Mobile, Alabama is a cosmopolitan city, a melting pot of many cultures. Part of the reason for this is that Mobile is a port city with daily commerce from all over the world. Partly, it is because of Mobile’s heritage, with French, Spanish, Native American, African-American, British, Lebanese, German, Irish, Scottish and Greek forefathers.
The active Greek community of South Alabama shows off this month. The annual Greek Festival is at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church from Thursday, October 15 through Saturday, October 17. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Admission is free. No ticket or RSVP needed. The church and festival are at 50 S. Ann Street, Mobile.
The festival is cashless this year, with purchases by debit and credit cards only. You can eat on premises or take home from curbside pickup.
A little piece of Greece in Alabama: Greek food, Greek music, Greek dance, Greek markets and tours of the Annuciation Greek Orthodox Church.
Traveling to Greece is costly and time-consuming, but sampling that Greek experience here in Mobile, Alabama is free and convenient.
Alabama leaders of the Greek community have been holding this growing festival since the first Greek Night in 1962.
Many recipes are from the current Greek descendants’ “yia yias,” – their grandmothers.
There is a full-meal Greek food line inside. It includes: Dolmathes dinner – seasoned beef and rice mix wrapper in a grape leaf, Pastichio dinner – seasoned beef and layers of tubular macaroni, Lamb shank, Spanakopita – pieces of spinach and feta cheese, Greek salad and Child’s plate.
The outdoor section provides: Gyro, Pork Souvlaki, Chicken Souvlaki, Kalamari, Greek Fries, Greek Salad and Loukoumades dessert.
The indoor section has a Greek bakery with the popular Baklava, Kourabiedes, Melomakarona, Almond cookie, Koulourakla, braided bread and assorted pastry plates.
A complete menu is accessible at Menu – Greek Fest Mobile.
There is a Greek market, a plaka, with olive oils, cheeses, spices and assorted Greek items.
Greek music will be played by Bouzouki Express.
Greek dance teams in full costume perform on stage in the huge outdoor tent, fully cooled.
The South Alabama community is rife with Greek last names. Daily, you can run across Galanos, Coumanis, Roussos, Bakas, Costas, Demotropolis, Harris, Ladas, Maris, Markos, Papas, Papageorges and dozens of other Greek descendants, right here in Alabama.
The theme of the 2026 Greek Festival is: Yia Yia (Grandmother) Approved.
Author’s note: I will be at the Greek Festival on Friday, Oct. 15. I will be in a blue and white Greek shirt modeled after the Greek flag. Opa! – Jim Zeigler
Details at: Greek Fest Mobile – OPA!
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler is a freelance writer about the colorful and positive in Alabama — her people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected]
