Pasadena Greek Festival

This is by far the Best Big Fat Greek Festival in all the Western States. Spectacular Food, Music, Entertainment and Shopping. Great Family putting, or fun date night. This is definitely a not to miss event.

I have been to a lot of Greek festivals in my day, and this one is certainly not the best for food, but it is one of the biggest a liveliest, with tons of stalls, lots of bars, plenty of shopping tents, and a huge amount of great Greekish music, from traditional to electronica.
Also, the venue, at the Santa Anita race track is amazing. What an elegant and historic park… and the Greek Fest used a lot of it both inside and out. It was magical at night with the music in the background and the lights of the towering art deco park sparkling all around us. There are fountains, and terraces, and statues, and green grass fields.
The fest has a childrens area with lots of bouncy slides and mazes.
My friend and I had a lot of fun. Just don’t go only for the food, because it is just so so and not terribly authentic (too much salt also). The Mussaka was the best think I had. The green beans were the worst. My friend liked her Greek Salad. And the Octopus looked pretty good.

I was a little disappointed after seeing signs for such a large greek festival– Wasn’t as big as I thought however, the amount of seating they had for the festival was ample which is a plus. I came for the food and was very disappointed. Don’t get me wrong it was good just not great. Having gone to the Greek festival held in the camarillo area over the last 15 years, I was excited to go to another areas festival. The festival in Camarillo has really good food with the church Grandmas and moms doing the cooking. Id say if you couldn’t make the camarillo one go here. The food (had the chicken dinner, moussaka dinner and dolmathes) is good not great and way overpriced. However, the pastries were good! Baklavas fantastic. So that was the saving grace.

This is one of the best ‘big’ Greek festivals in Southern California, organized through St. Anthony’s Greek Orthodox church in Pasadena.
It is usually help 3^rd week in September. I would say «mark your calendars» for next year, because this festival rocks big time!
Food, Yes! Greek food you say? OF COURSE!!!
Alcohol? Yes~!!! Greek Ouzo, Greek wine!
Entertainment? Yes! for the family: adults, singles, families, children. Yes, to all above!
AND, the wonderful dance troops perform few times a day wearing traditional Greek island or village costumes!!!
Plenty of parking too!
Hope to see you on the dance floor in 2014!