Dancers perform in the streets of North Hobart at the 17th annual Greek Estia street festival
Traditional Greek cuisine sold out and red and white wines from the hillsides of the Mediterranean were flowing alongside traditional spirits such as ouzo, retsina and raiki.
Nearly 8000 people lapped up more than just the atmosphere at the 17th annual event in North Hobart.
Sam Regas cooked 250kg of the hot favourite, traditionally cooked and marinated octopus, which sold out in less than three hours.
“I remember 20 years ago when no one in Hobart would eat octopus, now they happily line up for it,” Mr Regas said.
“We started preparing this at 9am yesterday and as soon as we opened today they were eating it faster than we could cook it.”
Grandmother Sasa Tsagaris has cooked traditional Greek cakes for the festival every year since its inception.
“We started baking weeks ago and we have baked thousands of cakes, 6000 kourabiedes and baklava alone,” Mrs Tsagaris said.
“Every year 17 ladies come together, we look forward to it, and now we are teaching our daughters the tradition.”
Alongside the Greek produce, travel and book stalls filled Federal St and the grounds of the Greek club, creating a fair-like atmosphere.
More then 50 dancers performed traditional Greek dances to the delight of the crowds. Music from local Greek bands filled the air.
Estia Greek festival chairwoman Anna Pafitis said this year’s street festival was the biggest and best ever.
“It’s a very proud time of year for the Greek community, and a time to celebrate our culture,” Ms Pafitis said.
(source: mercury, foto: Nkki Davis)
