Konstantinos Argiros amazes audiences
A record breaking number of visitors descended onto Lee Valley Athletics Centre over the Bank Holiday weekend to celebrate the 36th Cypriot Wine Festival & Business Expo, the London Cypriot community’s biggest annual event organised by Parikiaki.
Throughout the two-day extravaganza, Cypriots from all over London and further afield, as well as hundreds of non-Cypriots, were able to experience all things Cypriot – from soutziouko and KEO beer to souvlakia and Commandaria!
The event was officially opened on Sunday 27th May with speeches by Cyprus High Commissioner in the UK Euripides Evriviades, Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of AKEL Nikos Ioannou, Bishop Athanasios of Tropeaou on behalf of Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira and Great Britain and Parikiaki’s Managing Director & General Secretary of AKEL in Britain Bambos Charalambous.
A message by Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Overseas Cypriots Fotis Fotiou who was unable to attend, was read out by Parikiaki’s George Michaelides.
Other distinguished guests included Labour MP Bambos Charalambous, President of POMAK Andreas Papaevripides, President of the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK Christos Karaolis, Mayor of Cambridge George Pippas, Organising Secretary of AKEL in Britain Andreas Gregoriou, Chair of the Cypriot Community Centre Suzie Constantinides, local councillors and members of community associations and organisations.
In his address, Parikiaki’s Managing Director Mr Bambos Charalambous, welcomed all those present to the 36th Cypriot Wine Festival to celebrate Cypriot food, culture and of course wine.
“We are in the second year of our modernisation effort and following all the positive and encouraging feedback from last year we are committed to redoubling our efforts to make this great celebration of Cypriot-British culture even better. I would like to thank everyone who were in touch with feedback and messages of encouragement; and of course I would like to thank all of our exhibitors and advertisers that chose to return following the success of last year.”
He continued, “One of our strategic goals is to make the festival, not just a community festival, but a celebration of multiculturalism; a celebration of not only Cyprus but also of London and its thousand of communities.”
On Cypriot wine, Mr Charalambous said, “We are particularly proud of the wines from our traditional varieties like Xinisteri and Maratheftiko two of the most ancient varieties in the world….The most famous Cypriot wine is of course Commandaria – a wine loved across Europe since the middle ages. It’s sweetness is owed to the fact that the grapes are both over-ripened and sundried. We have wonderful examples of these wines for tasting as well as some great examples of “Mavro” and European varieties that are produced in Cyprus.”
Closing, Mr Charalambous thanked the event sponsors, stall holders and volunteers for spending innumerable hours in putting together the biggest Cypriot cultural event outside Cyprus. He encouraged visitors to enjoy delicious traditional food, great music, wonderful exhibits and above all incredible Cypriot wine.
Konstantinos Argiros thrills crowds with two phenomenal live shows!
The festival included a rich entertainment programme including talented artists and dancers from our community, Cyprus and Greece, and of course the one and only Konstantinos Argiros who headlined this year’s entertainment programme and captivated audiences with his energy on stage!
Performing for the first time ever in London, the singer gave his all, singing his biggest hits such as Ximeromata which was a huge crowd pleaser, Psemata, Athina-Thessaloniki, Ta Kataferes, Paidi Gennaio, Pare Me Agkalia, as well as songs by other artists, even throwing in a medley of Cypriot classics and nisiotika!
He had those in the seating area jumping out of their places from the moment he stepped foot on stage. Everyone in the venue joined in the party, singing and dancing the evening away.
After concluding his performances, Argiros spent time posing for photos with the lucky few who had meet and greet access.
Speaking to Parikiaki backstage, he said: “I had a great time at the Cypriot Wine Festival. I couldn’t believe how warm the crowd was – people here are ‘thirsty’ for entertainment.”
He continued, “I was really looking forward to performing in London and I hope everyone enjoyed it. It was such a huge honour to be part of this event. My sister lives abroad and I totally understand that people who live outside of Greece and Cyprus appreciate the music and culture even more.”
He concluded, “I am currently preparing my new album and I’m gearing up for the release of my new single and video clip in mid June.”
Supporting the 32-year-old singer in London was Kyriacos Georgiou. No stranger to our community, Kyriacos left a lasting impression on the crowds with a fantastic mix of modern Greek songs including his hits Pos Tin Ides – Kazhi Mi, Sto Poto Mou Rixse Stahti, Paizeis and others.
Phenomenal entertainment
This year’s line-up included the great talents of Elizabeth Chapman and Tony Panayi, superb singers from our community who both performed their own singles and received a great applause from the audience, George Nicolaou who presented his charity single Ano Kato, the Niavent Band with the wonderful sound of the bouzouki and for the children, the wonderful Christina Katsi, also known as Belle of the Ballroom, enchanted our young visitors with a Disney song medley.
