The official program of events for the 43rd Greek Festival of Sydney has been released and it definitely doesn’t disappoint. The festival is an initiative of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW), proudly presented by the Bank of Sydney.
The program will run from February to May 2025 and will feature cultural exhibitions, book launches, music concerts, Greek festivals and more.
Full program of events:
Modern AθENS In The Backdrop Of Antiquity, Photographs by Petros Kaminiotis
An exhibition featuring the talented photographer Petros Kaminiotis, who will be here in person to present this collection of photographs focusing on contemporary Athens. It will spotlight the significant new developments in Greece’s capital, an area often overlooked by visitors. The exhibition aims to demonstrate how Athens is a continuously evolving major European capital, showcasing numerous examples of modernity alongside its exquisite antiquities
- 10am – 6pm, Tue 25 February – Sat 1 March 2025
- 10am-2pm, Sun 2 March 2025
- Official opening event Tue 25 Feb @ 6.30pm
- Luna Studio Art Gallery 465 King St Newtown, NSW 2042
- English / Greek
- FREE, No bookings required
Dionysios Solomos Awards Ceremony
This prestigious event is held to recognise the highest-ranking Greek language students in NSW in the presence of family, friends and distinguished guests. Awards will be presented to the top-ranking students in Modern and Classical Greek. This awards ceremony is proudly presented in partnership with the University of Sydney.
- 4:00pm, Sunday 9 March 2025
- MacLaurin Hall, Manning Road, The University of Sydney
- English / Greek
- FREE, No bookings required
Opou Gis kai Patris 2 – Greek Theatre
Directly from Greece for five performances only! The much-anticipated sequel to the acclaimed Greek comedy production “Opou Gis kai Patris” is coming to the Greek Festival of Sydney in early March 2025! Brought to life by the brilliant Konstantinos Kalymnios, Elena Tsefala, Vasilis Giavris and Stamatis Tzelepis, this theatrical masterpiece will take you on an emotional journey that celebrates the ties of home, heritage, and identity.
- 6-9 March
- Thu-Sat: 7.30pm
- Sun: 4.30pm & 7pm
- The Greek Theatre – Mantouridion
- $40+bf
- Book your tickets now at https://www.trybooking.com/CYOVC
The Greek-Australian Milk Bar: A Transnational History – Lecture by Effy Alexakis & Leonard Janiszewski
In 1932, Mick Adams (Joachim Tavlaridis) established the world’s first ‘modern’ milk bar – a refreshment retailing revolution that became one of the nation’s most popular cultural icons. The event has now finally been publicly recognised with the installation of a commemorative Green Plaque in Martin Place by the City of Sydney Council. This public lecture will discuss the concept’s elements, its expansion nationally and internationally, revealing migrant-settler entrepreneurship and how transnational, diasporic migrant experiences, particularly of modernity, can shape business retail innovation. Whilst milk bars have silently faded from our streetscapes, the ongoing power of their sociocultural symbolism remains.
- 6pm, Tuesday 11 March 2025
- Dixson Room, State Library Of New South Wales 1 Shakespeare Pl, Sydney NSW 2000
- Bookings essential via https://www.trybooking.com/CYPGD
Little Greece: Marrickville – Myths and Realities
With the Inner West Council’s naming part of the Marrickville Road shopping precinct “Little Greece”, this presentation examines the phases of the Greek experience in Marrickville from early Greek settlement in the pre-and post-World War II periods (1930-1959), through to the Greek Golden Era (1960-1985) and, more recently, a community in gradual demographic decline. It will highlight the significant contribution and impact of Marrickville’s Greek community to multicultural Australia, justifying the designation as “Little Greece”, and will discuss the future of the Greek presence in Marrickville.
- 6.30pm, Thursday 13 March 2025
- Pavilion, Marrickville Library, 313 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204
- Free Tickets, Bookings essential here
Greek Youth Comedy Gala
The Greek Festival of Sydney is proud to bring you the best up-and-coming Greek-Aussie standup comedians to Canterbury Leagues Club on Saturday, 15 March, hosted by Anthony Locascio – fresh from his hugely successful ‘Pappou’ tour and headlined by the one and only Eloise Eftos!
The pair will be joined by the talented Charisa Bossinakis, Stella Kappos, Korinna Gouros & Chris Demos, so expect a night of side-splitting laughs, classic Greek banter with a side of tongue-in-cheek! Tickets are just $35 (+ booking fee).
- Sat 15 March 6.30pm
- $35 + BF
Hellenic Horizons: Greek Women Leading the Path to Progress
Join us at the Greek Festival of Sydney’s International Women’s Day event, presented in collaboration with The Greek Herald, as we celebrate multigenerational Hellenic women who make significant contributions within Australia and globally.
