Community members will be able to get their Greek on next Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 22-24, when the Akron Greek Festival returns to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church.

The church, located at 129 S. Union St. in Akron, will run its outdoor tent buffet line 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The inside buffet line will be open from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

In the large tent, folks can feast on souvlaki (grilled chicken or pork), gyros, village salad, kalamaria, smelt, Village Fries with seasoning, tiropita (Greek cheese pies), spanokopita and lemon potatoes.

Inside, additional entrees include lamb chops, lamb shank, chicken souvlaki or souzoukakia (Greek meatballs) with rice and green beans, pastitsio (Greek lasagna with bechamel), mousaka (eggplant casserole) and a choice of sides.

If that's not enough to get your taste buds going, check out the pastries in the cafe, handmade by church volunteers. A sampler of five kinds of pastries sells for $14. Desserts sold by single pieces are baklava, kourambiethes (cookies covered with powdered sugar), galaktoboureko (Greek custard) and finikia (honey-dipped cookies). Also check out the koulourakia (buttery Greek Easter cookies), paximadia (Greek biscotti) and loukoumades (Greek donuts), sold in multiples, as well as the rice pudding.

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Akron Annunciation folk dancers will perform at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. daily in the tent and Dimitri also will perform outside. Inside, Aegean Odyssey will perform Greek music and Dimitri Kountis will play in the pastry room.

The festival is offering online carryout orders, with ordering open now at www.akrongreekfest.com/order. Orders must be placed by 8 a.m. the day of pick-up and must be pre-paid online. Those unable to order online can call 313 444-7204 to place their order.

Customers can select their pick-up date and time in 15-minute increments. Pick-up times are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

The entrance for the drive-through has changed this year. Enter from East Buchtel Avenue and follow signs and volunteer directions. Order confirmations must be presented, either printed or on cell phones.

Guests will pull into a numbered parking space and text 313-444-7204 to have food delivered to their cars and exit onto South Union Street.

Online carryout orders include everything from lamb dishes to chicken souvlaki, pastitsio, gyros and sides. New this year are online party packs for hungry crowds at home. Twelve party packs are being offered, from eight lamb shanks for $95 to a full tray of pastitsio for $155.

Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.