The Cranston Greek Festival, known for its fantastic food and palate pleasing pastry, wrapped up its 37th edition Sunday evening despite some of the most adverse conditions in the three-day event’s history.

Opening night Friday and Saturday were “very, very successful”, offered Paul Pliakas, who has long served as the event’s community relations director. “We opened with two of the greatest days ever.”

Sunday, however, was a completely different story, as torrential rain forced cancellation of one performance by the award-winning Odyssey Dance Troupe that later danced in regular clothes because leaders didn’t want costumes ruined by the rain. One of two live performances by the band was cancelled.

Nonetheless, the Festival’s popularity extended into late Sunday afternoon and until the 8 p.m. closing time as countless numbers of people came back to enjoy and purchase pastry and the mouthwatering Greek food and pastry even though Oaklawn Avenue was flooded.

“As in past years our valued guests enjoyed our famous gyros, roast lamb, chicken and potatoes, skewered pork and chicken souvlaki, pastitsio, dolmades, spanakopita (spinach pie) and tiropita (cheese pie). We also prepared a wide assortment of pastry, including our world-famous baklava, galaktoboureko, karidopita, kadaifi, koulourakia and rice pudding that despite the rain were almost sold out.”

There was yet another reason for the special success as the festival committee sought to keep the food lines from extending from the driveway to the street by having dinners prepackaged and ready for pickup. All people had to do was tell volunteers what they wanted, and they were handed the meal. No waiting and that was great.

“We want to extend great appreciation to festival attendees for their outpouring of support and an extra thank you to those who Sunday came in the heavy rain,” said Annunciation Pastor Rev. Andrew George. “Also, thank you to our parish volunteers for their commitment to the task in the oppressive humidity. May our gracious lord keep them strong.”

Meanwhile General Chairman Theofanis “Frank” Markos issued a “huge THANK YOU to everyone for supporting us and purchase our food and pastry. We will see everyone back here in 2024!”