Paniyiri 2025 kicked off with a few showers and grey skies, but true to Brisbane form and the spirit of the festival, the weather cleared and the weekend turned into an unforgettable celebration of culture, food and community.
This year, the Madd team was proud to roll up our sleeves and volunteer across the weekend in the food tents, helping serve traditional dishes, chatting with festivalgoers and being part of something truly special. Giving back to the community that supports us is a big part of who we are and being involved in an event like Paniyiri is always a highlight on our calendar.
The weekend kicked off with a bit of fun as George jumped into the honey puff-eating competition — not quite taking the win, but giving it a solid effort! From there, he joined his wife Kristala and celebrity chef George Diakomichalis for a live cooking demo at The Greek Club, where they shared their family’s beloved sheftalies recipe with the crowd. It was a great way to connect through food and tradition and set the tone for what turned out to be an incredible weekend of celebration.
With thousands turning out to dance, eat and celebrate, the festival was a powerful reminder of how food and culture bring people together and how volunteering your time, even just for a few hours, can make a real difference. The sense of connection, laughter and community spirit was felt in every corner of Musgrave Park.
Events like Paniyiri are more than just a weekend of fun — they’re a chance to support local causes and show up for the communities that shape who we are. We were honoured to play a small part in this year’s festival and are already counting down to 2026, Paniyiri’s 50th year and one that’s sure to be the biggest celebration yet.
