If you missed out on this year’s Paniyiri, fear not! You won’t have to wait until next year, because the Gold Coast is welcoming their very own Greek Festival for the first time!
Get ready for two days of food, music, dancing, entertainment and Greek culture all with the stunning backdrop of HOTA. Conceived by George Mastrocostas, Honorary Consul-General of Greece in Queensland, this new celebration is expecting 10,000 people across the weekend, including Greek people, Greeks at heart, or simply lovers of great food, music and a good opa!
At the heart of the festival will be the Greek community itself, with local associations serving traditional family recipes, performing traditional dances, and bringing Greek heritage to life through music, food, dance and storytelling.
What to expect
Food will, of course take centre stage, with Greek community associations serving up traditional dishes alongside a packed cooking program. Renowned Greek chefs Vikki Moursellas, and Anna Polyviou — who will be joined by her mother Gina — will be in the Lakeside Room across the weekend, showcasing Greek cooking, family recipes and plenty of inspiration for home cooks.
Bring appetite, as you’ll get to feast on Greek sweets, ice cream, specialty drinks, coffee, tea, Greek beer and other Greek favourites!
But it goes beyond the food: The festival will also be filled with live music and entertainment, featuring the Glendi Band, grEchoes, Greek and Cypriot dance groups, as well as crowd participation sessions and Greek dancing lessons.
If you love to participate, there will even be a chance for you to put your new moves to the test in a best-dancing competition or, if you prefer a little less dancing and a little more opa, sign up for the plate smashing competition!
There will also be kids’ activities for the little ones to stay entertained, and Saturday night will culminate in fireworks over Evandale Lake, creating a spectacular finale to the first day of festivities.
Practical information
The Gold Coast Greek Festival will take place on Saturday, October 31 and Sunday, November 1. Saturday will go from 12pm to 10pm, and Sunday will run from 10am to 4pm.
Tickets are $10 per adult, and under 13s enter for free! All proceeds will be directed towards supporting the Greek diaspora across Queensland. You can get your tickets here.
