The Inner West’s largest Cyprus Food and Wine Festival kicks off on Sunday, November 19 at the Cyprus Community Club in Stanmore, Sydney.
In 2022, over 5,000 people visited the festival, which was officially opened by the Mayor of Inner West Council, Darcy Byrne and Member for Newtown, Jenny Leong MP. It was the go-to place for all Cypriot delicacies and drinks, dancing, singing and traditional music.
For over 50 years the Cyprus Club has organised this festival homage to the wines and foods of Cyprus – an island that was the homeland of the Greeks with over 35 centuries of wine-making tradition, the oldest continuous tradition of wine-making on earth.
The Cyprus Food and Wine Festival is a celebration of the Inner West, a showcase for local producers, a time to sing, dance and enjoy the company of others, and be thankful.
“This year there will be record number of stalls,” Festival Director, Andrew Paschali, said.
“We are really proud the community has come together to celebrate our heritage, we are humbled that the festival is now on the “must go” list of many.
“It’s very unique, it’s one of a kind in the state, beyond any suburb. It attracts people from as far as Newcastle and Wollongong. It’s a major event not just a Geek event. It’s an event that brings all Australians together.”
Mr Paschali also thanked all the supporters of the Festival and volunteers, including the High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus in Australia; the Mayor of Inner West Council; the Lord Mayor of Limassol in Cyprus; NSW and Federal members of Parliament; the Board of the Cyprus Community of NSW Ltd; the teachers, parents and students of the Cyprus Community Dancing School, Cyprus Community Greek School and Community Soccer Club Inner West Hawks; the Justice for Cyprus Committee (SEKA); Greek community leaders; the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia; and the Festival Organising Committee.
President of the Cyprus Community of NSW, Andrew Costa, added that a quote by well-know foodie and wine lover Epicurus from 300BC sums up this year’s festival theme perfectly: “We should look for someone to eat and drink with before looking for something to eat and drink.”
