It’s longer than any grocery or laundry list.

It’s the names of three-dozen people whose lives literally stop for three days every September so they can head various committees that are needed to produce what will be the 33rd Annual 33rd Cranston Greek Festival.

In short, it’s the Church of the Annunciation’s proud parishioners coming together to offer a taste of Greek heritage and fantastic foods for three days on the grounds at 175 Oaklawn Avenue in Cranston.

Moreover, the Greek Orthodox Church plays host for what many people say is “Rhode Island’s Rite of September” as well as one of the best a most-attended summer festivals in the entire Ocean State.

So, it’s no wonder on a hot and humid summer night, the tireless committee chairpersons held yet another meeting to make sure there are no flaws in their operation when the three-day event opens on Friday, Sept. 7 at 5 p.m. and continues through Sunday, Sept. 9.

“There are many, many key people who work hard to ensure the success of our festival,” Rev. Andrew George, the popular pastor at Church of the Annunciation who even heads the Narthex Committee, offered. “When the actual festival rolls around, we will have upwards of 200 people manning booths and doing different jobs.”

The grand-daddy of the all-volunteer army, as parishioners like to call their extraordinary staff, may be Theofanis “Frank” Markos, who by days owns and operates Markos Auto Body & Sales in Providence and puts in as many volunteer hours at his church as he does his business.

Markos has been the festival chairman for many, many years and he’ll tell you “this is a labor of love to help our church.”

Kevin Phelan, who replaced Markos as president of Annunciation’s Parish Council, is the co-chairman and this year is working with Evan Andrikos, new joint co-chair who Father George said “has worked every year in his youth at the festival and now he has a major co-chairman role.”

Andrikos, in fact, is a prime example of how the people at Church of the Annunciation train younger parishioners for leadership continuity which is yet another reason why the Cranston Greek Festival keeps rolling along without interruption after three decades plus.

The highly-important treasurer’s duties are handled by Chairman James Silva and Assistant Treasurer Jason Maintanis. Marianne Phelan, a long-serving parish volunteer, has assumed the role of secretary for Festival meetings.

In addition to serving as general co-chair, Andrikos heads the gyros and French fries committee with John DeGaitis while Angela San Souci and Carol Rothemich team up for the grill, souvlaki, serving and preparing salads staffs.

James Grammas chairs the fest foods on the grill committee while Andrew Mihailides takes care of Orthodox information. Ginger Pappas handles religious books; Nikki Karon works the entrance area while SanSouci and Rothemich are also responsible for coordinating kitchen runners for the food lines.

Harry Bablenis, Annunciation’s ageless master chef, and Dennis Sampalis head the highly-important kitchen staff while Stephanie DiSumma and Lisa Badway take care or the refreshments bar.

Kevin Phelan, Silva and Maintanis are responsible for organizing the cashiers and Koula Rougas and Roula Proyous have no equals when it comes to chairing the pastry committee which they’ve done for as Markos will tell you “many, many moons.”

Marianne Phelan heads the kaffenio while the loukoumades is chaired by Charles Tsoumakes and Bobby Dafoulas. Kikki Yyrou is in charge the raffle and Markos makes sure the garbage patrol committee doesn’t miss a barrel or bucket.

Harry Nicolopoulos is in charge of police, fire detail, handicapped parking and security  while Jean and Paul Pliakas and Julietta Georgakis set up children’s activities with James Rengigas, whose family had the Original Mrs. Gus’s Doughboys at Oakland Beach in Warwick, making his pound-packing doughboys as he has done for years.