Paniyiri Greek Festival

Paniyiri Greek Festival
Music, Paniyiri Greek Festival, 2007
GenreGreek festival
FrequencyAnnually
Location(s)South Brisbane, Queensland
Inaugurated1976
FounderFather Gregory Sakellariou
Most recent15-16 October 2022
Next event20-21 May 2023
Attendance50,000+

The Paniyiri Greek Festival is usually held in May each year in Musgrave Park, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is the longest running cultural festival in Queensland and the longest running Greek festival in Australia.[1] The festival is famous for its food, music and Hellenic dancing.[2] Crowds of up to 60,000 people flock to the two-day festivities, and over a thousand volunteers help in the running of Queensland's largest festival.[3]

History

Honey puffs, a popular treat

The festival was started in 1976, making it the longest running cultural festival in Queensland, and the longest running Greek festival in Australia.[1] It was initiated by Father Gregory Sakellariou, with the aim of bringing the Greek community together and sharing their culture with the people of Brisbane.[citation needed]

The outdoor festival was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but recipes for cooking at home and some online activities were provided as an alternative.[4]

In 2022, the event was postponed to 15-16 October due to wet weather in May.[5]

Honours

In 2009 as part of the Q150 celebrations, the Paniyiri Greek Festival was announced as one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland for its role as an "event and festival".[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Paniyiri Greek Festival". The Greek Orthodox Community of St George, Brisbane. Archived from the original on 10 February 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  2. ^ Keays, Sue C (2004). Yassou, Souvlakia and Paniyiri: Adapting Greek Culture for Australians. QUT ePrints. pp. 7–8. ISBN 1741070813. Archived from the original on 15 April 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  3. ^ Hammond, Phil (20 May 2011). "Greece is the Word". The Courier Mail, Brisbane. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  4. ^ Fidler, Dan (21 May 2020). "Paniyiri Greek Festival 2020 Online this Sunday". MyBrisbane. Archived from the original on 11 February 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  5. ^ "Paniyiri 2022 | 15th & 16th October". 27 April 2022. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  6. ^ Bligh, Anna (10 June 2009). "PREMIER UNVEILS QUEENSLAND'S 150 ICONS". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 24 May 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
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