Preston market Greek Day celebrates with dance, food and music

With authentic food, music and dance, the Preston market is set to be transformed into a piece of Greece with a huge celebratory free event.

Greek Day celebrations will take over Preston market this month, with traditional dance, music and food. ​

A beloved local market in Melbourne’s north will be transformed into a slice of Greece with a huge free multicultural celebration event.

Greek Day will be held on April 30 at Preston market – an all-day event with live entertainment, cooking demonstrations, tastings, traditional food and more.

It’s a return for the event after a four-year hiatus due to the pandemic, with locals and market workers alike excited for the return.

A highlight of the event will be traditional dance performances from the Manasis School of Greek Dance Performance and Culture – with performances throughout the day featuring vibrant, authentic costumes and choreography.

The event will also include a live cooking demonstration from 11am by ex-MasterChef contestant Amir Manoly, with spanakopita on the menu and free tastings for attendees.

Traditional Greek dancers will feature at the Preston market event.

The line up also has family-friendly activities aimed for kids including face painting and a Mediterranean vegetables and herbs workshop.

The usual Preston market food vendors will be open, as well as specialty food offerings for the event.

Market vendor Peter Vafeas, who has worked at the Preston market for 39 years, said events like Greek day helped local businesses a lot.

“It's very good, it draws in people and showcases certain parts of each community with dancing, music and food,” Mr Vafeas said.

He said the highlight of the event would be the vibrant atmosphere.

“We used to have big things with huge crowds all over the place … but it slowed down for a while, (so) this is very good, it draws in people and showcases certain parts of the community.

“It (shows) the vibrancy and all the good things that are in the precinct of the Preston market, it shows off the market itself and spreads the word.”

Greek Day will be held at the Preston Market on Sunday, April 30 from 11am to 3pm.