Antipodes 2024 – the Most Epic Celebration Is Back!
Get ready for an unforgettable experience as we bring you the most epic celebration of Greek culture!
Mark your calendars for Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th February 2024, because you won’t want to miss a single moment. We’re working tirelessly to bring an extraordinary line-up of performers, artists, stall holders and surprises that will leave you breathless. Prepare for an experience that will ignite your passion for Greek culture like never before!Spread the word and get ready to be a part of the most epic weekend ever! We can’t wait to share more exciting updates with you soon. Stay tuned!
ANTIPODES FESTIVAL, DELIVERS AN UNFORGETTABLE CELEBRATION OF ALL THINGS GREEK
The 35th Antipodes Festival came to a triumphant close on Sunday night following a two-day marathon of all things Greek that saw tens of thousands of people dance, eat and celebrate their way in the heart of the city.
The Festival, which is presented and organised by the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM), was one of the biggest yet and followed only 5 months after the 34th Antipodes which was held in October following the pandemic.
84 pop up market stalls featuring Greek food, retail, community groups, filled the historic Greek heart of Melbourne complemented by over 70 hours of entertainment on 3 stages carnival rides, ‘Karagiozi’ shadow theatre, the famed Hoplites, stilt walkers and street bands, cooking demonstrations and fun filled competitions that saw people win prizes including a trip to Greece for dancing, eating yoghurt and baklava!.
A highlight of weekend was the memorable headline performance of Greek singer Alkistis Protopsalti, whose stunning performance on the Bendigo Main Stage had the 10,000 strong crowd dancing into the night.
The festival was again well supported by officials representing all levels of government who were keen to express their support for the festival and the GCM at the official opening on Saturday night.
The President of the GCM Bill Papastergiadis OAM, took to the microphone and concluded the official opening saying “There is no better way to celebrate multiculturalism than with this festival. There is no better way to enjoy our beautiful cosmopolitan city than through this festival. There is no better showcase of Hellenism globally than the Antipodes Festival. There are a few figures and numbers that support all of this. We have 3 stages, we have 70 hours of programming across those stages, theatrical productions, dance groups, bands. Wonderful food, 85 stalls.500 performers, and over this weekend over a 100,000 people will visit this festival especially when we have Alkistis Protopsalti on stage there will tens of thousands here. The festival is more than numbers and figures, at the heart of this festival is the coming together of our Hellenic family celebrating its values, customs, and traditions with our broader Australian society. A true melting pot, here in Lonsdale Street, the historic heart of the Greek Community opposite our 15-storey building that proudly display on its façade the discus thrower and now the replicas of the Parthenon marbles provided to us by virtue of the Tsalikidis family and the Daniel Andrews government. So, these striking Hellenic symbols, such as our building, such as the replicas of the Parthenon marbles are brought to life through this festival. Melbourne is bathed in blue and white, creating memories and moments that I believe will last lifetimes. Let us all enjoy the festival.” .
The official opening was followed by the feature performance of Alkistis Protopsaltis to a packed Antipodes Festival crowd. Her performance was mesmerizing and unforgettable. Her exceptional vocal range, energy and intensity to the stage captivated the audience as they all came together and asked her to stay longer on the stage and she did not disappoint, as she stayed to perform one more song for the crowd to enjoy!
The Antipodes Festival was a true celebration of diversity, culture, and community, and it will continue to be a highlight of city of Melbourne calendar for many years to come.