Taking place on Sunday, March 16, this event will feature a dynamic discussion panel under the theme “March Forward” with inspiring speakers, including:
- Lieutenant Commander Pelagia Markogiannakis, Deputy Director Navy Infrastructure.
- Mary Konstantopoulos: Women’s sport advocate & Founder of ‘Ladies Who League.’
- Stefanie Costi: Anti-bullying lawyer.
Moderated by Andriana Simos, Digital Editor of The Greek Herald, our panellists will share their insights and success stories, inspiring others to march forward toward greater inclusion and a brighter future.
The event will also feature the announcement of the Greek Herald Woman of the Year award, along with the exciting new category, Woman to Watch, celebrating emerging young leaders and innovators from across Australia.
Renowned photographers Effy Alexakis and Yannis Dramitinos will also have an exhibition on display featuring inspiring photographs of Hellenic women in Australia.
- 3.30pm, Sunday 16 March
- The Grand Roxy, Reef Room, 128 The Grand Parade, Brighton-Le-Sands
- Free Tickets
- Bookings essential via https://www.trybooking.com/CYPIA
The 2025 Nicholas Aroney Democracy Lecture: Athenian Democracy – its evolution, values and modern relevance
The Hon Anthe Philippides, former judge of the Queensland Supreme Court will deliver the 2025 Aroney Democracy Lecture by examining ancient Athenian democracy and asking difficult questions of what and how we in the modern world may learn. Light refreshments will be served after the lecture.
- Tuesday, 18 March 2025, 6.00PM – 7.00PM
- $20 + BF (including light refreshments)
- Pavilion, Chau Chak Wing Museum University Place, Camperdown NSW 2050
- $20 +BF (including light refreshments)
- Bookings essential here
A Tribute to Stelios Kazantzidis – By Thanasis Pylarinos and Ensemble
- Thursday 20 Mar, 7pm
- The Factory Theatre
- $35 + BF
1974-2024: Fifty Years Of Democracy In The Birthplace Of Democracy – Lecture by the Consul-General of Greece Ioannis Mallikourtis and Professor Vrasidas Karalis
In July 1074, a momentous political shift took place in Greece, due to the Cyprus catastrophe, after the Turkish invasion. The Dictatorship collapsed and through certain ingenious political manoeuvres the third Hellenic Republic was announced after the return from Paris of the exiled former prime minister Constantine Karamanlis. Despite many problems, financial, social and political however the young republic gained strength and consolidated itself over the last fifty years, the most peaceful and stable decades in the history of the Greek nation-state.
The lecture explores precisely what happened during the last fifty years and why democracy was established after so many upheavals in the land where its was born. It also explores the central personalities that defined its trajectory, their policies and aspirations and finally attempts and interpretation of the factors that made the Greek nation state so unstable and volatile. It also attempts a prediction about its future within the geopolitical realities of Eastern Mediterranean and the rather pessimistic future of the European Union.
- 6.30pm, Thursday 27 March 2025
- The Barnet Long Room, Customs House 31 Alfred Street, Sydney 2000
- FREE
- Bookings essential via https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1347863
Vasilis Tsitanis & Sotiria Bellou
A musical Tribute by Estudiantina of Melbourne
- Sun 30 March
- Bankstown Sports Club
- 6.30pm – $35 + BF
Greek Writing In Australia: An Evening With The Authors (Panel Talk)
Writing in the Greek language has a long history in Sydney and new works are continually being published. In this event, Greek-language writers will present their work and discuss it with the audience. Taking part will be Yannis Dramitinos, whose bilingual ‘Divertente and Other Poems’ appeared in 2022; George Michelakakis, whose new book ‘Η φαντασιακή ζωή στην ιστορία του πολιτισμού’ has particular relevance to Greek creativity in Australia, and Adrian Kazas, whose poems were published under the title ‘Εκεί που φυσούν οι άνεμοι.’
- 7.00pm, Thursday 3 April 2025
- Greek Community Club, 206-210 Lakemba St Lakemba NSW 2195
- Greek
- FREE
- Bookings essential via https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1348160
Christopher Columbus by Nikos Kazantzakis
In Greek with English surtitles.
