VIC

APOKRIES IN MOORABIN
The Greek Community of Moorabin & Surrounds is hosting a Greek Carnival this Sunday 3 March at 57 Madden Rd, Heatherton. On from 11.00 am until late, there’ll be something for everyone, with plenty of entertainment, activities and food. The Manasis dance troupe is among those performing. For more information call Yianni on 0413 488 401.

KOLLYVA MAKING MASTER CLASS
Have you ever wanted to learn how to make Kollyva? The Greek Orthodox Church of North Altona & Districts (272 Millers Rd, North Altona) is hosting a Kollyva Master Class on Tuesday 5 March from 7.00-9.30 pm. Learn how to prepare a Kollyva from start to finish, while also discovering why they are prepared and their significance in the church. Free to attend.

CRETAN BROTHERHOOD GETS INTO APOKRIES SPIRIT
Don’t miss the apokriatiko (carnival) celebration at the Cretan Brotherhood of Melbourne & Victoria (148-150 Nicholson St, Brunswick). Get dressed up and enjoy traditional music by Arthur Kostarakis (clarinet, vocals), John Kostarakis (vocals, percussion), Giannis Pollakis (Cretan lyra, vocals), Tony Iliou (lute), Nick Kapralos (guitar, vocals) and George Kiriakidis (accordion, trombone), and many special guests. Takes place on Saturday 9 March at 7.30 pm. Tickets $45.00 include food, $55.00 if not in costume, and $25.00 for kids. Then on Saturday 16 March, the Cretan Brotherhood is hosting an apokries dinner dance at 7.00 pm. Entertainment is by Stelios Vamvakas from Crete. Tickets are $80.00 and $50.00 for kids.

FLORINA FASOLATHA FESTIVAL

A festival dedicated to Greek bean soup is taking place this month. Hosted by The Cultural Centre of Florinians ‘Aristotelis’ on Sunday 10 March at Plenty Ranges Arts & Convention Centre (35 Ferres Boulevard, South Morang) from 11.00 am-7.00 pm.

MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL
The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is back this month from 27 March-21 April with hilarious shows taking place across the city. Among the comedians are a number of Greek origin, including locals George Dimarelos and Charisa Bossinakis, as well as the UK’s George Zacharopoulos. This year’s line-up also includes the Festival’s first ever Greek-language stand-up show direct from Greece: Lambros Fisfis & Michalis Mathioudakis with ‘Σταντ Απ Κόμεντι ιν Γκρίκ’. To see the full guide and to purchase tickets, visit comedyfestival.com.au

MELBOURNE REBETIKO FESTIVAL
The Melbourne Rebetiko Festival is back for another year. Taking place at the Melbourne Recital Centre (31 Sturt St, Southbank) on Saturday 23 March from 3.00-11.30 pm. The exciting line-up features local and international artists, among them Rebetien. Direct from Greece, they will showcase their fresh rebetiko sound. To see the full program and for tickets, visit melbournerecital.com.au

PAMMESSINIAN BROTHERHOOD PAPAFLESSAS 60TH ANNIVERSARY
This year marks a special milestone for the Pammessinian Brotherhood Papaflessas. On Saturday 23 March the Brotherhood will celebrate its 60 year anniversary at Merrimu Receptions (1300 Dandenong Rd, Chadstone) from 7.30 pm. Performing on the night will be Rythmos Band. Tickets $95.00, children 12 and under $55.00. For tickets, visit greekdance.com.au or call 0423 182 158.

BYZANTINE ICONOGRAPHY
Ever wanted to learn the wonders behind iconography? This is your chance! Queenscliff Gallery & Workshop (81 Hesse St, Queenscliff) is hosting a Byzantine Iconography workshop over two days, 23-24 March 10.00 am-4.00 pm (hour lunch break). Run by Anna Prifti, participants will learn to prime, sketch, gild and paint an icon; the traditional technique of gesso and egg tempera; use of powder pigments, their content and formulation; colour combinations and composition problem solving; along with practical hints and new materials to make work easy. Each participant will complete their own icon. Tickets $595.00 (all materials included). To book, visit qgw.com.au

GREEK YOUTH DRINKS NIGHTS
On Friday 29 March go along to the Cyprus Community Centre (100 Forrest St, Ardeer) for what is set to be a huge youth night in the brand new Cypriot centre! Make new friends and join the Greek/ Cypriot community in the western suburbs. The high commissioner of Cyprus Martha Mavrommatis will also be present on the night. On from 7.00-11.30 pm, there will be unlimited free drinks, finger food, live bouzouki for entertainment, and of course a great parea.

