The Cranston Greek Festival returned for its 31st year last weekend at the Church of the Annunciation’s grounds at 175 Oaklawn Ave.

Long lines of people waited for pastries and other culinary offerings, and a variety of vehicles took up every possible parking space on Oaklawn Avenue. Hundreds sat and enjoyed performances from the award-winning Odyssey Dance Troupe.

“Those people are so well organized it’s incredible,” said Dave Hanson, a Cranston native and the swimming coach at Bishop Hendricken High School. “It’s a tribute to the hard-working parishioners who really make the event special. They have every detail covered.”

Hanson also complimented festival officials on the free shuttle program that transported attendees from the parking lot at Cranston High School West onto the festival’s grounds.

Cranston Mayor Allan Fung, who has been going to the festival since his younger years, took in all three days of the event. On Sunday, the mayor and his wife, Barbara Ann Fenton, were greeted by the festival’s director of security, Harry Nicolopoulos, after arriving just in time to watch the dance troupe’s performance.

“The Greek Festival is fantastic,” Fung said. “I love the food, I love the culture. It’s all a great part of our city. Having such a great event that brings people here to celebrate Greek culture is an honor for all the people of this parish, and it makes Cranston one of the best places to live in America.”

The Rev. Andrew George, pastor at the Church of the Annunciation, thanked festival-goers and volunteers throughout the weekend.

“It makes our efforts all worthwhile knowing that the community loves our festival to such a degree to venture away from the air conditioner to be here with us,” he said. “We are doubly appreciative this year that so many came out. I am equally proud of my parishioners for staying the course – both with the set up which got relayed due to the tropical storm effects that hit our state earlier in the week, and now with this lingering humidity on the festival weekend. God bless them all for their dedication and extra effort.”

Theofanis “Frank” Markos, the event’s general chairman, heaped praise upon “all the beautiful and generous people from all over the state and neighboring states who came here for our food and pastry. We love presenting our Greek heritage and culture during our three-day festival.”