Paniyiri Greek Festival Opens Gates

Paniyiri is Queensland’s signature celebration of all things Greek and the state’s largest cultural festival. The event will be held May 19-20 at Musgrave Park and The Greek Club in South Brisbane.

Now in its 36th  successful and exciting year, Paniyiri is a community initiative of the 25,000-strong Greek community of South East Queensland. Funds raised are channeled back into the community via the Greek Orthodox Community of St George, Brisbane’s oldest Greek community established in the 1920s.

According to the official site of “Paniyiri”, in Musgrave Park more than 30 food stalls will showcase the tastes, recipes and secrets of food from all corners of Greece while on the main stage famous Greek dances the Zorba, Sirto, Kalamatiano and Sousta, performed to music performed on traditional Greek instruments including the bouzouki, tarabuka, lira and laouto are enjoyed by Greeks and non-Greeks alike in a wonderful cross cultural celebration.

The Paniyiri Main Stage in Musgrave Park will host more than 20 hours of entertainment over the weekend including the return of Greek Dancing with the Stars with surprise special guests; a world record Zorba attempt; Grape Stomping, Olive and Honeypuff Eating Competitions; Hellenic Dancing and Zorba Till You Drop.

The Greek Club will be a hive of activity with the popular traditional Greek Cooking Demonstrations featuring Queensland’s culinary greats plus the screening of cultural films and just next door, the Greek Orthodox Church will conduct tours to the beautiful sounds of the Byzantine Choir.

The Full Program

Saturday May 18 (gates open at noon)

12:15 p.m. –  The famous cooking demonstrations begin
It’s the ultimate Greek culinary adventure. The demonstrations are hosted by some of Brisbane best Greek cooks and chefs and star all the favorite Greek recipes and treats like Spanakopita (Spinach & Fetta Pie), Poura (Greek Nut Rolls), Loukoumades (Greek Honey Puffs) and the Traditional Greek Mezethes Platter.
1-4 p.m. – Kids’ Zone
Get creative in the Kids’ Zone with mural painting, art and craft, storytelling, face painting and an extremely special appearance from Minions from the upcoming kids film, Despicable Me! Barn Yard Babies will also keep the little ones entertained as they pet, play and have their photo taken in the gorgeous animal nursery.
1:15 p.m. – Coffee competition
Jake and Elle from Channel Seven’s My Kitchen Rules will make an appearances. Upstairs in the Greek Club.
2:45 p.m. – Celebrity guest cooking
Jake and Elle are on again, this time for a celebrity guest cooking demonstration. Upstairs in the Greek Club.
6 p.m. – Timbanouki Drumline Bouzouki Show
New to Paniyiri in 2013, the Greek take on the drumline mixed with the traditional sounds of the bouzouki will echo through Musgrave Park.
7 p.m. – Greek Dancing with the Stars
Be there to find out what happens when Lincoln Younes a.k.a the youngest River Boy, Casey Braxton, and his on-screen girlfriend Kelly Paterniti a.k.a Tamara Kingsley from Channel Seven’s Home & Away and My Kitchen Rules’ Jake and Elle fight it out on the dance floor against Kimberley Busteed and B105’s Pete Curruli in the hotly contested Greek Dancing with the Stars competition.
8:45 p.m. – Fireworks
Sample Greek sweets while watching the spectacular fireworks display explode across the skies of South Brisbane.
Noon-6 p.m. – Cultural films and lectures
There’s a cultural smorgasbord of films and lectures downstairs at the Greek Club in the Acropolis room. Hear Anna Efstathiadou from the University of Queensland speak on topics like “Second World War Photography and the ANZAC Legend: George Silk’s and Damien Parer’s Greek Campaign and Amelia Brown of the University of Queensland speak on Odysseus, the First Greek Traveler. Greek National Costumes will also be on display during the lecture and film program.

Sunday May 19 (gates open 10am)

10.30 a.m. – Greek cooking demonstrations begin
Learn the culinary secrets from inside Greek kitchens with sweet and savoury demonstrations, upstairs at The Greek Club with FREE entry.
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Kids’ Zone
Get creative in the Kids’ Zone with mural painting, art and craft, storytelling, face painting and an extremely special appearance from Minions from the upcoming kids film, Despicable Me! Barn Yard Babies will also keep the little ones entertained as they pet, play and have their photo taken in the gorgeous animal nursery.
12:30 p.m. – Paniyiri 2013 official opening ceremony
A formal welcome to all festival goers and special guests! Channel Seven’s Lincoln Younes, Kelly Paterniti and Jake and Elle will be on stage for the celebration followed by an impressive performance with the Timbanouki Drumline Bouzouki show
2:45 p.m. – Celebrity cook-off
Jake and Elle from My Kitchen Rules will heat things up when the Queensland siblings don the aprons to stir, beat and fold their way through a Greek recipe.
4:15 p.m. – Grape Stomping
If you find yourself with some extra energy as a result of the Greek gastronomy, the Black & White Cabs Corporate Grape Stomping Competition is the perfect way to stomp your way back to a hungry tummy! A traditional Greek pastime, be prepared to get a little bit messy.
7 p.m. – Fireworks
Sample Greek sweets while watching the spectacular fireworks display explode across the skies of South Brisbane.
All day: Cultural films and lectures
The cultural enlightenment continues on Sunday with speakers like Emeritus Professor Bob Milns, Anna Eftstathadiou and Amelia Brown from the University of Queensland speaking on topics like Constantine Cavafy – A Great Modern Poet from Alexandria, on the 150th Anniversary of his Birth and Constructions of Greek Femininity during the Second World War: Propaganda Posters and Photographs.
8 p.m. – Trella Dance Party
Festival-goers can burn off the Haloumi and Honey Puffs at Trella: The Official Paniyiri After Party with sounds from Brisbane’s own DJ Kossi as well as guest DJ Nicky Zee and DJ Petros at The Greek Club. Tickets available for $15 at the door.

All weekend

Honey puff and olive eating competitions
Devour your way through countless juicy Greek olives or treat your sweet tooth to mountains of mouth-watering Honey Puffs. Heats for both the competitions will take place on the Channel Seven stage, with the finals on the Coffee Club Stage in Musgrave Park.
Plate smashing
There is something about the Greeks that makes you want to smash plates. Sure to be a smash hit with festival goers, test your speed and dexterity with the quintessential Hellenic act of breaking plates which will take place several times during the festival.
3D Chalk artist
In a first for Paniyiri, eyes will be drawn to the ground as the bitumen of Edmonstone street is transformed into a 3D chalk masterpiece and glimpse into Greek History. Chalk artist Amelia Batchelor, a highly regarded Brisbane street artist will depict the Parthenon and the Colossus of Rhodes on Edmonstone street between 11am and 5pm Saturday, and between noon and 5 p.m. Sunday.
Eat
Help Brisbane eat their way through 200,000 honey puffs, 500kgs of haloumi and seemingly endless authentic barbecued souvlakia as your delighted senses journey of the senses through 30+ food stalls representing the Aegean, Mainland Greece, Cyprus, Chios, Crete, Rhodes and more all weekend.
The music, the dance
Paniyiri is famous for non-stop dance and music. Experience hours of Greek entertainment including The Hellenic Dancers, Fantasia, Glendi, DJ Kossi, Herc & Xena, Μελωδία from Dormition of Theotokos and more all weekend.
Greek Orthodox Church of St George
Explore the history and mystique of the renowned South Brisbane Church with cultural displays open for viewing on both days of the festival.
Sideshow alley
Plan a detour down Musgrave Park’s vibrant Sideshow Alley to find a host of amusement rides and games for the young, and young at heart.