Annunciation holiday bazaar planned for this weekend
If you’re shopping for unique holiday gifts, plan on being at the Church of the Annunciation this weekend.
If you’re looking for an unusual dining experience, plan on being inside the Greek Orthodox parish’s Rev. Peter G. Mihailides Center that’s located at 175 Oaklawn Avenue in Cranston.
In short, the Annunciation’s Ladies Philoptochos Society, which prides itself in being a friend of the poor, will hold its annual Holiday Bazaar and Greek Food Fair Saturday and Sunday.
“All proceeds from our bazaar and food fair support a number of charities throughout Rhode Island,” said Georgia Pappas, who is co-chairing the ambitious yet fun-filled event with Carol Rothemich. “For example, our Prayer Shawl Ministry, headed by Anna Demetrakas, has some very talented members who have knitted blankets, hats and scarves for people at Veterans and Hasbro Children’s Hospital.”
The Holiday Bazaar and Greek Food Fair is perhaps best known as an extension of the Cranston Greek Festival that has a reputation for serving the finest Greek food in Rhode Island.
“Our Taverna will be open Saturday and Sunday,” Pappas said. “Our Head Chef Harry Bablenis and his staff will be ready to satisfy everyone’s palates with great foods like our famous gyros, pastitsio [Greek baked macaroni], stuffed grape leaves, roasted chicken and lamb dinners and more.”
Yet another unmatched tradition is the event’s Pastry Shoppe, that members of the Ladies Philoptochos Society have been baking for quite a few weeks and as Pappas pointed out: “We’ll be well-stocked with plenty of items like baklava, koulourakia, diples, spanikopita, kourambides and our famous rice pudding.”
The Ladies Philoptochos Society will also have Demetrakas Hall decked out in holiday splendor, replete with special centerpieces on each table where people will enjoy a delicious dinner or snack.
The two-day event will have many different booths featuring hand crafts, gift baskets, a white elephant area with many unique gifts, vintage treasurers featuring clothing and dishware and jewelry. Saturday’s hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday the food and merchandise booths will be open from 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. There’s also ample parking in Annunciation’s lot.
