Paniyiri Greek Festival 2018

Overview

For two days each May, most of Brisbane heads to Musgrave Park to pretend they're in the Mediterranean. Yes, it's Paniyiri time again, with the city's massive Greek festival taking over West End with quite the array of food, drink, partying and more. There's a reason that more than two million people have gone along over the past four decades.

In the event's massive 42nd year, expect the usual array of Greek revelry — grapes to stomp, coffee to sip and plates to smash, plus TV stars to rub shoulders with and cooking demonstrations to watch, too. And, it wouldn't be Paniyiri without everyone's favourite entertaining displays. If dancing is more your style, watch Greek Dancing with the Stars or catch the Hellenic dancers. If devouring as much as you can is your idea of fun, take part in the festival's regular food contests. Can you eat more olives or honey puffs than anyone else? Here's your chance to find out.

Because you're never too old to try new things, Paniyiri 2018 will also feature a Santorini lounge bar, designed to make you think you're thousands of kilometres away. Other highlights include more than 30 authentic Greek food stalls, the return of last year's The Plateia — complete with traditional Greek coffee, a sweet shop, a seafood taverna, fresh oysters, a pie shop and an Ouzeri, aka a wine bar — plus art displays, traditional and modern music and an after party at the Greek Club.

And, as always, there'll be an abundance of haloumi, calamari and dolmades as well. Arrive hungry.