Paniyiri Greek Festival 2019

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 43rd year on Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19, 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, last year's Paniyiri introduced a Santorini lounge bar, designed to make you think you're thousands of kilometres away — so here's hoping it makes a return. Either way, there'll be more than 30 authentic Greek food stalls, plus art displays, traditional and modern music, and fun extending over to the Greek Club.

Tickets are on sale now, with both one-day ($12) and weekend-long ($20) options on offer.

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