Some 20,000 people walked through the gates of the Adelaide Showgrounds to attend the Glendi Greek Festival last weekend. Though the festival was blessed with warm weather, there were concerns in the air that the Glendi had a different feel from previous years.
When the Glendi originally began, it took place on a circular area at Thebarton Oval and the Adelaide Parklands. This year’s festival – as was the case in 2009 – was held at the Adelaide Showgrounds: the Glendi was cancelled in 2010 due to a lack of volunteers and sponsors. Divided into two main areas, last weekend’s events were run from the Jubilee Hall, where the main stage and exhibitors were placed, and the park area, where the food stalls and junior stage were located.
Those visiting the Glendi told Neos Kosmos that they felt the event lacked a certain atmosphere, now that it has been relocated to the Showgrounds. Many felt that by having the bulk of the Glendi in two areas, it gave the festival a disjointed feel.
John Chefalachis, chairman of Adelaide Glendi Festival Board, said the decision to change the location, was driven by the erratic weather conditions in recent years. Mr Chefalachis said that in 2008, many potential Glendi-goers had stayed away during the daytime, as the temperature reached over 40 degrees, and another year the international act was unable to perform on the main stage as it was raining too hard. The Glendi chairman said that he believed by having an indoor main stage, such problems can be avoided and ensure everyone is protected from the weather.
Mr Chefalachis reiteriated that the decision was not based on costs, adding that the Glendi receives more support from the showgrounds, and that with infrastructure in place – such as toilets which are regularly cleaned – resources allow the event to prosper.
Another concern voiced by this year’s attendees was the lack of food stalls.
“We are looking at more food stalls in the future,” said Mr Chefalachis. “We’re looking for community and clubs that were there in previous years, but when we approached them they said they didn’t have the manpower now, so we needed to look elsewhere. I am sure we will slowly but surely get more and more people.” With the Adelaide Glendi being run on a purely voluntary basis, the help of the community to ensure its success is obviously crucial.
“There are other organisations which are smaller than ours, that actually pay people to put it on, whereas we are all volunteers and nobody gets paid, so I think we do a brilliant job,” said Mr Chefalachis.