The annual St John’s Greek Festival in Cairns, Australia will be held this Sunday, 24 June, with lots of Greek food, pastries, competitions, plate smashing, olive spitting, live music, non-stop dancing, laughter and fun for the entire family!
The Greek festival has become an exciting event and much anticipated in the Cairns Community of Redlynch, since it first commenced in 2012.
Effie Bacalakis, a member of the Greek Festival Committee for the past six years, says this year’s event will be “bigger and better than anything we’ve seen before…at the Greek Festival, people feel a sense of belonging through the traditions, the music and the sharing of Greek food – they get a sense of travelling to Greece without leaving the Far North”.
The one day event has so many performances and activities. Not only will there be Greek dance performances, there will also be a wide array of entertainment from local talent including the Cypriot dance group, belly dancing, Latin American Folklore, Japanese dancers, and inspiring drumming just to name a few. Not to mention, the Greek cooking demonstrations, informative church tours, traditional plate smashing and interactive traditional dancing opportunities throughout the day.
This family friendly event will also include a jumping castle, children’s performances, popular treasure hunts, lucky dip prizes, day care stall, clown entertainment and ‘zoo to you’ performances.
Raffle tickets will also be on sale throughout the day, with the grand prize being a trip for two to Singapore, thanks to Cairns Central Travel.
The history of Greek culture in Far North Queensland goes back to the 1870s and peaked after the turn of the 20th century, when several families arrived in the Far North and found work as cane cutters, in mines or became shop owners and caterers. The progressive, independent attitude of these migrants lives on in their ancestors today, and the Greek Festival showcases their spirit and commitment to community.
All money raised from the day goes back to the amazing services that St John’s provides to the local community – so if you are in Cairns, make your way down to this year’s St John’s Greek Festival.
What: St John’s Greek Festival
Where: Cnr Kamerunga and Fairweather roads, Redlynch
When: Sunday 24th June 2018
Time: 10am to 4.30pm
Cost: Entry via gold coin donation
More details: stjohnscommunitycare.org or PH: (07) 4039 9700
