No other event gives Brisbane a jolt of pure joy than this festival of Greek fun that opens a window on one of the world’s most interesting and ancient cultures.

The Paniyiri Greek Festival is a two-day multi-sensory experience where people of all ages and abilities and background are encouraged to dance the Zorba, learn mediterranean cooking, taste Greek wines, cheer on the plate smashers, shop the market stalls, enjoy a non-stop lineup of entertainment while dining on the huge variety of authentic savoury or sweet dishes from multiple food stalls representing 11 different Greek regions.

The year’s festival will return with everyone’s favourites, along with some exciting new additions including the opportunity for first-day festival goers to pre-book a VIP Paniyiri Picnic!

Available to pre-booked online ticket purchases only, simply go to the add on list and choose the “Paniyiri Greek Mezze Box” which not only secures your access to the exclusive VIP picnic area, but includes a delicious grazing box filled with authentic home-made mezze including keftethes, spanakopita, taramasalata, tzatziki, kalamata olives with Yiayia’s secret marinate, locally produced feta and, of course, pita bread, that feeds up to four.

There is also the option of making this the ultimate laze and graze experience by adding a Greek themed Blue & White picnic blanket to your online booking to complete your Paniyiri picnic experience!

This strictly limited offer is available on the first day of the festival only – Saturday 17 May, between 12pm – 4pm, with picnic guests gaining access to the VIP area that is simply the best spot in the park to watch all the action unfold on the Main Stage.

This offer is strictly limited and must be booked online before 12 May – so get your crew organised and picnic like a VIP at Paniyiri in 2025!

Opa!

Tickets:
Adults $18* (online until 16 May 2025)
Adults $20 (at the door on 17 and 18 May 2025)
Children (under 12) FREE
Pensioners $5 (only available at the door on 17 and 18 May 2025)
2 days pass $30* (online until 16 May 2025)

Add Ons:
• Greek Mezze Box (serves up to 4): $60 (online only until 12 May 2025)^
• Waterproof Outdoor Picnic Blanket $25.50 (online until 12 May 2025)^
(^must be collected on Saturday 17 May from 12pm-4pm only)
• Win a Trip for 2 to Greece raffle $5 per ticket (until 12pm on 18 May 2025)
*plus booking fee

2025 Paniyiri Greek Festival
Saturday May 17 from 12 noon to 10pm Sunday May 18 from 10am to 7pm
Musgrave Park and The Greek Club, Edmondstone Street, South Brisbane
www.paniyiri.com

The official program has just been released on this epic event which features a huge lineup of entertainment.

And did we mention the food? Paniyiri is all about the food, with 20 food stalls serving an incredible array of authentic food from 11 different Greek regions, and where no one judges you if you eat multiple plates of BBQ calamari, souvlaki, haloumi and honey puffs.

And culture, it’s a day and night celebration of Greek dance, music, and mythology. Where you can channel your inner Dionysus, the OG God of wine, while enjoying a Greek wine tasting. Or discover Greek beers or treat yourself to Greek inspired cocktails.

Paniyiri is a place where you live out your Greek fantasies without needing your passport.

It’s easily Brisbane’s best party in a park. Opa!

Paniyiri is a non-profit event and all funds raised are distributed back to the community via the Brisbane Greek Orthodox Community of St George, Brisbane’s oldest Greek community established in the 1920s. The multiple Greek associations that rely on it to fundraise for their community groups and charity associations, are looking forward to the long-awaited return of the festival.

Paniyiri Greek Festival 2022
Saturday October 15 from 12noon to 10pm and
Sunday October 16 from 10am to 7pm
Musgrave Park and The Greek Club, Edmondstone Street, South Brisbane
www.paniyiri.com

Gold Coast born Tim Franklin earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Queensland’s University of Technology and made his Home and Away debut when his character was introduced to viewers in February 2018. Colby Thorne has been a love interest for Summer Bay nurse Jasmine Delaney (played by Sam Frost) and then fellow police officer Chelsea Campbell (played by Ashleigh Brewer) and was previously a member of the River Boys surf gang.

Lukas Radovich grew up in the Blue Mountains and moved to Perth a year after graduating high school where he studied acting at WAAPA (Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts). He hit the jackpot winning the part of Ryder Jackson, Alf Stewart’s long-lost grandson.

The two stars will appear at Paniyiri Greek Festival all weekend, based at the Channel Seven Arena in Musgrave Park, and taking part in the Cooking Program, Grape Stomping  and in the fantastic Stars Go Greek on the Dancefloor on the Saturday evening, as well as a range of other activities.

Highlights of Paniyiri this year include the return of the traditional Greek village in the Plateia, a Dance Spectacular on Saturday evening opening with a stunning Bouzouki tribute, a standout cooking program headlined by international Greek superchef Dimitris Katrivesis who is flying in from Athens, joining our own superchefs David Tsirekas and George  Diakomichalis, and, in a first for Brisbane, Nostimo Greek restaurant will feature Greek Yum Cha for the whole weekend!

2019 also marks the 90th anniversary of the Greek Orthodox Church of St George – Brisbane’s oldest Greek community established in the 1920s – with dancing tributes and a special lecture by author and broadcaster Richard Fidler, host of the national ABC program CONVERSATIONS as part of the Cultural Program. Bouzouki Kids, a highlight on the Main Stage over both days will feature five children playing the famous Greek instrument.

More than 30 authentic Greek food stalls will showcase the tastes, recipes and secrets from all regions of Greece, including the Aegean, Ionian, Mainland Greece, Cyprus, Chios, Crete, Rhodes and many more.

