The countdown is on for Paniyiri Greek Festival, the longest running cultural festival in Queensland. This weekend explosion of Greek food and culture is coming to you in 2014 from Saturday May 24 to Sunday May 25.
[ADVERT]South Brisbane's Musgrave Park will once again be home to all those things you just love about Greece: moussaka, baklava, Greek hospitality, bouzoukis, souvlaki, Greek dancing and music, haloumi and honey puffs. And what would a Greek festival be without a bit of plate smashing amongst friends?
Paniyiri is one of Brisbane's most popular traditions and this year will mark its thirty seventh year on the festival calendar. Its longevity is matched only by the huge crowds who attend every year. More than 50,000 people make this their Greek escape every year and, while it may not be the Greek Islands, it's the closest thing you'll find in Australia.
Paniyiri is a grass-roots community festival presented by the Greek community of south east Queensland and all money raised helps with the community initiatives of the Greek Orthodox Community of St George.
Details
When: Saturday 24th May from 12 noon to 10pm. Sunday 25th May from 10am to 7pm.
Where: Musgrave Park, 29 Edmondstone Street, South Brisbane
Cost: Daily admission - $10 for adults (13 yrs plus), $3 for pensioners, children under 13 will be admitted free. 2 day pass $16.50
Tickets are on sale now. You can
book online here. Alternatively you can purchase your tickets on the day.
The full program for this happy weekend of Hellenic hospitality will be released closer to the date but below are some highlights that you really shouldn't miss.
Food Stalls
The food stalls will take you on a culinary journey through Greece from the Aegean to mainland Greece and from Cyprus to Chios, Crete and Rhodes. You'll find everything from tzatziki (an appetiser with yoghurt, cucumber and lemon) to souvlaki (grilled, skewered meat) and karidopida (walnut cake) to kataifi (a pastry) at the more than 30 food stalls offering their fragrant and flavoursome wares at this year's festival. Last year guests managed to consume a staggering 200,000 honey puffs and 500kgs of haloumi - food for thought.
Paniyiri Main StageThe main stage will be alive with action and more then 20 hours of entertainment over the weekend. You can see the highly popular Greek Dancing with the Stars (surprise special guests still to be announced), or take part in grape stomping, the olive eating comeptition, everyone's favourite honeypuff eating competition, Zorba Till You Drop, and even a world record Zorba attempt.
Off Site ActivitiesGuided Tours of the
Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George at 33 Edmondstone Street, South Brisbane, will be conducted on both days of the festival.
The Greek Club will host Greek cooking demonstrations, featuring noted Queensland culinary greats, and will also screen Greek cultural films.
You can find out everything you want to know about Paniyiri on
their website or
Facebook page. Yassou!
