Darwin City: Greek GLENTI festival 2024 draws thousands of Territorians

The sweet aroma of souvlaki and the sound of the zorba drifted across the city as GLENTI took over Darwin. See all the pictures.

Iliah Marylos, Sophia Makrylos and Zac Kontzionis and Kosta Boubaris at Darwin's 2024 Greek GLENTI festival.

The sweet aroma of souvlaki and tzatziki drifted across Darwin city as North Australia’s biggest Greek festival kicked off.

On Saturday, Darwin’s Greek GLENTI event delivered another spectacular show, with authentic music, dance, costumes and cuisine packed into Bicentennial Park.

Queues for drinks and food snaked between tables which overflowed with platters of grilled meat and salad as families enjoyed the rich wonders of Darwin’s Mediterranean community.

Darwin Olympic Soccer Club president Nik Halkitis said the event had drawn “good” numbers.

“Yeah, another great turnout that’s for sure,” he told the NT News.

“Also (a lot) of volunteers, plenty of people getting behind it.”

For tourist Mark Collier, the event was a pleasant surprise.

“I didn’t know this was on, I looked out the hotel window and saw there were gazebos and stalls being pitched and wanted to see what was happening,” he said.

“It’s a nice event, I didn’t know Darwin had much of a multicultural community.”

For attendees, finding a car park and a table was the biggest challenge, with hundreds of people coming and going throughout the afternoon.

As the day heated up, more beer cans and cups of wine could be seen in-hand, with the dance festivities also turning up a notch.

“Who wants to come join the zorba?” a voice could be heard over the PA system.

“It’s easy, we’ll start slow then crank it up.”

The masses failed to budge, prompting the MC to try a sly trick on the reticent crowd.

“Okay, who wants two free tickets to Athens?”

John Skoufezis and Charlie Vlamos prepping a big feed at Darwin's 2024 Greek GLENTI festival.

Octopus and squid was available at Darwin's 2024 Greek GLENTI festival.

Darwin's 2024 Greek GLENTI festival had plenty of food, drink, and dance for Territorians to enjoy at Darwin's 2024 Greek GLENTI festival.

Anna Boubaris, Mario Cameirao, Matt Englund and Hellenic FC president Kosta Boubaris at Darwin's 2024 Greek GLENTI festival.

Darwin Olympic SC had plenty of lamb, pork and beef to serve up at Darwin's 2024 Greek GLENTI festival.

Kids enjoying a Cocomelon special at Darwin's 2024 Greek GLENTI festival.

Christiano Da Costa and Foundi Gbekou at Darwin's 2024 Greek GLENTI festival.

Grilling, boiling and frying at Darwin's 2024 Greek GLENTI festival.

Mark Jackson and Michael Petrakis on the grill.

It’s not a GLENTI without a mention of Kalymnos.

Daniele Ferri, Larry Niyukuri, Ponloue Yin, Samuel Kawana and Jim Simisakaki at Darwin's 2024 Greek GLENTI festival.

Hellenic Football Club had racks of meat to cook through.

Best mates hooking into a big day of food prep at Darwin's 2024 Greek GLENTI festival.

Arafin Rahat Talukdar and a monster at the haunted house.

Themelis Tsougranis on the fryer.

Seafood was a big hit at GLENTI.

Harris enjoying the rides on-site.

The lines were constants at Darwin's 2024 Greek GLENTI festival.

Lines were constant at Darwin's 2024 Greek GLENTI festival.

Families flocked the gazebo to eat together.

Thousands of years worth of Greek history – there was almost too much to read through.

Kaliopi Psara and Nomiki Moussa at Darwin's 2024 Greek GLENTI festival.

Orthodox merchandise was in no short supply.

James Harley, Kobi Jennings, Sam Briceno Rossi, John Halikos and Kosta Karpasiti.

The grill was put to work all day.

An average stall at GLENTI.

Originally published as Darwin City: Greek GLENTI festival 2024 draws thousands of Territorians