The 45th Paniyiri Greek Festival will be celebrated over the weekend of May 22 and 23 within The Greek Club precinct and online.
The program will be a combination of real, virtual and livestreamed experiences that will deliver the essence of the celebration in a COVID-safe way, including Greek cooking classes, a traditional taverna night, a hosted food adventure evening, a day of Greek dance and music, cultural experiences and a honeypuff pop-up.
The Paniyiri Greek Festival 2021 program begins with the Alex Kondos Memorial Lecture: Women of the revolution and revolutionary women on Wednesday 19 May in the Ballroom of The Greek Club, South Brisbane. Melbourne lawyer, writer, journalist and poet, Dean Kalimniou will speak about the role that Greek women played in the War of Independence and Local historian and journalist, Helen Gregory will speak about modern revolutionary women, mainly Presvitera Roula Sakellariou (wife of Father Gregory Sakellariou) from a local perspective, Professor Maria Kavallaris on the national scene, and Maria Callas internationally.
Vocalists Christina Lignou, Katerini Manolatos and Pana Kalatzis will also sing a selection of modern Greek songs composed or written by Greek women. This lecture is an annual Paniyiri Greek Festival event that honours the memory of Alex Kondos, a long-serving Councillor of the Greek Orthodox Community of St George Brisbane and one who had a passion for the community’s cultural activities.
On Thursday 20 May Ambrosia will be held at Nostimo Restaurant for an evening of Greek flavours hosted by chef-in-residence Alex Xinis. As a reference to the Greek mythological ambrosia, the food and drink of the ancient Greek gods, this evening guests will feast on a banquet with octopus, taramosalata, grilled local fish, lamb shoulder, galaktoboureko and more as you hear about food, life and culture in conversation with chef-in-residence, Alex Xinis.
The program has events such as the Pasarella Fashion Parade which will be held on May 21 at The Greek Club Ballroom where a showcase of Greek-inspired fashion by GOYA (Greek Youth of Australia). Greek-Australian models will take to the runway in pieces by local Australian designers, celebrating the latest trends. The event will also feature a bazaar with an array of offerings from deli goods to jewellery.
The Taste of Greece Cooking Demonstrations will teach you how to cook your favourite authentic, traditional Greek dishes live, hosted by Paniyiri’s experienced cooks on 22 and 23 May. The Paniyiri Cultural Program, which is also held on these two days, promises to educate, inspire and entertain attendees, in the 200th year of Greek independence. There will be a Paniyiri Honeypuff Pop-Up at the Greek Orthodox Church on the 22 and 23 May for those with a sweet tooth.
The Paniyiri Greek Festival will also be host to a Greek Traditional Taverna Night with Greek Singers on 22 May where patrons will celebrate food, wines, warmth, dancing and music! For those looking to learn Greek dancing, Sunday 23 May will host the Sunday Paniyiri Dance Program as well as performances from West End State School, the Hellenic Dancers Modern Performance, Hellenic Dancing Academy and the Greek School of St George.
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