Back by popular demand was the Karotseris group from Cyprus who danced traditional Cypriot dances and amazed the audience once again with the ‘potiria/glass’ dance; this involves Marios Avraam from the group balancing glasses, ‘kouzes’ and a bottle of wine on his head! The audience was gobsmacked!
On Sunday, there was a fabulous demo by Marianna Neofitou and her bunch of enthusiastic ladies who gave us a taster of the popular fitness class Opa-cize.
A huge thank you also to DJ Chris Theoharous and LGR’s DJ Magis who kept the excitement going throughout the two days with their music choices.
Exhibitors from Cyprus and the UK
The business exhibition side included many successful companies promoting their business, services and products. Amongst them was the Metropolitan Police Service Greek and Cypriot Association, UK Thalassaemia Society, Lobby for Cyprus and the Organisation of the Relatives of the Missing.
Roanna Maharas, a volunteer at Thalassaemia UK Society said, “We are here today to raise awareness about Thalassaemia. It affects Mediterranean, Eastern Countries and especially Cyprus, which was one of the first countries that recognised the disease and there are many Greek and Cypriot patients.”
Kostas Pavlou, Executive Secretary of Lobby for Cyprus and Organisation of the Relatives of the Missing, told Parikiaki, “CyWineFest can help us raise awareness on the missing Greek and Turkish Cypriots from 1963 to1974. We can only find them if we keep pressuring the Turkish government with the help of the British government.”
Georgios Gavriil, Managing Director of Aphrodite Delights, said, “This is our fourth time taking part at CyWineFest. Many generations have been raised with our products. People buy our goods as presents to their beloved ones to remind them of Cyprus and we appreciate the love and that is why we are here today”
He added, “Loukoumi is the most famous exported Cypriot product in Europe at the moment and it includes a protected geographical indication.”
Theodoulos Antoniou, Head of the London Office of Michael Kyprianou & Co, said, “We are attending the event to help people with any assets they have in Cyprus or the UK and/or regarding issues about company law. We hope to build up good relations with the Cypriot community in the UK.”
Cypriot flavours
There was plenty to eat, plenty to drink and plenty of traditional Cypriot delicacies to sample. Souvlakia by Salamina FC, kleftiko by the Cypriot Community Centre, lountza and halloumi sandwiches and kalamari by KLN FC, hot dogs, Aroma Patisserie’s tasty tiropittes, lokmades, shiamishi and koubes, mahalepi, rose flavoured ice-cream, panairkotika, Cypriot flavoured chocolates– there was something for everyone!
A popular stand was where the production of palouze and soutziouko took place by the Karotseris group.
Inos efraini kardian (Wine gives pleasure to our heart)
As every year, quality Cypriot wine was plentiful allowing visitors to sample the many different variations produced on our island. Many wineries and factories were present at the event; the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment of Cyprus took part for the first time with wines from the winery in Zakaki.
Well-known ‘Makkas’ winery which boasts 90 awards including the most recent Best Wine Producer in Cyprus by the World Finance Wine Report 2018, was also present.
Other wine factories with their own stands included LOEL, SODAP-Kamanterena and KEO. Paphos wineries also attended at the request of the local mayor Faidon Faidonos.
For the first time at the festival there was a cocktail bar with unique concoctions made using Cypriot alcoholic beverages.
Festival fun for children
CyWineFest offered many fun activities to keep the little ones amused. There were bouncy castles, glitter tattoos, colouring in, fun games and as last year, we took full advantage of the outdoor space and gave children the opportunity to take part in football tournaments and even enjoy a donkey ride!
Volunteers
Parikiaki would like to say a massive thank you to the hundreds of volunteers who helped us over the Bank Holiday weekend. We truly appreciate all your efforts.
Panayiotis Kyriacou, told us, “We have been volunteers at CyWineFest for many years now and the reason we participate is to hold on to the Cypriot traditions and customs.”
Panayiotis Ioannou, said, “It is always a pleasure to help the Greek and Cypriot community in London. It is my second time at the event and everything is so well-organised. We’d like to see more young people volunteering and engaging with the Greek Cypriot Community.”
A massive thank you
Parikiaki would like to thank the festival’s sponsors and supporters whom without, this celebration of all things Cypriot would not be possible.
Last but not least, to the thousands of visitors who supported our event, to the management and staff of Parikiaki and all the CyWineFest team who worked tirelessly in the months leading up to the event to make this festival the best yet!
Until next year, Pinne Krasin Na’sheis Zoi!
Report by Andrea Georgiou / Katerina Tiliakou
Photos: Alexios Gennaris / Peter Pentayiotis