.After eating, it was show time. I bused my table and moved up close to the stage. Greek Folk Music + Dancing were super. There were at least two distinct dancing troupes. The adult dancers were up first, and after a break, the younger troupe (8-12 YO) took the stage. I'm guessing that each dance set lasted 20 minutes. Accompanying music was provided by an electric combo of 2 bouzouki, oud, and fiddle. I had seen a walking bass drum on stage earlier, but it was not in evidence during either dance set.After the first two dance sets I wandered indoor, strolled through the stalls of jewelry vendors, and bought more Greek pastry.I hope to return in 2020.