WORCESTER, Mass. — The St. Spyridon Greek Festival is back in Worcester this weekend and final preparations were underway Thursday.

Volunteers spent the last few days setting up the venue.

The event features Greek food and pastries, dancing and performances.

The Worcester festival was the first in New England and has been around for nearly 50 years.

"That is an almost half of a century of dedication from the people of this community, bringing the tastes, the sights, the sounds of Greece to Worcester,” said Stella Scaramangos, social media coordinator for the St. Spyridon Greek Festival. “It is a culmination of passion, determination, heritage, pride, all of that come together in the taste of authentic, fresh Greek food and so much more."

The festival kicks off Friday with the opening ceremony at 3 p.m.

It runs through Sunday at the St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral on Russell Street, rain or shine.