Press Release

ONTARIO, Calif., February 1, 2007 – The beautiful music, sounds and colors of Greece will be coming to Ontario. The 31st Annual Greek Orthodox Folk Dance & Choral Festival will take place February 15 – 18 at the Ontario Convention Center. More than 2,500 competitors from across California will be performing traditional Greek folk dances and songs from all regions of Greece including Crete, Macedonia, Epirus and Thrace.

The competition is based on age and skill level and awards will be presented to teams in gold, silver, bronze and pewter medals. Some of the awards include best costume, special achievement, outstanding director and music.

"We're very pleased the Greek folk dance festival will be with us through 2009," said Bob Brown, president and CEO of the Ontario Convention and Visitors Bureau. "They are one of our largest citywide group events occupying more than 2,600 hotel room nights. It's great exposure for the City of Ontario and the Inland Empire as a whole."

The Greek Orthodox Folk Dance & Choral Festival will be held Thursday, February 15 through Sunday, February 18. Admission is $25 per day. Events are scheduled as follows:

Thursday, February 15, Opening ceremonies (closed to the public), 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Friday, February 16, Semi-final round competition, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Saturday, February 17, Final round competition, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Sunday, February 18, Advance Sr. final round competition, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

For more information on the festival, please call (888) FDF-YOUTH or visit www.gofdf.org