MANCHESTER, NH – There’s only one day left for fans of Greek food and culture to get to this year’s Glendi, and if Friday and Saturday were any indication, folks should get there early.
Celebrating its 40th year, event organizers estimate at least 35,000 people have come to Glendi over the first two days of the festival.
According to George Copadis, co-chair of Glendi 2019, the lines during those first two days have set records. On Friday, he saw lines for the food move all the way past the entrance to the main building of Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral and turn the corner onto Kenney Street, something he has not seen in his 18 years with the event.
“The lines have been long, but the lines have been steady and this is an event you don’t want to miss,” he said.
If the current pace continues, he believes that some food items may run out by early afternoon on Sunday.
Fortunately for Amanda Bickford and her 1-year-old daughter Callie, there was still plenty of food available on Saturday for their first Glendi. Bickford has lived in Manchester for four years, but was enticed to come this year thanks to friend Tyler York, who also provided some idea of what to expect.
“We were waiting in the line and wondering ‘is this going to pick up? We’re starving’ and (York) is like, ‘oh yeah, it’s going to go fast,’ and they told us how the food works,” she said.
York’s one-year-old son was attending his first Glendi as well, but York is a regular to the annual event, and had this advice:
“Be patient, because the food’s worth it,” he says.
That, and make sure to get the lamb shank.
All proceeds from the event go to charity, with a portion of the proceeds going to help the families of those lost during the fatal motorcycle crash in Randolph over the summer that left seven people dead.
Doors open at 10 a.m. More information on the event is available at the Saint George’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral website.