The annual Let’s Go Greek Festival goes from strength to strength. Tens of thousands of people, young and old, turned up for the signature event in Parramatta, the heart of Western Sydney.
The Parramatta festival, organised by the Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of St John the Forerunner, held its 11th edition on Sunday 21 September with an all-day celebration of Western Sydney’s longstanting Hellenism invading George Street.
A panigiri in the most authentic sense was a feast for the senses. The aroma of charcoaling meat, the abundance of Greek sweets, the many community stalls and participants, melded with the music and dance form its centre stage. Dance groups and musicians provided non-stop entertainment culminating with the headliner Greek popular music icon, Giannis Ploutarhos and his daughter Katerina.
The Greek singers capped off what was a full-on Greek delight that saw spectators of all ages and all cultural backgrounds turn up throughout the day.
Nektaria Elafros, a volunteer who has worked at the event since its very first edition, noted her pride in all the people who help to make the festival such a successful staple of the cultural calendar.
“I’m proud of all the volunteers because without them the festival would not be what it is…Greeks believe in filotimo and the festival embraces that,” Elafros told Neos Kosmos.
She expressed that the warm reception of the many different communities only adds to the event.
“It is very nice to see them come in. They are open to our culture and we are open to welcoming them and learning about their cultures as well,” Elafros said.
Their connections have been strengthened over the years through collaborations with the Indian community and the Chinese community.
George Reppas, a volunteer for the past eight years, remarked that the event has only expanded over the years, in terms of local participation, attendees and the stalls, and the interest from the wider community is the cherry on top.
“It actually makes us really proud as a Greek community in the Parramatta region, and the Western suburbs more broadly, that we are attracting such a huge crowd from diverse walks of life to come and participate in this festival that is so important to us,” Reppas said.
Speaking to the multigenerational interest in the event, Reppas expressed that it is seen on all levels of the festival.
“The fact is we have got several generations of Greeks working here. I have got my mother here, my children involved and that is multiplied by all the families that are part of this parish.”
George Giakoumakis, one of the many younger people working at the event, considered the festival as an important tool in maintaining the culture.
“It is good to keep the culture going and keep it alive, keep the language going, even supporting these little businesses is a beautiful thing. We are very proud to be doing what we are doing,” he said.
He remarked the significance of the younger people’s participation, saying “you have got to carry it on to the young kids and teach them the values and traditions”.
Jake (Γιάννης) Harris, one of the many young people who came throughout the day, stressed his desire the festival continues on and expands even further.
“It makes me very happy that the traditions of the homeland stay alive in Australia…I want to see it keep growing and going. Hopefully, when our generation has kids too, then it will be passed on to them as well,” he said.
“I think everyone should learn the language, the dancing…keep it all going.”
The official program took place in the afternoon with numerous official guests speaking to mark the occasion, among which were Archbishop Makarios, Consul General of Greece in Sydney Georgios Skemperis, NSW Minister Steve Kamper (representing the NSW Premier Chris Minns), NSW Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure (representing the NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman).
Also in attendance was the Federal Member for Parramatta Andrew Charlton, State Member for Parramatta Donna Davis, Mayor of Parramatta Council Martin Zaitar, Kosmas Demetriou, President of the Local Parish and Community, along with a number of other state and local representatives and members from community organisations.
