As you may be aware, on 22nd + 23rd February the Greek Community of Melbourne will be presenting its annual cultural event, Antipodes 2024 | the Lonsdale St. Greek Festival.

The award-winning Festival is the largest celebration of Greek culture outside of Greece and is presented in the historical Greek Quarter of Melbourne in the shadows of the Greek Centre (corner Lonsdale and Russel Streets).

The Festival is a cosmopolitan venture featuring family friendly entertainment across 3 stages, cooking demonstrations, dance, music, street theatre and children’s performances, competitions, and lots of community activities.

The Festival in 2024 will once again set up shop along Lonsdale Street between Swanston Streets through to Jones Lane – just west of Exhibition Street with the inclusion of the Golden Square Open Carpark. Russell Street is also closed between Little Lonsdale & Little Bourke Streets although access to both QV and the Wilson Parking car park at Mantra on Russell Street in open. Please note that a Tow Away Zone has been gazetted for the Festival site that will come into effect at 9AM on Friday 21 February.

We have applied for an event permit with the City of Melbourne and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), and we intend on meeting all the conditions and following all the requirements of the permit, including monitoring noise levels to be kept under 65dBA.

The Festival will start building at 10pm on Friday 21 February & will have packed up on 5am on Monday 24 February.

The Festival’s trading hours are 10am to 11pm on Saturday & 10am to 10pm on Sunday.

Public Transport in and around Lonsdale St will be affected. Of note is the bus stop on Lonsdale St nearest to Swanston St with bus services on routes 200, 207, 250 and 251 now terminating and commencing at the Lonsdale & Spring St stop and services 302, 304, 905, 906 & 907 now terminating & commencing at the Lonsdale & Exhibition St stop.

Please consult the PTV Journey Planner for the latest information on public transport diversions & schedules- https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/journey/

To our business neighbours, whilst we will be posting on our website, social media & beyond about the event, can we suggest that you notify your customers that the event is on & traffic conditions are altered & access may be different.

Please see a site map overleaf that shows the significant street closure for the festival.

Should you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Antonia Tsamis at the Greek Community office on 9662 2722 or email antonia@greekcommunity.com.au

More information on the event is also available via our website www.antipodesfestival.com.au

You can also contact Ana Martinez, Coordinator Events Operations at the City of Melbourne on 9658 9658 or email ana.martinez@melbourne.vic.gov.au

Kindest Regards,

Jorge Menidis | Festival Director