Fall brings out all sorts of festivals around the Vegas Valley, but there can only be one Greek Food Festival. The annual event held at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Spring Valley was likely the first food fest founded in Las Vegas, and it’s celebrating 49 years dishing up delicious spanakopita, saganaki, gyros and honey-kissed baklava with generous sides of music, dancing and family-friendly fun.

“People like the food, but they also love the dancing and come for that, too. It’s a very lively event,” says organizer and publicist Marilyn Flangas. “You’ll see young people climbing on the tables to dance, like they do in Greece.”

As always, this year’s three-day event will include tours of the Byzantine church, and the Run for Change 26.2-mile fundraising run. All proceeds from the race this year, which kicks off at Tivoli Village, will benefit the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth.

The food is legendary at this festival, including our favorite, grilled chicken or pork souvlaki wrapped in warm pita and doused with tzatziki, and Flangas’ fave, beef and rice-stuffed grape leaves with a squeeze of lemon known as dolmathes.

But it’s really the welcoming spirit and warm cultural exchange that keeps the festival going strong year after year, and keeps attracting new families to the event. “It’s a way for us to show our culture,” Flangas says.

LAS VEGAS GREEK FOOD FESTIVAL September 23-25, times vary, $100. St. John the Baptist Church, lvgff.com.

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