EXHIBITION: ‘LOVE’
What is love? Where is the love? Who do you love? Melbourne’s Immigration Museum (400 Flinders St, Melbourne) explores all forms of loving connection between humans in its latest exhibition ‘LOVE’. On now until 28 April, it presents Australian love stories of all kinds through visual art, aural and written storytelling, and objects, traversing landscapes of time, gender, orientation, ethnicity, age, and distance. Among the love stories is that of a Cypriot bride, whose new husband rowed into Port Phillip Bay to greet her with sweets. Free with museum entry. To book, visit https://museumsvictoria.com.au/immigrationmuseum/

NSW

37TH GREEK FESTIVAL OF SYDNEY
The 37th Greek Festival of Sydney returns to Darling Harbour this weekend, with its usual fare of dancing and entertainment celebrating all things Greek. After her stunning performing in Melbourne, singer Eleanora Zouganeli will perform live at Tumbalong Park during the event’s finale. The Festival runs from Saturday 2 March (3.00-10.00 pm)-Sunday 3 March (10.00 am-10.00 pm). For more, visit https://www.facebook.com/greekfestivalofsydney/

APOKRIES DINNER & DANCE
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church Wollongong is taking the opportunity to get the community together by hosting an Apokries dinner and dance at Wollongong City Diggers (82 Church St, Wollongong) on Saturday 2 March. Go along to experience a fun evening of Greek dancing and a Mediterranean buffet. Doors open at 6.00 pm. For tickets, contact Gina 0421 302 072, Vula 0413 266 941, or Nancy 0400 079 731.

ANNUAL AGIASOS CARNIVAL DINNER DANCE
Agiasos is famous for its theatrical carnival happening each year on Lesvos, and the spirit is set to be recreated in Sydney with the annual Agiasos Carnival Dinner Dance. Taking place on Saturday 9 March from 7.00 pm at the Mytilenian Brotherhood of Sydney & NSW (225 Canterbury Rd, Canterbury).

TROJAN WOMEN
Written by Euripides and first produced in 415 BC during the Peloponnesian War, The Trojan Women was the third tragedy of a trilogy dealing with the Trojan War. This year, Hellenic Art Theatre and The Greek Festival of Sydney are presenting a version of the Greek tragedy directed by Stavros Economidis. The play will be performed in Greek with English surtitles from 15 March-7 April. To book tickets, visit hellenicarttheatre.com.au/

“SORRY”, WRONG BED
Mytilenian House (225 Canterbury Road, Canterbury) is hosting a hilarious Greek play intriguingly titled “Sorry”, Wrong Bed. It sees a couple pull up to a mysterious looking motel to rest after an exhausting drive. At this motel, nothing seems to work as it should and even the hotel’s manager has an eerie air about him. Frustration and exhaustion lead the couple into an all out fight. The presence of an eccentric maid further adds to the tensions whilst the arrival of another couple unleashes a strange chain of events with unexpected outcomes. What secrets are held behind the walls of this hotel and its strange occupants? Catch the play between 16 March-14 April.

QLD

THE WILL TO FLY SCREENING
The Cultural Committee of the Greek Orthodox Community of St George is hosting a screening of feature documentary film The Will To Fly this Sunday 3 March. It will be followed by a Q&A with Australian Olympic champion Lydia Lassila hosted by RadioTAB breakfast show host Peter Psaltis. An Australian with Greek Cypriot, Sicilian parents, Lydia returned to aerial skiing as a mother to perform the most complex acrobatic manoeuvre ever performed by a woman and was also a fierce competitor on the 2018 series of Australian Survivor. Taking place at New Farm Cinemas (701 Brunswick St, Newfarm) from 4.00 pm for a 4.30 pm start. Tickets: $30 p.p. (includes drink on arrival). For bookings call GOC St George Admin on (07) 3249 1000.

* If you know of any Greek events taking place across the country, including those organised by Greek community groups, please forward details to anastasia@neoskosmos.com.au