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But the Tucson Greek Fest isn’t returning to its longtime home and birthplace at Greek Orthodox Church.

For the first time in its 46 years, it’s coming downtown.

The festival, featuring live entertainment headlined by the Greek-American singer Evangelia, activities for children, Greek dance lessons and authentic Greek food, will be held from 3-11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at the Mural Lot, 43 E. Congress St.

The move comes after organizers realized St. Demetrios’s new home on North Alvernon Way didn’t have enough room for parking and the influx of thousands of guests. The church in 2022 sold its East Fort Lowell Road home of 60 years and acquired the Alvernon Way property, which church officials said is closer to where its members live.

The church is still under construction, although it has several buildings on site for services and classes, said church member Peter Anadranistakis, co-chairman of the Greek Fest with John Rallis.

Anadranistakis credited Rallis, a cofounder of the , for bringing the Greek Fest downtown. Rallis suggested using the Mural Lot, where Dusk is hosting a family-friendly community event throughout its festival Saturday and Sunday.

The festival got support from Rio Nuevo, which presents Dusk and had helped the Greek Fest a couple of years ago to hold a Greek concert at the Tucson Museum of Contemporary Art downtown.

“It was a beautiful concert and a beautiful night,� Anadranistakis said. “This really was a catalyst to reinvigorate the community, to say, hey, if we can have such a beautiful concert and have our culture amongst ourselves and our friends, why can’t we bring back the Greek festival?�

The last Greek Fest was held in 2019; the 2020 event, which should have been that September, was canceled due to COVID-19. The hiatus continued when the church relocated, Anadranistakis said.

New to this year’s festival: Yaya’s House, a space set up like a typical Greek grandmother’s home, right down to the plastic-covered furniture.

“When you go to a Yaya’s house, you see sort of these very delicate doilies and tablecloths and fine china and silverware and dishes. And it is true, the couches are usually covered in plastic as are the lampshades,� Anadranistakis said. “The living room is meant for observing and like, ‘Look at my living room’ vs. sitting and entertaining or eating.�

The space will be where Greek fest guests can find traditional Greek desserts and coffee and browse an assortment of jewelry and other items from Greece that St. Demetrios sells at its agora (market).

“People will be able to come and kind of go down memory lane and hopefully they still have their Yaya around and their Yaya’s house looks exactly the same,� Anadranistakis said.

Of course, food is one of the biggest attractions at the Greek festival, going back to the first event in 1974; had the event not gone on hiatus, this would have been year 51.

Anadranistakis said many of the volunteers from years past will be on hand preparing traditional Greek foods, including gyro, chicken souvlaki, Greek salad, dolmades, spanakopita, baklava, loukoumades and the fried cheese appetizer saganaki.

Longtime Tucson Greek restaurant will be serving in the VIP section, and and will be making food for the general admission area.

Food is not included in the price of general admission, $10 for anyone 7 and older, although VIP tickets ($150) are all-inclusive. Tickets are available through .