Paniyiri Greek Festival 2015: May 23 + 24
Paniyiri is 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 2015, and this kaleidoscopic cultural explosion is now legendary with over 60,000 Greeks and honorary Greeks flocking to Musgrave Park, South Brisbane every year for the annual Paniyiri Greek Festival.
THE FOODIES GUIDE:
WHAT WE WILL CONSUME AT THIS YEAR’S PANIYIRI
Since 1976 when a group of passionate Greek Australians wanted to share their cultural traditions – and flavours – with Brisbane there’s been a lot of honey puffs enjoyed by the 1.5million Paniyiri Festival goers, who have celebrated over the 39 years – over FOUR MILLION honey puffs in fact!!
Along with those sweet, sweet balls of happiness, there’s been some 250,000 coffees served almost 21 tonnes of haloumi, 3.5 million souvlakia and 420,000 dolmades.
And only Zeus himself knows how many high kicks have been performed on that dance floor!!
THE FOOD STALLS
A favourite of Paniyiri each year are the fantastic food stalls, which showcase the tastes, recipes and secrets of food from all regions of Greece. This year is no different with 30 food stalls representing the Aegean, Ionian, Mainland Greece, Cyprus, Chios, Crete, and Rhodes regions and many more.
THE DUMMIES GUIDE TO SECRET GREEK TREATS
If you’ve ever wished you could borrow your best mate’s Yiayia for some authentic Greek cooking, don’t despair. We did. PANIYIRI’S OFFICIAL CULINARY ROADMAP (FOODIES TRANSLATION)
· Horiatiki Salata – Your basic big, fat Greek salad.
· Souvlakia – The ever-present Greek kebabs.
· Moussaka – Every cuisine has its comfort food and, for the Greeks, this well-known main meal is definitely a candidate! A baked dish of eggplant, ground lamb and a topping of rich cheese sauce.
· Dolmathes Yalantzi – Stuffed grape vine leaves.
· Patates Lemonates – A winning side dish in any Greek family used with both meat or fish.
· Spanakorizo – Greek spinach rice.
· Anginares – Artichokes with broadbeans.
· Baklava – That sticky, aromatic sweet featuring nuts and honey between layers of fine pastry.
· Kourambiethes – Traditional celebration almond shortbreads.
· Loukoumathes – Donut puffs dipped in honey with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Better known as Honey Puffs!
MY GREEK TABLE – Traditional Greek Cooking Demonstrations
It’s the ultimate Greek culinary adventure. Held upstairs in The Greek Club the culinary secrets behind Greek cuisine will be revealed, with sweet and savoury demonstrations all day Saturday and Sunday, hosted by some of Brisbane’s best Greek cooks and chefs and star all the favourite Greek recipes and treats like Spanakopita (Spinach & Fetta Pie), Poura (Greek Nut Rolls), Loukoumades (Greek Honey Puffs) and the Traditional Greek Mezethes Platter.
FOOD COMPETITIONS AT PANIYIRI
Honey Puff Eating Competition Heats (4 heats)
Where: Channel Seven Stage
When: 3pm
Olive Eating Competition Heats (4 heats)
Where: Channel Seven Stage
When::40pm
Honey Puff Eating Competition and Olive Eating Competition Finals
Where: Channel Seven Stage
When: 4:30pm
Sunday 24 May 6, 2015
Olive Eating Competition Heats (4 heats) & Finals
Where: Channel Seven Stage
When: 12:00pm
Honey Puff Eating Competition Heats (4 heats)
Where: Channel Seven Stage
When: 1:00pm
Honey Puff Eating Competition Finals
Where: Main Stage
When: 3:10pm
PASTA EATING COMPETITION
This one is for all you Italian’s out there who love your food, and celebrating Mediterranean culture. And who doesn’t love carbs!
Where: Main Stage
When: Sunday 24 May at 4:50pm
THE BEST GREEK COFFEE BARISTA COMPETITION
2015 sees the return of the Best Greek Coffee Barista Competition. If you think you have what it takes to make great Greek coffee, and are a coffee connoisseur, be sure not to miss celebrating with Greek coffee’s finest.
