Annual L.A. Greek Fest is called off

Just five miles south of Sunset Junction, where a street festival was recently canceled, another classic summer event is being called off this year: the L.A. Greek Fest.

Usually held the first weekend in September, the three-day festival draws up to 40,000 people to St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral on Normandie Avenue just south of Pico Boulevard.

The event is a fusion of Greek and Latino food and music and has grown in popularity.

But this year, a community center is being built on the church's property and the festival would interrupt construction too much, said festival director Ted Pastras.

Renting restrooms, a kitchen and other infrastructure that the old community center used to provide was also too costly, he said.

"We really tried to find a way around it, but it just didn't work out," Pastras said, adding that next year, the event will return for the 13th time.

The community center, set to be completed in December, will also offer a mix of programs for the surrounding neighborhoods.

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--Esmeralda Bermudez

Photo: St. Sophia. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times