Norwich ― Global City Norwich will kick off its spring and summer series of international events on Sunday with a Greek flag-raising ceremony and outdoor festival at City Hall to celebrate Greek Independence Day.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will begin with the flag-raising ceremony at 1 p.m. in the David Ruggles Freedom Courtyard at Norwich City Hall, 100 Broadway. Live performances of traditional Greek music and dance will follow the flag-raising.

Great Oak Pizza, a local Greek restaurant, will offer authentic Greek food to festival goers. Great Oak Pizza will also hold a free drawing for an attendee to win a gift card to the restaurant, located at 704 West Thames St., Norwich.

The Greek flag-raising event, organized by Global City Norwich and sponsored by the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church and Chapter 110 Rose of New England Order of AHEPA, will kick off a series of international cultural events in Norwich.

Bobbie Braboy, director of Global City Norwich, said this is the first event in the organization’s spring and summer celebration of Norwich’s ethnic and cultural diversity.

"This event not only pays homage to the rich heritage of the Greek community but also provides an opportunity for residents of Norwich to come together and embrace the cultural diversity that makes our city so vibrant,” Braboy said in a news release announcing the event.

Next in the series will be the April 27 Togo flag-raising ceremony and festival to be held from 2 to 4 p.m. in the City Hall plaza, with live performances of Togo dance and music and refreshments.

A Cape Verdean flag-raising ceremony is scheduled for May 24, with a larger Cape Verdean festival to follow on Sunday, May 26 in downtown Norwich.

For more information about the cultural celebrations series, contact Braboy by email at bobbie@askncdc.com.

c.bessette@theday.com