I look out at the crowd, and suddenly—it’s over.

10 years ago, we took our first steps on this stage—today, we take our final bow.

Their hands in mine, the music fading behind us and tears shining in our eyes.

The Original Annual Greek Festival, hosted by the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral (AGOC), is a three-day celebration of culture and community held in Montrose on Yoakum Boulevard. 

This year, the festival ran from October 2-4, with hours from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday. 2025 marked the 59th annual celebration.

The festival features authentic Greek food, an indoor agora (marketplace), cathedral tours and services, amusement rides and traditional Greek dancing. The adult shows light up the stage each evening, while the children’s performances take place on Saturday morning.

Seniors Chloe Hanson, Paula Nichols and I are all proud members of the AGOC community—as we took the stage one last time this year, the joy and tradition we grew up with became even more meaningful.

“Knowing this would be my last year was absolutely heartbreaking,” Nichols said. “[Greek Fest] has been such a big part of my life since I was a little girl, and I’m so thankful that I got to be a part of it.”

The three of us have been dancing together since elementary school—from our second grade performance of ‘Opo-po Maria’ to our final Pontian-style dances this year.

“Although I had always danced because of my family, I unexpectedly found the best friends while doing so,” Nichols said. “Being able to dance beside them made it even more special.”

For many, the festival was a chance to support friends and family and celebrate together. Seeing my loved ones in the crowd gives me a sense of confidence and connection to the people around me.

“I was really happy to see Chloe, Ellie and Paula in their zone and in a space they felt safe in and wanted to express themselves [in],” senior Aiden Gross said. “I liked it so much, I came back for all three nights.”

The Greek Festival ties such a large part of the Greek community together. It gives everyone a chance to celebrate the culture, see familiar faces and feel connected through food, music and dance.

“Greek dancing is a huge part of Greek culture, as we dance at weddings and many other gatherings,” Nichols said. “Knowing the dances always makes me feel connected to my roots—like I fit in.”

Every ‘OPA’, stomp and handclap carries history. Greek dancing tells stories of joy, struggle of Greece’s past hardships in war, love and pride for our culture and a sense of identity that words cannot convey. It makes me feel at home.

“Greek Fest not only connects me to my Greek culture, but it feels like a legacy that I get to fulfill while being surrounded by the best people,” Nichols said.

Through every performance, we honor our ancestors, our church and the families who fill the crowd each year, cheering louder than the music.

“I grew up at AGOC and watched my brother dance before me,” Hanson said. “Being able to dance in the festival has always been something I’ve looked forward to, admired and found special.” 

Hanson’s connection to her culture runs deep—she and I attended Greek school starting in first grade, where we learned to read, write and speak Greek.

 “Most importantly, I learned about my roots,” Hanson said. “We were educated on Greek holidays and traditions and learned poems, songs and dances to perform for our parents.”

This year, our Greek dance group began rehearsing in August, practicing twice a week until festival weekend. Every October, the area fills with laughter, music and the smell of souvlakis on the grill. 

“One food that you can’t find anywhere better than at [Greek Fest] are the Loukoumades,” Nichols said. “It has taken me years to perfect the skill of eating them without getting everything sticky or inhaling and choking on the powdered sugar.”

Families gather around tables with their spanakopitas and tiropitas while children chase each other through the grounds. 

“There were also people who were not Greek coming to the festival for maybe the first time saying how amazing it was and how well we performed,” Nichols said. “The sparkling of [those] kids’ eyes always melts my heart.”

The celebration’s energy is infectious, truly showcasing Greek life.

“You could really feel the Greek energy,” Gross said. “I thought that the experience would be diluted by people that were just coming to visit, but the Greek spirit runs strong.”

The sense of connection and family that radiates through the festival is something truly special. 

“My favorite part of the festival is, of course, the community,” Nichols said. “Not only is the festival filled with my friends and family, but it’s a place where everyone knows everyone. We all care for each other and cheer for whoever is on stage, no matter what.”

As the final song ends and the applause dies, there’s a bittersweet feeling in knowing that this chapter is closing. 

“This year was definitely really sad knowing that it was most likely my last time dancing at the festival I grew up with,” Hanson said. “Although, I plan to follow in my mom’s footsteps and dance when I’m older, whether it be back at AGOC, or wherever life takes me.”

For us, this year marked the end of a chapter in our lives. 

“I had been watching the festival long before I started dancing and had always been mesmerized by the dances,” Nichols said. “Although my time to dance is over, I’ll still come back and watch all my little cousins dance.”

Greek Fest is more than a weekend—it’s a little piece of home in Houston. It’s where our friendships grew and our love for our Greek culture deepened.

“Greek Fest is so important to me because it brings out a part of me that not everyone knows about,” Hanson said. “It makes me feel connected to my family and gives me the opportunity to share my culture, and what I love, with others.”

When the music stops, our heels hit the ground in sync, and we yell one last “Opa”—in that moment, time stands still and our hearts beat as one.