- 4 April – 4 May
- Fri & Sat 7:30pm / Sun: 5pm (no performances on Easter long weekend)
- The Greek Theatre at Addi Road – Mantouridion
- Bldg 36 Addison Rd Community Centre (142 Addison Rd)
- $35/$30. Book here: Hellenictheatre.com.au or call 0413 989 007
Greek Rock Tribute
IHO NYX Accompanied by Carly Yelayiotis
- Sunday 6 April, 6.30pm
- The Factory Theatre
- $35 + BF
The Ionian Islands: History and heritage – Illustrated talk by Alfred Vincent, music by Makis Voutsinas and Thanasis Pylarinos
The Ionian islands of Kefalonia, Zakynthos, Ithaki, Kerkyra, Paxoi and Lefkada, together with Kythera, have a special profile in the modern history and culture of Greece, owing to their geographical position and the experience of Venetian and then British rule. Having researched intensively on Greece under the Venetians, Alfred Vincent will describe some effects of this distinct history on the islands’ music, poetry, art and traditional life, as well as reminding us of Ionian contributions to Italian culture. The talk will be in Greek, with a detailed English summary and illustrations on Powerpoint.
- Greek Community Club, Lakemba (206-210 Lakemba Street, Lakemba)
- Wednesday, 9 April, 7pm
- Greek with English summary on PowerPoint
- FREE
- Bookings essential via https://www.trybooking.com/CYSIK
Leonard Cohen’s life and music on Hydra: The legacy of a legend – Lecture by Professor Vrasidas Karalis
In 1959, Leonard Cohen, the young unknown then musician and poet from Canada, went for the first time to the Greek island of Hydra where his spent the next decade and where he wrote some of his most popular and emblematic songs.
The lecture explores his residence on the island, his contact with the local population and the special form of cultural cosmopolitanism his inaugurated that became a global movement in the next decades. After he moved out, Cohen visited Hydra almost till the end of his life and always stressed that “his education in the world” started on that small island. The lecture attempts a brief assessment of his legend and artistic legacy by discussing his life and interactions with the locals and his memories from the island.
- 6.30pm, Thursday 10 April 2025
- Pavilion, Marrickville Library, 313 Marrickville Rd Marrickville NSW 2204
- FREE
- Bookings essential via https://www.eventbrite.com.au
SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAM – Mythos, the myths of Ancient Greece (Workshop)
The Chau Chak Wing Museum and the Greek Festival of Sydney present a series of children’s workshops designed to explore the world ancient Greek gods, goddesses, heroes and heroines!
Explore the myths of Ancient Greece in this school holiday program with archaeologists and ancient historians from the Chau Chak Wing Museum as we take you on a journey through the collection of vases, statues and other works of art of Ancient Greece.
Throughout the workshops, you’ll be able to:
- Handle ancient Greek artefacts and discover how archaeologists learn about the past
- Hear ancient mythological stories of gods, goddess and heroes
- Make your own ferocious monster
- Help decorate an ancient Greek vase with your favourite mythological scene
- Explore the museum for ancient heroes, goddesses and gods
These activities are perfect for children aged 6-12. Parents/guardians are required to stay with children throughout the session.
- Monday 14 April 2025 – Thursday 24 April 2025, 10.30am – 12.30pm
- Chau Chak Wing Museum, University Place, Camperdown NSW 2050
- Tickets $20 +BF per child (adults and carers free). Bookings essential here
Nikos Kazantzakis and Sri Aurobindo: A spiritual co-vision Solo art exhibition by Ouresis Todorovich (Uros T. Todorovic)
Dr Vassilis Adrahtas, along with Associate Professor Ouresis Todorovich (University of Macau), present an exhibition of the latter’s art, which envisions a dialogue between the writer Nikos Kazantzakis and the Indian thinker Sri Aurobindo. This event is organised by the Sydney Branch of the International Society of Friends of Nikos Kazantzakis with the aim of visualising the message of both intellectuals as an ascending movement towards the ever-increasing Divinity in human and cosmic life. Ultimately, the exhibition becomes a contemplative intercultural space that draws connections between existing information but also appreciates afresh ideas and cultures.
- Tuesday 22 April – Saturday 26 April 2025 10am – 6pm
- Official opening event Tuesday 22 April @ 6.30pm
- Sunday 27 April 2025 10am – 4pm
- Addi Road Stirrup Gallery, Building 13/142 Addison Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204
- FREE
- No bookings required
STELIOS – A film dedicated to Stelios Kazantzidis with Christos Mastoras (Australian Premiere screening)
- Wednesday 23 April
- Palace Cinema Moore Park
- Reception 6:30 pm / Film screens 7:30pm
- $60 + bf
- Tickets: palacecinemas.com.au
Greece and India: A Dialogue between Nikos Kazantzakis and Sri Aurobindo – Panel discussion and artbook launch
Six artists, the Art of Life Collective, have connected with Sri Aurobindo’s spiritual message through their teacher’s personal quest.
Dr Vassilis Adrahtas invited them to ‘talk’ with the Indian philosopher and Nikos Kazantzakis, since both promoted the integration of nature and consciousness.
