What’s On: Paniyiri Greek Festival

Once again Musgrave park is getting a Greek makeover with the annual Paniyiri Greek Festival. Over the course of two days, this years program is filled with entertainment, including a dance spectacular on Saturday night opening with a Bouzouki tribute, a cooking program headlined by chef Dimitris Katrivesis who will be joined by locals David Tsirekas and George Diakomichalis

2019’s Paniyiri festival is particularly special as it coincides with the Greek Orthodox Church of St George’s 90th anniversary. It is Brisbane’s oldest Greek community, established in the 1920’s. It will be celebrated with dancing tributes and a special lecture by author and host of national ABC program ‘Conversations’, Richard Fidler as part of the Cultural Program.

Paniyiri is Australia’s longest running Greek festival, starting in 1976. Now in its 43rd year, organisers are expecting this years event to be the biggest yet, with over 60, 000 people expected to attend. More than 300,000 honey puffs, 100,000 souvlakia, 12,000 dolmades, 20,000 coffees, 1,600 kg of grilled haloumi and 10,000 shiftalies are expected to be consumed!

All funds raised through the event are channelled back into the community via the Greek Orthodox Community of St George.

Some of the main highlights for 2019’s festival will be the official opening event that brings together the sounds of Bouzouki and Didgeridoo. Also performing on the Main Stage will be Bouzouki Kids playing the famous Greek instrument.

Other local Aussie talent including Home and Away’s Tim Franklin and Luka Radovich will be attending and interacting with festival-goers.

Another significance of this year’s festival is that it is Queensland’s first major event to be totally compostable. All food served will be in compostable packaging with all stalls and stands compliant.

Some of this year’s Paniyiri highlights that can’t be missed include:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food:

Of course one of the main highlights for the event would be the delicious food that is available! With more than 30 authentic Greek food stalls which showcase authentic Greek food from regions such as Aegean, Ionia, mainland Greece, Chios, Crete, Rhodes and many more. Some favourites include loukoumades (mouth watering Greek honey balls), haloumi, dolmades, yiros, souvlaki, spanakopita, moussaka, baklava and many more treats!

This year, for the first time ever in Brisbane, Nostimo Greek Restaurant will feature two days of Greek Yum Char created by Chef-in-Residence David Tsirekas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Plateia:

Returning for the third time in Brisbane, The Plateia celebrates the sights, smells and tastes of a traditional Greek village while paying tribute to the distinctive Cycladic architecture. The Plateia serves traditional Greek coffee and is home to a traditional Greek Taverna with lamb, pork and chicken cooked over coals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greek’s Got Talent:

If you can sing, dance, perform magic, entertain or have your own special talent, then you should enter the 2019 Greek’s Got Talent competition! You don’t have to be Greek to enter, and auditions begin at 2:35pm on Sunday at the Channel Seven Arena with finals at 5:35pm on the Main Stage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cooking Demonstration

The Greek Cooking Demonstration Program is one to put on your list to see at the festival! The program features two days of culinary indulgence and education, food tasting and launches hosted by some of Queensland and Australia’s best Greek chefs and home cooks. Among them include, Two Greek Girls, Voula’s Kitchen, Elizabeth Colby from Can Cook, The Fish Factory, Voulla Fronis and Tsambikas Manettas from EarthMarkets, Sonia Patrikios from The Little Organic Co, Greek mother and daughter cooks Dimitra and Sia Athanasas (famed for creating the religious memorial cake Koliva), master cook Helen Zeniou, cooks from the Ladies Auxiliary of St George and more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Competitions

Paniyiri’s famous Plate Smashing, Honey Puff Eating and Grape stomping comps return for this year’s festival, along with a new Greek Coffee Race Competition where teams are challenged to combine both speed and balancing techniques.

Event Details:

When: Saturday 18 May from 12 noon and Sunday 19 May from 10.00 amWhere: Musgrave Park & The Greek Club, Edmondstone Street, South Brisbane QLD

Cost: Adults (13+) $12.00, Pensioners $5.00, Children (<12) FREE (available online and at the gate).

Getting there: Travel FREE with a pre-purchased Paniyiri Greek Festival ticket to the event on all regular network-wide Brisbane City Council buses and Queensland Rail City Network trains (excludes Brisbane City Council ferries, the G: and Airtrain service).

For more information, visit paniyiri.com or call (07) 3844 1166.