DESTINATION PATRIDA, 2024 | Highlights Days 4-7 (Karditsa/Trikala- Performances)

KARDITSA / TRIKALA HIGHLIGHTS
Days 4 - 7 (Performances)

For four consecutive evenings, we were honoured to participate in Greece’s largest and longest-running multicultural event, the 56th International Cultural Festival “KARAISKAKIA”.


Opening Night and Honorary Parade:
For the festival's official opening, an honorary parade was conducted commencing from the Botanical Gardens of Karditsa- the Pafsilipo where the Plateia of Nikolaos Plastiras is located, through the city street and culminating in the main city square- the Plateia Eleftherias under the shadow of the gigantic statue of Greek Revolution hero- Georgios Karaiskakis.

The parade of all participants was accompanied by the Philharmonic Orchestra of Karditsa, and pride-of-place was bestowed on our dance school and our FROURA Hellenic Australian Honorary Guard - by MANASIS. It is likely the first time in history that an Australian Flag has been officially presented at any formal event in Karditsa, but most certainly the first time our Indigenous Australian (Aboriginal) Flag has.

At the conclusion of the parade, we formed an Honour Guard to welcome the countless VIPs and distinguished guests, amongst of which we were humbled to meet:
-Μητροπολίτης Θεσσαλιώτιδος και Φαναριοφερσάλων Τιμόθεος
-Regional Governor of Thessaly Mr. Dimitris Kouretas
-Deputy Head of the Regional Division of Karditsa Mr. Kostas Telios
-Mayor of Karditsa Mr. Basilis Tsiakos
-Regional Councillor for Welfare and Disability of Karditsa Ms. Αθηνά Πέτσα-Μαντζιάρα
-President of the Union of Cultural Associations of the Prefecture of Karditsa Mr. Manolis Stergiopoulos

As guests of honour (being both Greeks of the diaspora, and having my family ancestry hailing from this region), we opened the festival with a tribute to our ancestral homeland, presenting dances from Karditsa. Our unique style, incorporating choreographic elements on traditional dance, made for an exhibition of folklore which was (and still remains relatively) unbeknown to most local/topical Greek dance groups, won the hearts, interest, and applause of the many thousands in attendance.


Welcoming Ceremony:
Many VIPs and distinguished guests from the Opening Ceremony the night prior, were in attendance to address and present gifts to our team and the other international guests. It was an honour to share these moments with our fellow dancers, from New Zealand- Te Mātārae i Ōrehu, and USA- Idaho Rocky Mountain Express.

The event also gave our school the opportunity to formally and publicly acknowledge our benefactors, sponsors and supporters. Furthermore, it gave us the opportunity to disseminate the well-wishes and sentiments of the Association of Karditsa Province of Melbourne and Victoria "O KARIAISKAKIS" to our fellow country men/women. We thank Honourary President Mr Tom Goulas and President of the World Federation of Thessalians "ASKLIPIOS", Mr Διαμαντής Γκίκας for the formal endorsement and support.


Media Appointments:
We were humbled to have the opportunity to discuss our participation in the Karaiskakeia Festival, but also our entire DESTINATION PATRIDA, 2024 Greece Tour, live on THESSALIA TV with acclaimed journalist Τζενη Σουλτανια . And from TV interviews, it was straight across to the local studio, HXORAMA 100.8FM, for a live radio interview on the MESIMERIANO MAGAZINO programme with journalist/host Vasiliki Mpalampani! Our interviews and story was also captured and published in the local newspaper ΝΕΟΣ ΑΓΩΝ.


Georgiko, Krya Vrysi, Sofades, Mavrommati:
During the KARAISKAKIA Festival, local villages usually host parallel events under the umbrella of the Ένωση Πολιτιστικών Συλλόγων Καρδίτσας , which encourages international guests to venture outside the city and experience the authentic, unchanged village lifestyle, and their people.

This opportunity for our team (amongst many more), was a testament to the innate nature of 'true' and 'simple' Greeks, which is so vividly characterised by their humility and their desire to host, house, and 'honour' foreigners/visitors- the definition of "philoxenia".

We extend our appreciation to Mayor Dimosthenis Katsis , Mr Giannis Karantanas , and to the incredible staff, management and volunteers of the Union of Cultural Associations of the Prefecture of Karditsa Ένωση Πολιτιστικών Συλλόγων Καρδίτσας , for their invitation and the opportunity to participate. In particular our coordinator and programme coordinator Vanessa Styliopoulou, and our allocated guides/assistants Ελευθερία Ξηντάρα and Φαίη Μπαλογιάννη, and the other participating organisations, instructors, and dancers who all welcomed us and made our team feel immensely appreciated and valued.

Four incredible days in the agricultural heartland of Greece- Karditsa, with multiple performances each night, came to a close.

...living our dream through the first of four weeks in our ancestral homeland...