The Greek Festival of Sydney for 2025 officially kicks off this weekend with its standard two-day celebration at Darling Harbour, the first of many initiatives planned over the coming three months.
The Festival, organised by the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW, will host numerous events spanning a variety of types (lectures, concerts, plays etc) as they look to produce a highly successful program for its 43rd edition.
Nia Karteris, Chair of the Greek Festival of Sydney, said she is immensely pleased and grateful with the program that has been produced.
“Every event excites me as it allows all of us to be immersed with highly impressive Greek Australians,” Karteris told Neos Kosmos.
A notable point of difference for this year’s edition compared to past ones is the introduction of the Greek Youth Comedy Gala, a first event of its kind which will showcase the comedic talents of various young Greek Australians.
“This is a new event which is aimed at showcasing our youth, this time through the realm of comedy, and we believe this can become an annual event,” the Greek Festival Chair said.
She stressed the importance of holding initiatives that cover all genres in the arts sector.
“We need to ensure that all ages and genres are covered. We need to respect our elders and embrace the youth and demonstrate it through the program,” Karteris said.
“I sincerely want to thank all the artists involved in this year’s festival (without them there would not be a festival), the Board of Directors of the GOC, the organising committee, staff and importantly the sponsors and media.”
The Festival has a lightning start with 12 events organised between now and the end of March.
Greek Fest at Darling Harbour
Hellenism will take over the heart of Sydney this Saturday and Sunday with thousands expected to flow in and enjoy the various stalls, dance performances and musical displays on offer.
The Greek Fest opens the Festival following its official launch reception on Thursday (20 February) at The Grand Roxy, kicking off 2025’s program as always with the huge celebration.
Among the entertainment organised will be the visiting artists from Greece, Rena Morfi and Nikos Zoidakis, with Morfi set to close out the weekend spectacular with her concert.
Modern ΑΘens in the backdrop of Antiquity
A photographic exhibition is set to feature at Luna Studio In Newtown, with the collection featuring the work of Petros Kamoniotis in capturing contemporary Athens.
The photographs spotlight the significant new developments in Greece’s capital, with the exhibition illustrating the continuously evolving nature of the city that creates a juxtaposition of modernity alongside antiquity.
The official opening will be on 25 February with it in conjunction with the Athenian Association of NSW, while the collection will be on display until 1 March.
Όπου γης και ‘Πατρις’ 2
The much-anticipated sequel to the acclaimed Greek comedy production “Opou Gis kai Patris” is coming to the Greek Festival of Sydney with five performances organised at The Greek Theatre–Mandouridion from 6-9 March.
The comedy production (in Greek with English subtitles) will feature Konstantinos Kalymnios, Elena Tsefala, Vasilis Giavris and Stamatis Tzelepis, coming direct from Greece to present a show that celebrates the ties of home, heritage, and identity.
Dionysios Solomos Awards
The annual Dionysios Solomos awards will be held on 9 March at the University of Sydney’s Maclaurin Hall, recognising the highest-ranking Greek language students in NSW in the presence of family, friends and distinguished guests.
Awards will be presented to the top-ranking students in both Modern and Classical Greek
The Greek Australian Milk Bar
Effy Alexakis and Dr Leonard Janiszewski are set to hold a public lecture on the Greek Australian Milk Bar on 11 March at the Dixson Room of the State Library of NSW.
The talk will discuss the concept’s elements, its expansion nationally and internationally, revealing migrant-settler entrepreneurship and how transnational, diasporic migrant experiences, particularly of modernity, can shape business retail innovation.
Little Greece: Myths and Realities
Vasilis Vasilas will shed light on a significant part of Sydney with deep roots to Greek Australians in a talk titled ‘Little Greece: Myths and Realities” on Thursday 13 March 13 at Marrickville Library.
Inner West Council recently honoured the Hellenic connection to the area by naming part of Marrickville Road shopping precinct “Little Greece”, and Vasilas will examine the phases of the Greek experience in the suburb.
The talk will cover: early Greek settlement of pre and post-World War II periods (1930- 1959), the Greek Golden Era (1960- 1985), a community in gradual demographical decline and the future of the Greek presence in Marrickville.
Greek Youth Comedy Gala
The Festival is flexing its comedic muscles with the first ever Greek Youth Comedy Gala, an evening filled with the best up-and-coming Greek Australian standup comedians.
The event will take place on 15 March at Canterbury Leagues Club, and will be headlined by Anthony Locascio (coming fresh off his ‘Pappou’ tour).
Locascio will be joined by fellow talented comedians like Charisa Bossinakis, Stella Kappos, Elouise Eftos, Korinna Gouros and Chris Demos.
Hellenic Horizons: Greek Women Leading the Parth to Success
The Festival’s International Women’s Day event, presented in collaboration with The Greek Herald, will celebrate multigenerational Hellenic women who make significant contributions within Australia and globally with a panel discussion.
The event will be held on 16 March at The Grand Roxy in Brighton-Le-Sands, featuring as speakers: Lieutenant Commander Pelagia Markogiannakis (Deputy Director, Navy Infrastructure), Mary Konstantopoulos (Women’s sport advocate & Founder of Ladies Who League) and anti-bullying lawyer Stefanie Costi.
The event, moderated by Andriana Simos, Digital Editor of The Greek Herald, will also include the announcement of ‘The Greek Herald Woman of the Year’ Award and the ‘Woman to Watch, recognising emerging young leaders and innovators making an impact in Australia.
Photographers Effy Alexakis and Yannis Dramitinos will also showcase an exclusive exhibition celebrating the resilience, achievements and cultural heritage of Hellenic women in Australia.
The Ancient Athenian Republic: Evolution, Values and Lessons
Anthe Philippides, Former Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland, will deliver a talk pondering the question of what relevance there is for modern liberal democracies from the ancient Athenian experiment.
The talk will be held on 18 March at the Chau Chak Wing Museum of the University of Sydney.
A Tribute to Stelios Kazantzidis by Thanasis Pylarinos and ensemble
The legendary Greek singer will be celebrated on 20 March at the Factory Theatre in Marrickville, with Thanasis Pylarinos and ensemble honouring his immense legacy with a concert of some of his finest hits.
1974-2024: 50 years of democracy from the birthplace of democracy
The Consul General of Greece in Sydney Ioannis Mallikourtis and Professor Vrasidas Karalis will both participate in an important lecture about the relationship of Greece with democracy in the past 50 years on 27 March at the Barnet Long Room, Customs House.
The talk will explore precisely what happened during the last fifty years and why democracy was established after so many upheavals in the land where it was born.
The final event in March will be ‘Vasilis Tsitsanis and Sotiria Bellou – A musical tribute by Estudiantina of Melbourne‘, taking place on 30 March at Bankstown Sports Club.
Numerous events will also feature in April and May as the Festival once more promises a full schedule of initiatives covering various facets of Hellenic culture.
