The Paniyiri Festival is gearing up for its 49th year as the largest cultural festival in Queensland makes its return for another thrilling two-day celebration of Hellenism.
The event, which will also take place at the Greek Club, will be held all day this weekend on Saturday (12-10pm) and Sunday (10am-7pm), featuring numerous dance groups, live bands, cooking demonstrations and plenty of Greek food and wine.
Kos Kastrissios, co-Chairman of the Paniyiri Organising Committee, noted that the Festival continues to evolve with this year including the introduction of a little kids Kouzina as part of the cooking demonstrations at the Greek Club.
“This year there are a couple of new things happening which is really exciting. In our cooking demonstrations that we host upstairs in the Greek Club, we have got a little kids kouzina.
“It is really exciting because it is the first year that we are doing this and it has been received really well,” he said, adding that it sold out in two days.
“Kids are going to come up and be taught how to make some basic Greek foods. They will get to keep the food they make, get an apron and chef hat.”
The event has become a staple of Queensland’s cultural calendar and has come to bring in close to 50,000 people, a fact which Kastrissios admitted is quite humbling.
“When I first joined the committee in the year 2000, obviously we never thought about those things. Being involved for some long, when I look back now on the guys from before us and what our committee has continued to do, it is pretty special,” he said.
“As you know, we are a voluntary run committee and community so to do this for so long with volunteers, and see how it has grown, is pretty special.”
The annual not-for-profit event, which has been running since 1976 and raises funds that is distributed back via the Greek Orthodox Community of St George, Brisbane, promises to deliver another massive event.
Kastrissios noted that Brisbane has been going through some rainy weather, though stressed it should have no impact on the Festival which they expect to have another successful year jam-packed with entertainment and fun.
