Townsville comes alive

Xstrata Greek Fest, the annual Greek Festival in Townsville, will be held on the weekend of 8 to 9 October at Riverway Park, Kirwan. The free event embraces both Greek and Australian cultures through music, dance, cuisine, fun and games.

Multiple performances by Hellenic dancers, a mythological theatre performance, a six-piece band from Sydney, Steki, and popular singer Irene Vacondios, will fill Riverway with the sounds of Greece. For the competitive ones, there will be grape stomping, plate smashing, olive pitting, and many more. There is an activities marquee for t

he children and fireworks displays - and don't forget all the Greek food. Festival coordinator Bill Malandris told Neos Kosmos that the festival has something for everyone. "The festival is inclusive, so Greeks, friends of Greeks - it's open to everyone."

The festival encourages everyone from all over Australia to "engage with the Townsville community". "We have about 2000 Greek people who live in Townsville and surrounding areas. The majority of them are volunteers of the community and whatever proceeds are raised from the festival goes toward the upkeep of our community and the retention of our priest here."

 There will be an agora (marketplace) set up for people to buy Greek market goods from olives to fragrant Mediterranean spices, cheeses - feta, kefalograviera, haloumi, legumes, dolmathes, loukoumia - a foodies paradise all under one roof. For the lovers of food, there will be cooking demonstrations done by Litsa Stylianos - sponsored by Chris's dips - where you will be taught the art of fantastic Greek cooking and given a sample of your creations. And there is plenty of Greek coffee to go around. Shrek and Fiona will be there for the kids doing two shows on Saturday and Sunday. The popular Xstrata Greek Fest Townsville promises to be a huge hit again this year.

The 12th Xstrata Greek Fest is on again at Riverway Park, Kirwan, Townsville on the weekend of 8 to 9 October. Entry is free so bring the whole family.