Thousands of Greek-Australians, but also members of the broader community made it to Warrawee park last weekend for th 5th Oakleigh ‘Glendi’, a two-day festival to celebrate the suburb’s famous ‘Greek’ character.

The sunny springtime weather conditions were beneficial for the event, but the main attraction was the staple trifecta of all Greek festivals: food music, and dance.

A wide array of bands and many traditional dance groups entertained visitors, while Greek culinary culture – both traditional and modern – was brought to the spotlight through a series of cooking demonstrations, some made by celebrity chefs, such as Nicolette Stathopoulos and Emelia Jackson.

The event is a joint celebration of the Greek national holiday, ‘Ohi’ day, but also a celebration of the local church, St. Anargiri. It is also an annual opportunity to honour the significant role of the Greek community as a core element of Monash City’s multicultural social fabric.

“More than 150 different ethnicities live in Monash and all these cultures and languages coexist in harmony regardless of background”, said Aggelos Sardelis, president of the Oakleigh community, which celebrates its 55th anniversary this year.