Adelaide’s main square is about to get a small transformation reminiscent of Athens’ famous ‘Monastiraki’ market, as part of hosting the largest Greek Festival in South Australia. Over 40,000 people are expected to visit Victoria Square in the heart of the city to attend the festival over the weekend.
“Victoria Square offers a magnificent setting in the heart of Adelaide making it accessible for everyone to come and enjoy Glendi. Being in the heart of the city is reminiscent of the large festivals that occur in Greece, which are always held in the ‘town square’,” says 2018 Glendi Greek festival director, Mike Diakomichalis.
“Victoria Square also allows the festival to retain its ‘open air’ setting, whilst its central location lends itself to growing the festival by adding Friday evening to the program for the first time in its history.”
Although the 2018 Glendi Greek Festival has traditionally been a two-day weekend event, this year it will be held on Friday 23, Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 March celebrating its 40th anniversary since its inception in 1978.
To mark the occasion, for the first time in the event’s history, Glendi will have free entry.
“Being in Victoria Square is a great opportunity for everyone and in particular people who are in the CBD to come straight from work on a Friday evening for a catch up with friends and enjoy a drink and some delicious Greek food.
“We are very pleased to have great support and participation from both community organisations and small business operators at Glendi 2018. This enables the showcasing of the Hellenic spirit and culture whilst also providing these groups with the opportunity to raise funds for their respective causes; whether that be education, youth sport, performing arts to name a few,” said Diakomichalis.
This year’s setting will certainly be very different by virtue of the organiser’s decision to turn Victoria Square into Greece’s most famous street; Monastiraki.
“We are taking advantage of Reconciliation Plaza, the cobbled road that intersects Victoria Square, which will be closed to traffic on the weekend, and have encouraged participating stallholders to set-up on this section of road. This paved area is similar to the road found at the famous Monastiraki Market and we hope to offer festival attendees a small taste of Athens right here in the heart of Adelaide,” said the Glendi director.
Festival attendees can expect to be treated to a weekend of family fun and enjoy a wide range of activities including competitions, Greek-themed product tastings and cooking demonstrations, exhibitions, art displays and projects from students and local artists, live music by local Greek musicians, traditional and modern Greek cultural dance performances, a garden bar, an open-air outdoor cinema and a major lottery with first prize being two return business class airfares flying to any of Qatar Airways’ international destinations.
According to the organisers Greek singer Nikos Kourkoulis and his band from Greece will be performing in the main concert on both Saturday and Sunday nights.
“We really do hope to bring a small taste of Athens in the heart of Adelaide,” concluded Diakomichalis.