The artists co-present this binding through the artbook Consciousness’ Journey to the Transcendent: Turning the Finite to Infinity. It’s launching accompanies a discussion and Q&A organized by the International Society of Friends of Nikos Kazantzakis (Sydney branch), on Kazantzakis’ affinities with Aurobindo and other Indian thinkers. Coordinated by Themi Kallos, it features Dr Vasilis Adrahtas, Dr Alfred Vincent and specialists on Indian thought.
- Wednesday 23 April, 6.30pm
- Pavilion, Marrickville Library, 313 Marrickville road, Marrickville
- FREE
- Bookings essential via https://www.eventbrite.com.au
Greek cities in the Eastern Mediterranean: Local, Greek and Roman heritages in urban landscapes and the role of excavation history – Lecture by Professor Rubina Raja
The archaeological legacy of Greek urban design in the cities of the ancient Near East and eastern Mediterranean.
Explore the cultural layers of the urban centres of the eastern Mediterranean with one of the world’s leading urban archaeologists.
This lecture revisits some of these long-established centres of the Greek and Roman Near East, and the various ancient peoples who inhabited them. It traces, through the archaeology and historical sources, the transformation of these cities over centuries – also those before the Romans arrived – and asks in which ways we can begin to disentangle the various cultural impacts and legacies visible and invisibly embedded into the fabric of these urban centres.
- Thursday 24 April 2025, 6.00pm
- Chau Chak Wing Museum, University Place, Camperdown NSW 2050
- $10 +BF
- Bookings essential here.
Greek Australian Writer’s Festival
Director: Dr. Helen Vatsikopoulos, Professional Fellow, UTS
Deputy director: Dr. Vasiliki Veros
The biggest Greek-Australian Writers’ Festival yet, with parallel sessions and the launching of two new books. Works presented will include contemporary storytelling, photography books, retellings of Greek mythology, memoirs, and a study in psychology.
- Sunday 27 April, 9am – 6pm
- $15 + BF
- FREE
- Book here: https://www.trybooking.com/CYRBU
Photographic exhibition by Eirini Alligiannis
The exhibition and the related book explore urban culture through photography, graffiti and movement. The first chapter is inspired by Aligiannis’ award-winning short documentary Louie (KR. ONE)
Gasparro 5PointZ, featuring images of graffiti captured at the iconic 5Pointz, before the walls were whitewashed and the building demolished. The energy of this space is amplified by breakdancer Ze Motion, who echoes the artistry of the graffiti. The second chapter shifts to Brooklyn’s Bushwick Collective, where artists can still come to create. Through bold graffiti and the dynamic presence of Ze Motion, it highlights the energy and accessibility of New York’s street art.
- Tue 29 April – Sun 1 May 2025, 10am – 6pm
- Official opening event Tue 29 April @ 6.30pm
- Sun 4 May 2025, 10am-4pm Luna Studio Art Gallery (465 King Street, Newtown, NSW 2042)
- FREE
- No bookings required
From Ancient to Modern Wines – Greek Wine Tasting Event
In this evening of celebrating Greek wines hear a number of short talks from archaeologists and historians about the important role of wine in the ancient Greek world and how this manifest itself in the way Greeks engaged with the gift of Dionysos.
Then courtesy of the Greek Trade Commission join us for a wine tasting event, in which we sample a variety of wines from vineyards across Greece and celebrate the legacy of Hellenic wine from ancient to modern.
- Thu 1 April 2025 | 6.00pm
- Chau Chak Wing Museum, University Place, Camperdown NSW 2050
- Book tickets $20 +BF
2nd Greek Youth Creative Arts Competition – Awards Ceremony
As an integral part of the 43rd Greek Festival of Sydney an exciting youth project has been announced; the 2nd Greek Youth Creative Arts Competition. The competition, an extraordinary platform for burgeoning talents to shine, will commence between December 2024 – March 2025 in Arts, Writing, Music and Performing with submissions in 3 different age categories (12-15, 16-18, 19-24 Y.O.). All Greek and Greek-at-heart Youth of NSW are urged to submit their artwork by 31st March 2025.
- 2:00pm Sunday 4 May 2025
- Chau Chak Wing Museum, University Place Camperdown NSW 2050
- FREE
- Bookings essential via https://trybooking.com/events/landing/1349405
Τα Κινηματογραφικά – Songstresses of the Golden Age of Greek Cinema
A concert featuring: Vocalist: Dioni Vertzayas and Conductor: George Ellis
- Sun 11 May 2025 | 6:30pm
- Conservatorium of Music, Verbrugghen Hall (1 Conservatorium Rd, Sydney)
- Tickets from $60 +BF