ABOUT PANIYIRI GREEK FESTIVAL
Over four decades Paniyiri has grown to become Queensland’s signature celebration of all things Greek and the state’s largest cultural festival as well as the country’s longest running Greek festival – an admirable success story for the celebration that started in 1976 when a group of passionate Greek Australians wanted to share their cultural traditions with Brisbane. Fast forward to 2018 and this kaleidoscopic cultural explosion is legendary. More than 60,000 are expected to celebrate over the weekend of May 18 & 19.

In the 43 years of Paniyiri, two million festival goers have devoured well over five million honey puffs, rivers of thick sweet coffees, over four million souvlaki, 25 tonnes of haloumi and countless calamari and dolmades. Only Zeus himself knows how many high kicks have been performed! Brisbane’s love of its famous Greek Festival knows few bounds! In 2019, festival goers are expected to down some 300,000 honey puffs, more than 100,000 souvlakia, almost 12,000 dolmades, 20,000 coffees, 1,600kg of grilled haloumi, 10,000 shiftalies (Greek sausage) and 1,000kg of calamari.

Paniyiri is a community initiative of the 25,000 strong Greek community of South East Queensland. Funds raised are channelled back into the community via the Greek Orthodox Community of St George, Brisbane. It is Brisbane’s oldest Greek community established in the 1920s.

Paniyiri Greek Festival 2019
Saturday 18 May from 12noon AND Sunday 19 May from 10am
Musgrave Park & The Greek Club, Edmondstone Street, South Brisbane
www.paniyiri.com

Top 10 signs that Paniyiri Greek Festival is almost here:

1. The Taste Twitch – this can present as a slight tick in the corner of the mouth, or as an all-out drool when the thought of doughnut balls dipped in honey – otherwise known as Loukoumades or Honeypuffs – enters the brain. Ditto with any form of Greek BBQ. Or Baklava. Or Haloumi. Or Souvlaki.

2. Busy Legs, also known as The Zorba Walk – this has you walking sideways, back and forth, and often attempting an Olympic level high kick. It can happen in lunch lines, on the train, at the gym, anywhere. It’s a sure sign you are ready for the Paniyiri dancefloor!

3. Sticky Coffee Syndrome – those in search of the famous thick Greek coffee, often so thick a spoon stands upright, have been known to add the odd teaspoon of Clag Glue to their latte. This is not recommended. What is recommended is patience until May 19 and 20 when Greek Coffee will abound!

4. Greek Grandmother Envy – when you start calling your own grandmother YiaYia, and ask her to reveal long-held family secrets on how to create dolmades and baklava, and regale stories of ‘home’ (regardless of the fact she may have hailed from Dalby, or Caloundra).

5. The Great Aperol Spritz Snub – causing bearded bartenders and ‘mixologists’ all over Brisbane to shake their head in amazement, this sign sees Gen Y forgo their beloved Aperol Spritz for Ouzo. Yep, Ouzo.

6. Smoke Signal Madness – when Paniyiri fans madly following any smoke they see (much like storm chasers) in the hope of discovering a mouth-watering Greek BBQ with a lamb spit or charcoal chicken. Trust us, it’s worth the wait.

7. The May Flavour Wave – suddenly you find yourself ordering everything with added rosemary and lemon, even adding it to your cornflakes. Note: this Flavour Wave will continue through until Sunday May 20.

8. Brisbane, a City of Linguists – the week before Paniyiri sees fans all over Brisbane suddenly proficient in key Greek words – namely Haloumi, Dolmades, Yiros, Souvlaki, Spanakopita, Keftedes, Moussaka, Tzatziki, Calamari, Baklava and Zorba – and are often heard correcting others on correct pronunciations.

9. The What to Wear Dilemma – this sign kicks in around Tuesday before Paniyiri and sees fan juggling their love of fashion, with their need for a stretchy-waisted-pant, enough to allow for an adequate intake of Greek delights, while staying up during a particularly strenuous Zorba. Good luck with that.

10. Getting (Plate) Smashed – you will view smashing plates at work, at friend’s places and at random restaurants simply an act of preparation for Paniyiri. However, it is recommended to HOLD this urge until the festival because then, you can bring on all the good spirits or kefi, that the act beholds, otherwise, well, it’s out of our hands.

So, whether you are showing early signs, or are deep in the thralls of Paniyiri Fever, there is not long to wait.

Over the weekend of May 19 and 20 Brisbane will be overtaken in a haze of haloumi-flavoured smoke and Zorba-inspired high kicks – and Paniyiri Greek Festival organisers have promised a two-day celebration of authentic flavours, faces and culture with free public transport to and from the event!

Tickets are available online at paniyiri.com

This year all Paniyiri ticket holders travel free on network-wide Brisbane City Council buses and Queensland Rail City Network trains thanks to a partnership between Paniyiri and TransLink (must present valid ticket when boarding, see website for details).

Paniyiri 2018 Fast Facts
Date:  Saturday May 19 from 12noon AND Sunday May 20 from 10am
Location:  Musgrave Park & The Greek Club, Edmondstone Street, South Brisbane
Info:  www.paniyiri.com or 07 3844 1166 – See Paniyiri on Facebook for all up to date information
Tickets:  $12 Adults (13+), $5 all Pensioners, Children FREE. Available online and at the gate.
Transport:  ***Travel free with a pre-purchased Paniyiri Greek Festival ticket to the event on all regular network-wide Brisbane City Council buses and Queensland Rail City Network trains (excludes Brisbane City Council ferries, the G: and Airtrain service).  Plan ahead at translink.com.au or call 13 12 30.