Adelaide will rejoice with Greek traditions, music, dance, and culinary tastes in the Greek Odyssey Festival 2025. The Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia (GOCSA) launched its annual festival on the weekend. It runs all through October and culminates with the stunning Odyssey Finale on November 1. The program launched is replete with diverse events celebrating the heritage and life of Adelaide Greek community.
At Friday’s program launch, GOCSA President Panayiotis Pyrros outlined this year’s highlights, culminating in the Odyssey Finale music event. He stressed that the festival is “not just a series of cultural events—it’s a living celebration of Greek identity, a bond between generations, and a bridge of connection with the wider Australian community.”
In a message deliver to the festival organisers for the launch the community, South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas called the Odyssey Festival “an outstanding showcase of the richness of Greek heritage and culture in South Australia, reflecting the enduring contribution of the Greek diaspora to the social, cultural, and economic fabric of our State.”
Malinauskas said that since the earliest days of migration, the Greek community has played a pivotal role in shaping South Australia’s multicultural identity, and enriching society with values such as family, resilience, and generosity. He emphasised that the preservation of Greek language, traditions, and customs, was instrumental in developing the state’s multicultural—and intercultural—policy.
Malinauskas emphasised the role of festival organisers and volunteers and their dedication, which ensured that Greek life and heritage thrives and inspires future generations.
The launch last Friday was attended by a large crowd of art and culture aficionados.
The Opposition Leader Anthony Tarzia also sent a message of support in which he said that that the Odyssey Festival helped preserve traditions, pass down stories, and strengthen the sense of identity among younger generations. Tarzia added that South Australia’s future rests on communities built on strong values, pride in heritage, and a generous spirit—describing the festival as “a shining example of how culture can inspire unity and progress across South Australia.”
The premier was represented by Olivia Madison Savvas, while Adelaide Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith was represented by Councillor Mary Couros. Both expressed pride in their proud Greek heritage and underscored the importance of preserving and promoting Greek language and culture in South Australia.
Sophie Diamandi, the chair of the community’s cultural committee, unveiled this year’s program, highlighting that the Odyssey Festival offers “a unique opportunity to showcase Greek culture through art, music, dance, film, food, and social gatherings.”
This year’s program includes cooking workshops, lectures on Greek and Cypriot migration and history, dance and music performances, as well as the much-anticipatyed Greek and Cypriot Film Festival, the Art Prize, and the Art Exhibition.
Steve Georganas the federal member for Adelaide, attended, and stressed the importance of maintaining the Greek language and culture, and encouraged audiences to see Captain Michalis and read works by Nikos Kazantzakis. Georganas highlighted the strong political representation of the Greek community in South Australia and its significant role in public life.
With over 30 events, the Odyssey Festival is a celebration of Greek cultural heritage and a bridge between generations and communities. Through music, dance, traditional food, and migration stories, participants can immerse themselves in Greek traditions while younger generations experience a sense of identity and pride in their roots.
Odyssey Festival is an open invitation to all—Greek and non-Greek alike—to join in cultural journey full of life, art, film, music, and food that curates Greek life in South Australia.
Greek gastronomy will feature cooking workshops, tastings, and special menus celebrating authentic recipes and local produce. The film program features stories of migration, daily life, and heritage, and provides an alternative, and deep insight into the modern Greek experience.
Greek Odyssey 2025 will showcase the vibrancy of Greek identity, memory, and creativity, inviting South Australians to experience the food, music, and traditions that continue to shape the state’s rich cultural landscape.
