4967 Forest Park Ave.

The St. Nicholas Greek Festival is definitely a St. Louis must-visit during the long Labor Day weekend. The festival is held just one block away from campus and includes live entertainment and music, small shops to buy small goodies, and Greek food. Bands play Greek music all day long and provide a great atmosphere for the main event, the delicious food. During this festival you’ll see countless spinning grillers and open pits cooking gyro meat (including a small army to man all of it) and stands selling lots of Greek foods like gyros, kebabs, moussaka (an eggplant and potato dish), and spanakopita (a savory pastry). The highlight of the Greek Festival, and what keeps me coming back each year, are the desserts which include Baklava Sundaes (baklava served with vanilla ice cream drizzled in chocolate sauce) and loukoumades (a donut like pastry drenched in a sweet syrup with spices and nuts). Admission, like many other festivals and attractions in St. Louis, is free. Greek Festival only happens once a year so make sure you don’t miss it! Dates: Early September.

— James K., M1