The annual Let’s Go Greek Festival did not disappoint and attracted thousands of people to the heart of Western Sydney for a wonderful event showcasing Hellenic culture.

The festival, organised by the Greek Orthodox Parish and Community of St John the Baptist, took place for the tenth time on Sunday 8th August and took over George St in Parramatta, with a wide range of food stalls, markets and entertainment on offer.

The day featured a number of musical and dance performances, including an evening performance by Greek singer Konstantinos Pantelidiss (who is in Australia on his first tour of the country).

In addition to the rich cultural offering of the Festival, the programme also included carnival rides, a fireworks display and a lottery.

The official part of the ceremony began in the afternoon and speeches were given by many official guests to commemorate the occasion.

The Greek Consul General in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis, once again emphasised the importance of preserving the Greek language, noting that three out of four Greeks in Australia were born in Australia.

He appealed to people aged 40-50 to take further initiatives to help maintain the language.

“The language is gradually disappearing and I see it every day at the consulate. We have to do more and offer more services,” Mallikourtis said in Greek, keeping his tone consistent with the meaning of his message.

“I know we are always late for meetings and that there is a big demand for Greek passports, but if you want to get a Greek passport, you have to make an effort to speak Greek.”

Steve Kamper, NSW Minister for Small Business, Land and Property, Multiculturalism and Sport, expressed great enthusiasm about taking part in the event, given his background as a third-generation Greek-Australian.

“Furthermore, being here at one of the best events in town, the Let’s Go Greek Festival in Parramatta, is a very personal experience for me,” said Kamper, who also represented New South Wales Premier Chris Minns.

New South Wales Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the Festival was “a grand celebration of all things Greek in modern history”.

Kosmas Demetriou, president of the local parish and community, summed up the ten-year history of the Festival by saying that it is “bigger than any one of us and it is an honour to be part of it”.

“We appreciate the continued support from all levels of government over the past ten years and we know it will continue into the future,” Demetriou said.

The ceremony was also attended by other distinguished guests: Father Irenaeus Triantis, representing the Archbishop of Australia, Makarios, the Federal Member of Parliament for Parramatta, Andrew Charlton, representing the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, as well as a number of other representatives of local and state authorities and members of community organisations.