Ask anyone at Saint George Church why they came to its annual Greek Festival, and you will get one answer: the food.

"Baklava, Greek doughnuts, Greek beer, Greek wine...The Greek pie is homemade. The lamb is made here," listed John Tsonis, president of the church.

The three-day festival was both an effort to raise money for the church, and it exposes the community to Greek culture, said Tsonis. Alongs with the bakery and lunch line, the festival hosts about six vendors, and cultural dances, and welcomes about three thousand people.

"Although it's a lot of work, and hard work, it's probably one of the best events of the year," said Tsonis, who spent September 16-18 in the kitchen marinating chicken and cooking lamb.

What started as a church event has grown to a community must, said event board member Stephanie Sloan. "We've started to establish the third week of September as our weekend," she said. "We actually sold out of [desserts] this year."

Michael Sloan — who's "only been Greek for about two years," he said, pointing to wife Stephanie — said the couple's social media efforts to promote the event have paid off.

"Each year we get a little bit better and a little bit bigger," he said.

Michael said the transition into the Greek community has been fun. Everyone is like family, and then there's spanakopita, he said.

"It's like filo, spinach, and I'm sure a lot of butter."

But according to Vassiliki Preston, there's one ingredient that makes spanakopita taste so good.

"Some people make it without feta, but it tastes better with feta. Everything tastes better with feta," said the Greece native.

Preston said the only way to survive the Greek Festival is to try something different every time, but "the way John [Tsonis] prepares the lamb is exceptionally good."

Naomi Pappas agreed. "I'm half Greek, and I used to come to this church when I was little," she explained. "We love Greek food."

As do Roula Vllopoulou, Rachel Wilkinson, and Ellena Augoustakis.

"It looks like a snail," joked Vllopoulou, wiggling the loukoumades in her tray. The pastry — also referred to as a Greek doughnut — is a puff of fried dough glazed in honey, and topped with cinnamon.

Wilkinson — who dined on pastichio, also known as Greek lasagna — and Augoustakis — chewing on a gyro — were dancers from Assumption of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in Pawtucket who had come to perform.

"We danced, so that was our favorite part," said Augoustakis.

Dancer Lily Carlson explained that the costumes derive from Cretan or mainland Greek culture.

The church will bring in $25-30,000 throughout the weekend, said Tsonis, thanks to both parishioners and community members like Marianne Beauregard.

"We're local, so we like to stop here and have a Greek time," said Beauregard.

Visitor Cindy Hammond had a similar take. She's been coming to the festival for three years. "The food and the people" are the main attractions for Hammond, who said everyone at the festival is welcoming.

The Greek church is located at 186 Cross Road.