Now in it’s sixth year, Oakleigh Glendi is expected to attract well over 20,000 people at Warrawee Park over the weekend of 3 and 4 November, to celebrate cultural diversity with an emphasis on Greek and Mediterranean culture through music, performance, and food.

Organised by the Greek Orthodox Community of Oakleigh and District together with Oakleigh Grammar, Glendi is the Greek community’s open invitation to everyone.

Featuring live music and international entertainment; an array of food stalls and vendors offering freshly made delicacies and cooking demonstrations by Oliana Foods and Mr Pitta; kid’s activities; thrill rides; non-stop dancing and competitions with great prizes, this year’s Glendi is expected to break 2017’s record turnout.

Warrawee Park will come alive at noon on Saturday with the sounds and smells of Greece pushing the party until 10.00 pm, celebrating multiculturalism and family through what we all enjoy the most. Even though Glendi started out and still is a Greek festival, other local communities have joined in, embracing the Hellenic spirit and sharing the love. This year the Melbourne Korean Senior Citizens Community, the Clayton Chinese Senior Association, the Sputnick Connect Russian Saturday School are also partaking.

Among the happenings scheduled for Saturday, guests will get to see Maya Dance Group & School of Dance on stage and listen to OPAcize just before a belly dance performance with Zabelle.

Like every year, the most popular Glendi tournament, the Loukomades Eating Competition, will be held at 1.45 pm sharp on Saturday so make sure you sign up and secure a spot on time.

Lexi School of Modern Greek will give a presentation followed by Djirri Djirri Dance Group who will lift the audience’s spirits with their amazing figures and a how-to by K Studios School of Performing Arts. Elena & Music D’or Band will make everyone sway to their tunes, so will Santa Taranta, George Bletas, Vasilis Mpatis & Band until well after 8.00 pm when Akrites Tou Pontou are taking over. The show will culminate with the popular band Cats and the Canary until the feast starts all over again the next day.

As the Oakleigh Glendi has been established as an event where the community also gets together to commemorate the Greek National Day of Ohi and the patron saints of Sts Anargiri, on Sunday the festival will kick-off with a parade and speeches by representatives of the Greek Community, the Oakleigh Glendi Committee and schools such as Oakleigh Grammar, Sts Anargari Greek Language School, Pontiaki Estia and the Pan Macedonian Association of Melbourne and Victoria.

The namesake Glendi Band will pump it up at noon, until the second round of the Loukomades Eating Competition, this time at 2.30 pm. The Greek Community of Melbourne Dance Group is set to impress while young guests can enjoy the spring-free trampolines, the Kids Kingdom featuring rides and face painting. The rest of Sunday will be taken over by Acoustiki Band, George Bletas, and Vasilis Mpatis & Band until shortly after 6.00 pm when the committee will announce the winners of the raffle.

The grand winner will go away with two return flights to Greece courtesy of Top Tours and Travel Oakleigh with sponsors also offering a six month membership from Fernwood Fitness, a $500 voucher from Australian Laser and Skin Clinic, a Gnocchi masterclass courtesy of 48H, pilates classes from KX Pilates Oakleigh, a $200 Voucher from Oakleigh Central, an Escape Room experience for a lucky winner and their friends from Strike Bowling Bar, a voucher from Inflatable World Oakleigh, a $150 voucher for Kentro restaurant, family passes from Lollipops Playland in Bentleigh East, jewellery courtesy of iNDAH KOiN and 4EVER DIVINE, a $100 voucher courtesy of Ammos Accessories, a hamper from Honey Dee Loukoumades, Museum Victoria family passes, and a value pass courtesy of Sidetracked Entertainment Centre.

If this list does not sound enticing, then what does?

When: Saturday 3 November from 12 noon-10.00 pm
Sunday 4 November from 12 noon-7.00 pm
Where: Warrawee Park, Oakleigh, VIC
The Oakleigh Glendi is free and open to all.

Warrawee Park is located only 13km from Melbourne, making the event easily accessible by car and public transport (ptv.vic.gov.au)
Note: Raffle tickets are only $5.00 each, however there is only a limited number available with just 10,000 printed.

To find out more follow #OakleighGlendi on social media and go to oakleighglendi.com.au