Melbourne’s Greek National Day events were announced today with the popular parade set to march to the Australian Hellenic Memorial in view of the Shrine of Remembrance.
The 2025 Greek National Day celebrations will take place on Sunday 23 March and will incorporate several events, including a commemorative service, a parade, a cultural festival, and a flag-raising ceremony.
The Victorian Council for Greek National Day expressed excitement that this year’s events will see the parade held once again in the heart of Melbourne’s commemorative precinct, reaffirming the enduring bond between Greece and Australia.
Since 2022 the parade has taken place at Lakeside Stadium in Albert Park following disrespectful incidents that took place in 2019 at the Shrine. No parade took place in 2020 and 2021 due to the covid pandemic.
The commemorative service will open the events from 12.30pm and will be held at the forecourt of the Shrine of Remembrance (in front of the Eternal Flame).
The ceremony will be attended by a small delegation of dignitaries, underscoring the solemnity and significance of the occasion, and will see wreaths laid to pay tribute to the history of service and sacrifice.
The parade will follow the service at 1.30pm with participating organisations, schools, cultural groups and veterans marching from Birdwood Avenue to the Australian Hellenic Memorial.
The parade will be held in the vicinity of the Shrine of Remembrance with the significant landmark acting as a central backdrop for the event.
The program promises to honour the 204th anniversary of the most significant date in Greece’s modern history, recognising the sacrifices of the past while celebrating Greek heritage with pride and enthusiasm.
The participants will pay tribute to the Australian and Greek heroes who sacrificed so much in forging and preserving our identities today upon reaching the Australian Hellenic Memorial.
A Glendi will be hosted by the Hellenic Museum at its premises following the parade, commencing from 2.30pm, featuring live music, traditional dance performances, food stalls, and interactive exhibits.
In addition to the Sunday events, Victoria will also mark the specific date of Greek Independence Day (25 March) with a flag raising ceremony at Federation Square on Tuesday at 9am.
The Greek flag will be raised to mark the date, accompanied by the national anthems of both Greece and Australia, with a small delegation present for the ceremony.
The Victorian Council for Greek National Day expressed an open invitation to all Greek Australians and friends of Greece to participate in the events.
