Night Ranger, Hoobastank headline Greek festival

KALAMAZOO--Rock bands Night Ranger and Hoobastank will be featured alongside traditional Greek fare at the 36th annual Kalamazoo Greek Festival Thursday through Saturday, May 31-June 2, at Arcadia Creek Festival Place.

• Gates open at 11 a.m. each day, and admission is free until 4 p.m.
• Thursday admission is $5 from 4 to 10:30 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday admission is $5 from 4 to 7 p.m. and $10 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
• After 8 p.m., people younger than 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

Live entertainment will include San Francisco rock band Night Ranger, who will perform Friday from 10 to 11:30 p.m. The band's first five albums sold more than 10 million copies worldwide, and gave the band international recognition. They are best known for the power ballad "Sister Christian," but other hits include "Don't Tell Me You Love Me," "(You Can Still) Rock In America," "When You Close Your Eyes," "Sentimental Street" and "Goodbye." Night Ranger's contributions are featured in multiple entertainment realms, including the Broadway musical "Rock of Ages" and hit videogame series "Rock Band" and "Guitar Hero."

The post-grunge quartet Hoobastank takes the stage Saturday from 10 to 11:30 p.m. Formed in the Los Angeles suburb of Agoura Hills in early 1994, the band's hit singles include "Crawling in the Dark" and "Running Away." The band released a full-length album, "The Reason," at the end of 2004, with the album's biggest hit being its title track. It topped the rock charts and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 before going double platinum. The group's 2006 album "Every Man for Himself," went gold in one month followed by "My Turn," appearing in October 2008, and "Fornever" in 2009. "Is This the Day?" which featured acoustic versions of songs from throughout the bands catalog, was released in 2011.

The festival also will offer more traditional Greek entertainment during the day, including several performances from Detroit's The Levendes, a full Greek orchestra that will be accompanied by Greek dancers and belly dancers, as well as a slew of authentic Greek food and beverages.

The festival's main staple--handmade food from Stacy Skartsiaris, owner of Theo & Stacy's Restaurant--will include popular items such as loukoumathes, a dessert similar to an elephant ear that is deep-fried and covered with honey and cinnamon; mousaka, a Greek casserole; spinach pie; grape leaves; and Skartsiaris' cookies.

Alcohol will include Ouzo, a Greek licorice liquor, and the Dionysos Wine Garden featuring Greek wines.

For more information, visit kalamazoogreekfest.com.