The inaugural Grattan Street Paniyiri amassed nearly 1,000 people in what served as a grand finale of the 17th Odyssey Festival in South Australia.
The Paniyiri wrapped up this year’s Festival event, organised by the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia(GOCSA), with people all swarming to Grattan Street for the event this past Saturday (2 November).
The Paniyiri, which was itself organised by Neoléa and the GOCSA Dance Academy, celebrated the Greek community’s existence in South Australia for over a century and included plenty of food, market stalls, traditional dances performed by the Dance Academy’s dancers and the music of the 7-piece band Omados & Friends.
GOCSA’s Vice President Peter Gonis expressed appreciation to all the volunteers and supporters of the event, calling it a “celebration of our rich heritage, our traditions, and our community”.
“It is also an opportunity to celebrate our next generation – our neolaia. We celebrate those young people in our community ready to take the reins, embracing their heritage, and following in the footsteps of their yiayiades and pappoudes,” Gonis said.
Cultural Committee Chair Hellas Lucas expressed her gratitude to all the people who contributed to the 2024 Odyssey Greek Festival, and thanked Dance Academy’s Artistic Director Yiannis Oikonomou for his valuable contribution to the organisation.
Mira El Dannawi MLC, representing South Australia’s Premier Peter Malinauskas and Minister for Multicultural Affairs Zoe Bettison, particularly noted the Greek community’s warm hospitality and enduring spirit.
City of Adelaide Lord Mayor Dr Jane Lomax-Smith thanked GOCSA for adding vibrancy to the city’s character, while Consul General of Greece in Adelaide, Dr Alexandra Theodoropoulou, highlighted the importance of community get-togethers for maintaining cultural identity.
Neoléa’s Mikayla Bolkus stressed that “for us, the Neoléa, it is more than just showing up.”
“We are here to learn from and continue what our parents and grandparents started, ready to carry these traditions forward,” Bolkus said.
“Helping alongside the people behind the events I loved as a kid is truly special. Taking the time to learn from them is essential for us to build on what our community has created, ensuring that events like the Paniyiri continue for future generations.”
