Little Rock Greek Food Festival

Little Rock's International Greek Food Festival cooks up three days of fun every spring. Presented by Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, it's the largest ethnic festival in Arkansas. Since established, the International Greek Food Festival has raised more than $1 million for charities throughout central Arkansas. There is no admission charge or parking fee. Plan to arrive early for the best selection of food items

Annunciation Church

• Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of Little Rock was founded in 1913 by Greek immigrants. It is affiliated with the worldwide Orthodox Christian Church which dates back to 33 AD. The parish congregation consists of more than 200 families representing the heritage of 18 nationalities. Church volunteers begin preparations for the food festival six months in advance. The festival culinary offerings reflect the cultural traditions of church members, which include Greek Armenian, Georgian, Romanian, Russian, Indian, Middle Eastern, English and American. These diverse heritages each contribute to the food traditions associated with the Greek Orthodox Church.

Menu

• The International Greek Food Festival lives up to its name by providing a taste of the congregation's favorite recipes. Menu items include Greek souvlaki commonly known as ka-bobs, Greek pastitsio, spanakopita, gyros, roasted lamb and calamari. At the Jerusalem Cafe, festival participants enjoy hummus, tabbouleh salad and falafel. Indian dishes on the menu include rice pilaf, vegetable curry and chick peas with spinach masala. The selection of handmade Greek pastries available at Old World Market include baklava, sourota, kourambiethes, melomacharona and other tasty treats. Many menu items may be purchased at a drive-through station.

Old World Market

• The festival's indoor Old World Market pleases shoppers and browsers with items imported from around the globe. Its array of goods includes items such as Mediterranean silver, jewelry, hand-painted ceramics, dances scarves, Russian nesting dolls, African hair clips, Roman and Middle Eastern coins, European artwork and handmade wooden toys. Crafted items from the Ozarks also are available. For those wishing to recreate the festival menu, or just take home their favorite festival delicacy, the Old World Market sells all the ingredients needed to cook favorite Greek dishes, as well as frozen dinners and pastries.

Activities

• Dancing is a foundational festival activity. Continuous performances throughout the weekend ensure nonstop celebration with an international flair. In the spotlight are Greek dancers, Irish, Indian, Russian, Dutch and Middle Eastern dancers. During festival, the church is open to the public. Daily guided tours offer the opportunity to view Annunciation's iconography and massive hand-carved altar screen and to learn about the Orthodox Christian faith. Children engage in festival fun with special activities, like face painting, crafts, rides, games and a menu designed for youthful tastes.

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What Is the Closest Beach to Little Rock, Arkansas on the Gulf of Mexico?

Arkansas' capital city has plenty of attractions for all ages, including the Arkansas Capitol Building, the William J. Clinton Presidential Center, the Little Rock Zoo and dozens of parks and trails. But if you're in Little Rock and want to visit a beach along the Gulf of Mexico, be prepared for a long drive. The closest stretch of shoreline -- Holly Beach on Louisiana's self-proclaimed Cajun Riviera -- is more than 400 miles away.

Getting There

• Holly Beach, which sits directly along the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana's southwestern corner, lies about 10 miles west of Cameron and about 405 miles southwest of downtown Little Rock. The drive from the Arkansas capital typically lasts just less than seven hours via a route that takes you primarily along U.S. 167 South, U.S. 165 South, a stretch of Interstate 10 just west of Lake Charles and then south along State Road 27, which joins State Road 82 in Holly Beach.

Holly Beach and Creole Nature

• Holly Beach is part of an unincorporated 26-mile stretch of beach directly along the Gulf that has been hit hard by hurricanes in recent years and includes several smaller beaches to the east and west along State Highway 82. All of the Cameron Parish beaches are part of Louisiana's 180-mile Creole Nature Trail, which loops Lake Charles and the state's southwestern coast and has been designated an All-American Road by the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Scenic Byways Program. Among the activities you can enjoy at Holly Beach are swimming, surf fishing, crabbing, shelling, sunbathing, picnicking or a relaxing stroll along the shoreline.

Fliers, Fish and Ferries

• While in Holly Beach, check out a few nearby attractions along the Gulf of Mexico shoreline. Pevetto Woods Bird Sanctuary, 8.5 miles west of Holly Beach, is a 40-acre tract of oak groves, dunes and trails that serve as a habitat for migratory songbirds and butterflies. Anglers should try Cameron Jetty Pier, a Gulf-front fishing pier about 12 miles east of Holly Beach. The pier is part of a park that also includes a beach walkway, observation tower, pavilion, restrooms and a playground. To get there, you'll have to drive your car onto the Cameron Ferry for the short but scenic ride across the Calcasieu Ship Channel. Once on board the state-maintained ferry, you are likely to catch a glimpse of porpoises, pelicans, shrimp boats or much larger vessels heading into the Gulf.

Gulf-View Accommodations

• Because of damage caused by Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Ike in 2005 and 2008, respectively, Holly Beach has only a small number of overnight options, including two-bedroom homes available through Holly Beach Rentals. The homes sleep eight and include Gulf views, full kitchens, 1.5 baths, all linens, washers and dryers, satellite televisions and free Wi-Fi. The rental company also provides RV sites with hookups. Another option for campers is Cameron Jetty Pier, which has an RV park with more than 35 sites. Electric and water hookups are included.

Other Nearby Beaches

• Two other beach options for those in Little Rock -- one slightly closer, one slightly farther -- are Cypremort Point State Park in Louisiana and Sea Rim State Park in Texas. Cypremort Point is only 396 miles south of Little Rock, but its half-mile, man-made beach lies on Vermillion Bay, not the Gulf of Mexico. The park has six rental cabins that sleep eight, as well as a fishing pier, boat docks, picnic areas and abundant wildlife, including alligators, nutria, muskrats, deer, rabbits and red fox. About 440 miles southwest of Little Rock, Sea Rim State Park in Sabine Pass is the closest Texas beach to the Arkansas capital. The park is home to a 5-mile stretch of Gulf-front beach, campsites and a nature trail through wetlands. Other activities include fishing, canoeing and kayaking.

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