Annie & Lloyd – When: Saturday May 23 at 1:30pm
Bonnie & George – When: Saturday 23 May at 4pm and Sunday 24 May at 3:30pm
ILIAS THE GREEK TAKES PANIYIRI
Handmade artisan pastry chef ilias the GREEK and raw super food treats producer Miss Bliss Treats join a host of great Greek cooks and flavours
Paniyiri Greek Festival to host hand and home made Greek cooks, igniting tastebuds everywhere
With 10 Sydney Royal Easter Show and Sydney Royal Fine Food Show medals under his belt, ilias the GREEK’s sweets and pastries are recognised as some of Australia’s finest. Whilst his handmade desserts and pastries enliven the tastebuds, his effervescent personality, dancing and ability to put a smile on a person’s face enamour him to crowds everywhere.
Paniyiri 2015 Fast Facts
· The Paniyiri Main Stage in Musgrave Park will host over 20 hours of entertainment including the return of Greek Dancing with the Stars featuring special celebrity guests and judges, the famous ZORBA-THON, Grape Stomping, Olive and Honey Puff Eating Competitions, Hellenic Dancing, and the return of The Best Greek Coffee Barista Competition.
· More than 30 food stalls will showcase the tastes, recipes and secrets of food from all corners of Greece.
· On the main stage, famous Greek dances, the Zorba, Sirto, Kalamatiano and Sousta will be performed to music played on traditional Greek instruments including the bouzouki, tarabuka, lira and laouto.
· The Greek Club will be a hive of activity with the popular traditional Greek Cooking Program featuring Queensland’s culinary greats.
· Cultural films will be screened right next door and the Greek Orthodox Church will conduct tours to the beautiful sounds of the Byzantine Choir.
· Stars from 97.3FM and Radio 4KQ will take part in activities all weekend, and will broadcast live.
· One of the most famous parts of Paniyiri is the food – since it began, Paniyiri has served up more than four million Honey Puffs; 320,000 coffees; almost 20 tonnes of Haloumi; 3.75million souvlakia and 600,000 dolmades!
· This year festival goers are expected to down some 300,000 Honey Puffs, more than 100,000 Souvlakia, almost 12,000 Dolmades, 18,000 coffees, 1,600 kilograms of grilled Haloumi, 10,000 Shiftalies (Greek Cypriot sausage), 1,000 kilograms of calamari and another 1,000 kilograms of baby octopus!
Date: Saturday May 23 from 12noon AND Sunday May 24 from 10am
Location: Musgrave Park & The Greek Club, Edmondstone St, South Brisbane
Info: www.paniyiri.com or 07 3844 1166
See Paniyiri on FACEBOOK for all up to date information
Tickets: $10 Adults (13+), $3 all Pensioners, Children FREE. Tickets online at www.paniyiri.com
THE STARS COME OUT FOR PANIYIRI 2015!
· Seven time World Champion surfer Layne Beachley
· Her rocker husband Kirk Pengilly of INXS
· Home & Away stars George Mason and Bonnie Sveen
· My Kitchen Rules 2015 contestants Annie and Lloyd
· House Rules Queensland contestants Ben and Danielle
· Greek born, Brisbane raised story teller, Melina Mallos, will launch her first children’s book Catch that Cat!
· Narissa the belly dancing Queen
· Ilias The Greek – famed Greek cook
· Lots of Greek Yias Yias (Grandmothers who harbour fantastic cooking secrests!!)
DANCE GUIDE TO PANIYIRI
The origins of The Zorba
The authentic name for The Zorba is Sirtáki, which comes from the Greek work Syrtos, which means drag (the dance). Zorba is danced in three parts to alternating tempos.
The Zorba was made famous in the 1964 movie Zorba the Greek starring Anthony Quinn, among others. It was said Quinn had a serious problem with his leg and could not actually dance, and he had to drag his leg in order to shoot certain scenes.
A number of famous Greek dances including the Zorba, Sirto, Kalamatiano and Sousta are performed at Paniyiri each year. Performed to music played on traditional Greek instruments including the bouzouki, tarabuka, lira and latouto are enjoyed by Greeks and non-Greeks alike in a wonderful cross cultural celebration.
Zorbathon 2015!
Brisbane get ready to kick your heels up as Paniyiri attempts to get everyone Zorba’ing. Staged at the Musgrave Park Main Stage, be prepared to get your groove on!
