For nearly four decades, the Cypriot Wine Festival & Business Expo (CyWineFest) with Parikiaki, has prided itself on bringing the community together in celebration of Cypriot culture here in the UK.
What originally started out as a bazaar, has today become recognised as the largest Cypriot event outside of Cyprus.
Unfortunately, as with all large scale events across the globe, due to the current coronavirus pandemic, and adhering government guidelines, the CyWineFest committee made the difficult decision earlier this year to cancel this year’s event, (which would have taken place this Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June) for the health and safety of the community.
Just thinking about CyWineFest will trigger nostalgia in many of us, having grown up with the festival over the years. For some, the attraction is catching up with dear friends and family under one roof, whilst for others, they may visit to enjoy the music and traditional Cypriot dancing or even just to indulge in the unlimited free wine tasting and the wide range of other traditional food and drink stands on show. Who doesn’t look forward to a pitta of souvlakia washed down with an ice cold KEO beer, or a delicious plate of kleftiko with a glass of xynisteri wine?!
The entertainment programme is always one of the main attractions of the festival. Each year, renowned artists from Cyprus and Greece – previous performers have included Anna Vissi, Yiannis Ploutarchos, Konstantinos Argyros, Despina Vandi, Elena Paparizou, Peggy Zina, Keti Garbi and George Dalaras to name a few – have closed the event with a 2 hour performance.
And of course, the entertainment programme wouldn’t be complete without our community support acts which include singers, musicians, dance groups and comedians.
Year after year, the Cypriot Wine Festival & Business Expo attracts on average 10,000 people from all ethnicities, cultures and backgrounds yearning for a taste of Cyprus. Whilst this grand community two-day extravaganza may not be taking this weekend at Lee Valley Athletics Centre as planned, we hope and pray that we will see you in 2021. Mark the dates in your diaries….Sunday 30th & Bank Holiday Monday 31st May 2021….but for now, keep safe!

See more at Cypriotwinefestival.com