West Cook News

Conservative GOP gubernatorial candidate and State Sen. Darren Bailey appreciated the opportunity to be at the Greek Fest.

Bailey attended the event with his wife Cindy, who has been very supportive of his gubernatorial race and campaign tours, meeting and speaking with diverse people.

"Cindy and I enjoyed attending Greek Fest in Palos Hills, St. John’s Church of the Cross Festival in Western Springs, and Harwood Heights Village Festival yesterday," he said. "We have been blessed to meet so many great people and join in these celebrations all across Illinois." 

The Palos Hills Greek Fest was held on Aug. 20 and 21. 

“You don't have to be Greek to enjoy our festival, all you need is an appetite for Greek food, pastries, wine, and dancing. Bring your family and friends out to experience this annual end of summer tradition,” the website for the event reads.

The festival is affiliated with the Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church. The church was opened in 1910 and is the city’s first Greek Orthodox Church. It is composed of "over 900 family memberships and continues to grow,” the Facebook account reads. Since its establishment, the church is "providing religious, educational and social opportunities to its members and the general public." 

A Study of the Greeks in Chicago noted that according to the census of I900, there were only 8,655 Greeks in the U.S.

The City of Chicago has the third largest Greek population in the world. 

“We're not kings or princes, dukes. They came with five dollars. They came with nothing. They saved their money, they educated their children, they educated us," the Chicago Tribune’s John Kass noted, according to WTTW. 

Referring to Kass, the publication mentioned, "The noted Chicago Tribune page three columnist was born on Chicago's south side, the son of a Greek immigrant grocer."