Ah, springtime. Festival season across the land. It’s time to shake off that winter and get back to what we do best around here. Time to get outdoors, enjoy the sunshine, your favorite beverage (either high or low octane) in hand, and start making plans to gather.
Wingfest is the largest single-day festival on Hilton Head Island in March. That will be held on the 21st this year. It is followed immediately by six days of Hilton Head Island Wine and Food Festival through Saturday, March 28. All of that is always a good time.
We are, however, gathered here today to share what will be happening the next day, Sunday, March 29, in Bluffton.
Jesse Blanco
It’s Bluffton’s first-ever celebration of Greek Independence Day. It promises to be a wonderful display of Greek culture, festivities, and of course, great food.
The idea is the brainchild of the couple behind the most popular Greek food in town these days. Elena and Sonny Hughley are the “two birds” behind Two Birds Greek Street Food, a Savannah-based catering operation that has, in the past year or so, exploded in popularity here in the Lowcountry.
Greek Independence Day Celebration
Side Hustle Brewing Company, Bluffton · Sunday, March 29
twobirdsgreekstreetfood.com
Last year, going into the spring, Elena realized that for all of the celebrating that happens in Savannah in the spring, no one had ever mentioned doing something for Greek Independence Day, which falls on March 25. So, she and Sonny put together a modest event in Savannah’s up-and-coming Thomas Square neighborhood. There was music and a special menu. They sold out of everything they had.
“So, this year, we wanted to go bigger – in Savannah, yes, but also in Bluffton because that area has been so wonderful and welcoming to us this last year,” Elena said. “So, we are doing two celebrations. One in Savannah and then an ‘after party’ here in Bluffton at Side Hustle Brewing Company.”
Sounds like a plan to me.
The Savannah event will be March 25 outside Lone Wolf Lounge, where they held their event last year. The “after party” in Bluffton, from 1 to 5 p.m. March 29, at Side Hustle Brewing will essentially be everything they are doing on the 25th and then some. There will be a Greek dancer, a DJ, an impromptu Agora Market, and obviously a special menu. Elena says they’ll have plenty of their classics, but also smoked legs of lamb carved to order.
Side Hustle has also created a special beer for the event.
“They’re calling it Two Birds Greek Street Beer,” Elena said. “It will have corfiot tasting notes,” and promises to pair beautifully with the Greek bounty that will be offered that day.
Ultimately, it sounds like a fine time will be had by all. I’m not exactly sure how large the Greek population is in the Lowcountry, but I do know we appreciate good food, which there will be, and a good time, which I think we can count on as well.
To find out more, visit twobirdsgreekstreetfood.com.