OPA! It's been two years … but the REAL Glenti is back

There is something that happens in Darwin around this time each year.

There is a buzz in the air.

Temperatures have dropped and dragonflies are aplenty.

Events and festivals start to fill our weekends.

Mid-year holidays are almost upon us. Friends seem happier.

And that sweet, sweet aroma of Greek souvla permeating from Darwin's CBD means it could only be one thing … the spectacular Greek Glenti is back for another year.

But this year it will be extra special.

Because after a two year hiatus - due in part to Covid - the most popular event on Darwin's dry season calendar has finally made its way back to the Darwin Esplanade.

And it will be a ripper.

Anyone that knows anything about the Darwin Glenti would know the name Lilliane Gomatos.

Lilliane at an earlier Darwin Glenti with the iconic Dora the Explorer - a regular to the Glenti!

The Darwin Glenti owes its origins to the Darwin Greek Orthodox Community's first official committee - which Lilliane was at the helm of back in 1988.

In fact, Lilliane was the first - and to date only - female President of the committee.

And at 78 she is still going strong.

"I'll be doing this until I drop”, Lillianne laughs.

"There is something truly special about the Greek Glenti. It really is the pride of the Greek community. Actually, it’s the pride of Darwin.

“It binds people. It unites all the clubs and associations and allows us to share our culture with our wider Darwin community.

“It is without a doubt, the best Glenti in all of Australia.

“And it just gets bigger and better every single year”.

Indeed it does.

The Glenti’s origins go back to 1988, when the Federal Government at the time was seeking multicultural involvement in celebrating Australia’s bicentenary.

Back then the Government provided a small grant of $5000 to the Greek Orthodox Community to put a glenti - which means celebration - on at the Nightcliff Greek School.

“It was actually a pretty special first Glenti - we held a naturalisation ceremony for new Australian citizens, and it was the first time one of these citizenship ceremonies had been held outside of official chambers. We received permission to do it and it was very meaningful timing it with the first Glenti in Darwin.”

After a successful first year - which attracted a few thousand people - the event was moved to the Esplanade in 1989 where it has continued to soar in popularity.

Glenti preparations are always a big deal!

So popular in fact, that in 2001, just before Lilliane became the Chair of the Committee, she successful lobbied to turn it into a two-day event.

“It was so much smaller and it attracted so many people on the Sunday.

“So I approached some of the stall holders and said ‘look -you all work so hard to have a Glenti happen and all that effort just for half a day - how about we make it two days?’.

“And then it went from there.

“Now there are people who come up from interstate for it every single year with their families - and they all tell me the same thing: this is the best Glenti in the country.”

Sentiments Darwin’s Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis echoes.

“The Greek Glenti is one of the greatest celebrations of Greek culture and lifestyle,” he says.

“And we love to share it with our community in this tropical North of Australia - miles away from our homeland in the Aegean sea.”

Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis at Darwin Glenti

These days, the two-day extravaganza attracts up to 45,000 people onto the Esplanade over two days.

Along with traditional Greek food - including the popular souvlas turning on spits in droves - the Glenti showcases some of the best Greek dancers in the Territory, with various dance groups entertaining revellers all weekend.

Over the years it has grown into more of a carnival theme, with sideshow alleys, petting stations and jumping castles for kids.

Lilliane - whose eldest daughter Elena has also become integral to the Glenti’s organising committee - attributes the popularity to the core of the Glenti remaining unchanged.

Lilliane with daughter’s Elena and Maryanne.

“Our youth and our generations before have helped it grow stronger and stronger - but importantly it has kept that uniqueness that makes it the Darwin Glenti,” she says.

“Ultimately my favourite part of the Glenti will always remain - and that is watching the young kids on stage dancing and promoting all our ethnic dances.”

So much so has the Glenti become such an ingrained part of the Dry Season culture in the Top End, that when it was cancelled during Covid, the impact was felt deeply.

“For me personally, I was devastated. Not having it over two years (last year a smaller version was held outside of the CBD) impacted a lot of us.

“There were many sad people that year … it didn’t feel like Darwin.

“And this is why I know this year will be the best one yet. We’ve been waiting for two years.

“Our iconic Glenti is back. And it is here to stay”.

And aren’t we all happy for that. Opa!

The Greek Glenti will run over two full days on the Darwin Esplanade, Saturday June 10 and Sunday June 11.