Australia’s largest Greek festival, Antipodes, returns to Lonsdale Street, flooding Melbourne’s CBD with Greek music, dancing, street food, frappe, ouzo, beer, gifts and activities for the entire family.
This year, the festivities run from Saturday, 25 February to Sunday, 26 February, featuring live performances, DJs, culture, baklava-eating contests and cooking demos interspersed with souvlaki and loukoumades stalls.
Speaking to Neos Kosmos, Greek Community of Melbourne president Bill Papastergiadis sent an open invitation to Melburnians.
“Welcome to the 35th Antipodes Lonsdale Street Greek Festival. This year we are proud to announce an action-packed Festival full of fun for the whole family to enjoy,” Mr Papastergiadis said.
“To be Greek is to be proud. Proud of our heritage, our language, our history, our culture and our values. At the heart of this pride is the joy we find in celebrating together. Since its inception, the Antipodes Festival has always brought together friends and family to experience Australia’s largest celebration of Greek culture in what is, Australia’s largest Greek speaking city. We encourage you all to enjoy what the Antipodes Festival has to offer, the music and dance from our talented musicians and performers.”
Hyping the entertainment by the hilarious new skits from Karagiozis Shadow Puppets and the much anticipated live show by vocalist Alkistis Protopsalti, the GCM president added that “we guarantee she will stun the crowds with her amazing performance. As always, I’d like to thank everyone who comes and supports the Festival, without you and your dedication the festival would not be the same.”
Overall, there’ll be three dedicated stages showcasing more than 70 hours of entertainment, not to mention the ‘Zorba ‘Till You Drop’ competition, carnival rides and extended opening hours for attendees to be able to enjoy the strip’s famed Greek eateries.
The festival’s annual cocktail party is set to return on Saturday evening, overlooking all the action from the mezzanine level of the Greek Centre (limited tickets are available).
When: Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 February from 10am to 11pm and 10am to 10pm respectively.
Where: The Festival is held in the City of Melbourne’s historical Greek Quarter precinct on Lonsdale Street between Swanston Street and Jones Lane (West of Exhibition Street) and Russell Street between Little Lonsdale and Little Bourke Street.
