Overview
If spending two days feasting on loukoumades, souvlaki and haloumi was on your autumn agenda — enjoying Paniyiri's first full event since 2019, too — the weather comes bearing bad news. As everyone in Brisbane has noticed, it has been wet over the past week. Yes, again. And, due to the conditions, the city's beloved Greek festival is moving its dates until spring instead.
Paniyiri was due to take place across Saturday, May 21–Sunday, May 22 at West End's Musgrave Park, making a proper comeback after two pandemic-interrupted years — with the 2020 event cancelled and the 2021 fest opting for a scaled-down and largely online format. But the soggy weather, including forecast rain right through until the fest's dates, has wreaked havoc. So, you'll now need to mark Saturday, October 15–Sunday, October 16 in your diary.
"We are disappointed to have to make this decision, particularly for the community groups and charities who rely on Paniyiri as their major fundraiser; as well as all the vendors, sponsors, and the team behind the scenes and for all the people who were looking forward to coming to this, particularly given the last two years," said Paniyiri Organising Committee Chairman Chris Kazonis in a statement.
"But the good news is, we will be back bigger and better than ever on October 15 and 16 at Musgrave Park, and we are encouraging everyone who has pre-purchased their tickets to hold onto them as they will be valid."
"Unfortunately, this is the one element of an outside festival that we can't control. This decision was not made lightly and ultimately took into account patron, stallholder, talent, volunteers and staff safety given the current weather forecast," Kazonis continued.
When it does return later in October, Brisbane's massive Greek fest will take over West End with quite the array of food, drink, partying and more. Yes, there's a reason that more than two million people have gone along over the years.
Think: grapes to stomp, coffee to sip, olives to consume and plates to smash, plus TV stars to rub shoulders with and cooking demonstrations to watch.
Food-wise, more than 20 stalls will serve up bites from 11 Greek regions, including an abundance of loukoumades, souvlaki, haloumi and barbecued calamari. If devouring as much as you can is your idea of fun, the festival's regular food contests usually keep stomachs satisfied. Then, to wash all of that down, there'll be Greek wine, Greek beer and Greek-inspired cocktails as well.
Of course, it wouldn't be Paniyiri without entertainment. Dancing is always a big feature, all thanks to Greek Dancing with the Stars and the Hellenic dancers.
In addition to celebrating all things Greek in Musgrave Park, Paniyiri also takes over The Greek Club — and given that it's now marking its first regular fest in more than two years, expect both venues to host one massive shindig when October rolls around.
Paniyiri 2022 will now take place from Saturday, October 15–Sunday, October 16 at Musgrave Park and The Greek Club, Edmondstone Street, South Brisbane. For more information, head to the event's website.