Beginning this Thursday, Sept. 29,  you can be mils away, just for the day. Delicious dishes, exotic dances and more await at the Atlanta Greek Festival!

Atlanta Greek Festival
Sept. 29 - Oct. 2
Greek Orthodox Cathedral - Midtown
$5 for adults, free for children 12 and under

Unleash your inner "Opa!" (Mediterranean expression of excitement and cheer) and experience the rich 2000-year old culture and history of Greece at the Atlanta Greek Festival. Enjoy authentic dishes and music performances, history chats, traditional dances and more for just $5 (or purchase online for a $1 discount!)

For the foodies:
The weekend's fare is widely considered to be a feast for the gods! This year, learn to cook your festival favorites with live demos from local Greek chefs - including the savory Souvlaki and the decadent Baklava.

Wandering through the food stalls is an excellent way to start the weekend, but what if you need a taste of Olympus on the go? Head to the Atlanta Greek Festival Drive-Thru for good food fast - including gyro sandwiches, spanakopita, a pastry sampler and a drive-thru combo plates.

For the shoppers:
After indulging in the many succulent dishes, go ahead and indulge in a bit of retail therapy. Over a dozen vendors are offering authentic and handmade gifts, as well as clothing, accessories, home goods, jewelry and more.

A sample of the 2011 pop-up shops include:
Ricamo International - imported sterling silver and belly dancing costumes.
Nature's Bazaar - strands of pearls, gemstones, and rhinestones for crowns, as well as Mediterranean fossils and mineral jewelry.
Proverbial Greek - unique gift items and Aegean Sea glass jewelry.

For the fun of it:
"Considered incomplete without singing, dancing and music" the Atlanta Greek Festival is filled with "kefi" (an all-consuming joy for life) and features performances by the Cathedral's own award-winning dancers - Troupe Hellas: Lykion Ton Ellinidon. Boasting a repertoire of over 200 traditional dances from every region of Greece, Troupe Hellas wows with flips, spins and feats of grace. Specializing in contemporary Greek music, Alpha-Omega Sound serenades listeners with a vast selection of bouzouki feel-good tunes as well as classical hymns and contemporary hits.

In-the-Know Info:
Though all food vendors accept Festival Bucks ($2 for 1 Buck) you'll want to bring cash for the pop-up shops. Parking is sparse and highly monitored in this section of Midtown, so be sure to leave your car in the designated lots.