After last year’s cancellation, Brisbane’s 45th Paniyiri Greek Festival will take place again this year from 22-23 May.
The usual honeypuffs and Zorba-inspired events will be offered, however rather than celebrate at Musgrave Park with thousands in attendance, the organisers decided to present COVID-safe events at the Greek Club with a combination of real, virtual and livestreamed offerings.
Mr Chris Kazonis, the Chair of the Paniyiri Organising committee said the changed format was due to the effects of COVID-19.
“Paniyiri Greek Festival is a community initiative of the Greek Orthodox communities of South East Queensland with any funds raised channelled back into the community via the Greek Orthodox Community of St George Brisbane. We stage this incredible event by the grace of our community and our sponsors, and have had to adopt to a format that protects us against any future lockdowns, yet still allows us to share our incredible culture, flavours, music, dance and history with greater Brisbane,” he said.
READ MORE: Brisbane’s Young Citizen of the Year is a tireless volunteer for Greek community youth
The festival is Queensland’s signature event of all things Greek, the state’s largest cultural festival as well as the longest-running Greek festival in Australia with more than four decades of history since its beginnings in 1976 when a group of passionate Greek Australians decided to share their cultural traditions with the rest of Brisbane.
This year’s experiences include cooking demonstrations (including with celebrity chefs), music sets, a fashion parade, exhibitions, lectures, dance performances, and many more events featured live and online.
Nostimo Restaurant will celebrate the Paniyiri for the whole month o May with lunch and dinner specials.
Most events are free of charge.
Tickets go on sale at The Greek Club on Monday, 3 May.