Where: Main Stage
When: Saturday May 23 at 7:55pm
GREEK DANCING WITH THE STARS
Put your Greek shoes on, and prepare to witness a Greek dance-off
Witness your favourite stars “dance for their life” Greek-style with the return of the hotly contested GREEK DANCING WITH THE STARS contest on Saturday May 23.
World Champion surfer Layne Beachley, Home & Away stars Bonnie Sveen, George Mason, My Kitchen Rules 2015 Contestant Annie Caroline and 973FM Afternoons Announcer Daniel Thomas will grace the stage to battle it out on the dance floor. Judging are Kirk Pengilly of INXS, My Kitchen Rules 2015 Contestant Lloyd Weir and more.
Greek Dance Performance Groups at this year’s Paniyiri Greek Festival
· MacGregor State School Dancers
· West End State School Dancers
· Cypriot Community Junior Dancers
· GOC St George Dance Group
· Hellenic Dancers – Modern Performance
· Townsville Hellenic Dancers
LEARN TO GREEK DANCE AT THIS YEAR’S PANIYIRI
Learn to dance like the Greek’s do at this year’s Paniyiri with a range of qualified dance instructors.
Zorba Dance Workshop
When: Saturday 23 May at 3:30pm
Where: Channel Seven Stage
Sousta Dance Workshop – Radio Baraki Segment
When: Sunday 24 May at 1:45pm
Where: Channel Seven Stage
Learn to Greek Dance with the Hellenic Dancers, MC Terry Hansen
Where: Main Stage
When: Saturday 23 May at 2:00pm
STEPS TO ZORBA GREATNESS – TIPS AND SHORTCUTS
You have to know when to squat and drag and we know you were too busy checking out the talent in your high school dance class, so we’ve put together an easy guide to get your quick-drag feet in the best record-breaking mood. Whether you’re a fast mover, a slow cooker or anything in between, there’s a Zorba for everyone’s Kefi feet.
Quick Tempo
Begin with your left foot and step forward. Tap the ball of your right foot next to your left heal. Swing your right leg forward and kick it slightly forward. Swing your right leg forward again and kick it again slightly. Step behind your left foot with your right foot and kick your left foot slightly forward. Step behind your right foot with your left foot and kick your right foot slightly forward. Step diagonally back to the right on your right foot and step to the right on your left foot in front of your right foot. Shift your weight back onto your right foot and swing your left foot forward brushing the ball of your left foot next to your right foot as you swing past. Swing your left foot backward, brushing the ball of your left foot next to your right foot on your right side as you swing past and cross your right foot with your left foot. Repeat these steps as many times as you want.
In and Out and Left and Right
Step forward on your left foot and swing your right foot in a small arc around and in front of your left foot. Step your right foot in front of your left foot and step to the left with your left foot. Step to the left on your right foot behind your left foot and step to the left on your left foot. Step to the left on your right foot and place your right foot in front of your left foot. Repeat steps using opposite feet and then repeat again using the original footwork ending with a squat.
Slow Tempo
Step forward on your left foot. Swing your right foot forward with your foot about 12 inches off ground and bend your knee. Step your right foot in front of your left foot and squat. Straighten up from the squat and hold your right foot off the ground, bending your knee.
Step backward diagonally on your right foot and bend your knee while leaning backward with all your weight on your right foot. Keep your left leg straight with the heal on the ground but the toe off the ground.
Repeat once or twice from the beginning.
GREEK BELLY DANCING PRINCESS
Queensland’s most sought after Greek Peloponnesian Princess and Belly Dancer Nerissa, graces the Paniyiri stage again this year.
Nerissa is one of Queensland’s most sought after performing artists, instructors and choreographers. Neissa is recognised in both Australia and internationally as an exciting and innovative belly dance teacher. Nerissa, of Greek heritage, has had a lifelong passion for music and dance. This passion for learning has led Nerissa to Egypt, Greece, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey to study and observe the art form of belly dance from its cultures of origin.
When: Saturday 23 May at 3:20pm, Sunday 24 May at 3:10pm
Where: Channel Seven Stage
When: Saturday 23 May at 4:50pm*, 6:45pm, Sunday 24 May at 5:10pm*
Where: Main Stage
*performance is with DJ Kossi
