South Australia is only a breath away from the 41st Semaphore Greek Festival which will be held at Adelaide’s Semaphore foreshore on Saturday 18 January and Sunday 19 January.

Established by the Greek Orthodox Community of Port Adelaide, the event attracts more than 36,000 visitors every year, providing a great opportunity to community members from all backgrounds to experience Greek culture at its best over two days, featuring community dance groups, live Greek music and traditional Greek fare in a family friendly atmosphere.

The Festival, which was awarded ‘Community Event of the Year’ at the City of Port Adelaide Enfield Council Australia Day Awards earlier in 2019, showcases and celebrates Greek culture and heritage within South Australia’s broader multicultural context.

The new year marks the Festival’s 41st anniversary and after the community’s recently renovated landmark church was ruined by a devastating fire, this year’s celebration is already considered a symbol of the volunteers’ resilience, commitment and dedication.

“Our hardships are part of a journey that has joy and happiness. Our Festival is the annual meeting point for friends and families, and despite the tragic events two weeks ago, for us it’s business as usual. We are rolling up our sleeves to do what we do best,” said the President of the Port Adelaide Greek Orthodox Community, John Douvartzidis, in an interview with Neos Kosmos.

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Many generations of local volunteers, including grandparents, parents and children, dedicate endless hours to make the Festival a success from the initial planning, cooking traditional Greek food and sweets, to serving the thousands of visitors attending the event.

“Our team of over 300 volunteers has already started working non-stop to ensure that this year’s Festival goes on as a celebration of the community’s history and collective memory,” Douvartzidis says.

Considering the Festival’s fine reputation over the last 41 years and with the additional assistance of social media powered by Just Gold Productions, Semaphore’s Greek Festival is expected to celebrate another milestone in 2020, making all Greeks in Australia, and particularly those in South Australia, proud of their ancestry and traditions.

“We’re trying to give a breath of freshness and joy by providing young families and visitors of all ages events throughout the day and we are always excited when we see members of our community, Greek and non-Greek walk through our doors eager to celebrate with us.”

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For those members of the Greek community who are not able to attend, local Greek radio station Radio ENA will be providing a special 2-day selected broadcast from the main stage interspersed with interviews.

“We can’t wait to welcome you to this year’s Semaphore Festival,” President Douvartzidis says.

More information can be found at Semaphore Greek Festival’s official website www.semaphoregreekfestival.com.au or via social media through Semaphore’s Facebook page Semaphore Greek Festival and on Instagram sema4greekfest2020.