The Let’s Go Greek Festival Parramatta is promising to deliver another immense celebration of Hellenic culture in Sydney’s west, with this year’s event including a 500kg yeeros and a much-anticipated performance by singer Giannis Ploutarhos.
The Festival, organised by the Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of St John the Forerunner, will host its 11th edition with an all-day celebration from 11am-9.30pm at Parramatta’s George St on Sunday 21 September.
This year’s event is headlined by famed Greek vocalist Giannis Ploutarhos, who will be accompanied by his daughter Katerina and his full band to deliver a lively concert to the expected thousands in attendance.
“We are very excited to welcome Giannis Ploutarhos to this year’s festival,” said George Londos, the Operations and Event Manager for the Parramatta-based fest, to Neos Kosmos.
“He is one of the most famous voices of modern Greek music, and having him perform here in Parramatta is a dream come true for us and the community.”
Adding to this year’s spectacle will be an attempt to set a Southern Hemisphere record for biggest yeeros, with Victoria Yeeros providing a 500kg version for the festival that will be carved and shared with the attendees.
Londos noted that it represents the festival’s desire to be innovative and bring fresh ideas.
“The idea of the 500kg yeeros originated from our desire to create something truly unique, unforgettable, and spectacular that would celebrate one of Greece’s most iconic foods while capturing the imagination of the crowd,” he said.
“We wanted to add a fun, record-breaking element to this year’s festival, and our amazing partner Victoria Yeeros has stepped up to deliver this incredible result. Together, we’re bringing something bold, delicious, and deeply Greek to the heart of Parramatta.”
The festival has grown into a major event of the cultural calendar, which Londos expressed is testament to the hard work of its participants and volunteers.
“We are very proud of the growth of our Parramatta Festival. To see our vision expand year after year and be embraced so warmly by both the local community and the wider public is deeply rewarding,” he said.
“For us and our volunteers, it means so much to have created a celebration that is now firmly established as a key part of Sydney’s cultural calendar. It is the greatest recognition of the months of hard work by the Let’s Go Greek Festival team.”
The day will feature a comprehensive list of food and market stalls amounting to 80 alongside a wide program of entertainment that includes numerous dance groups and live bands.
The festival will also feature other types of fun, like carnival rides, farm animals, face painting and a fireworks display in the evening.
