They are the people whose hard work has helped to make Paniyiri what it is today, but two members of the local Greek community believe the festival's success has caused organisers to lose sight of the traditional values at the very heart of the event.
The crowds returned on Saturday for the start of the country's longest-running Greek festival, with tables and chairs surrounded by food stalls filling within minutes of the gates opening.
However, two local stallholders from Panayia's Southside Parish, Carol Pizimolas and Crisi Lagos, hold concerns that the festival is losing its traditional community-minded approach in the midst of continued expansion to meet demand.
Both women have seen the festival since the very start 41 years ago and have been left disappointed by the new additions to cater for the demand, in particular the carnival rides.
"I personally am a little disappointed that they have the fun parks behind, because I think it takes away from the festival," Ms Pizimolas said.
"There are also business people selling goods, which I feel is not fair because it's meant to be a community-minded festival.
"We look at this as our biggest fundraiser for the year and when there are other businesses selling the same food as we are, it gets a bit hard."
Ms Lagos said she remembered when the festival consisted of about 100 people dancing in the streets.
"Now it has become more business-like," she said.
"But still, everyone has a lovely time and we love having the Australians, because now it is multicultural and that's what I like.
"Everybody comes, they enjoy our food, appreciate what we're doing ... and it also brings families toegther."
During Paniyiri's four decades of existence, almost two million festival-goers have devoured more than five million honey puffs, four million souvlaki, 25 tonnes of haloumi as well as countless calamari and dolmades.
This year's festival offered plenty of food, music, wine, entertainment and crowd interaction, with the event having enjoyed steady growth during its history and more than 50,000 people expected in 2017.
A new addition to the festival was a Greek village, which emulated what an authentic community on a Greek island would be like.
It was also the 40th anniversary of Hellenic dance performances at Paniyiri and to celebrate a special showcase program was planned, along with the usual flavours and faces of Greece.
The Paniyiri Festival is held on May 20 and 21 at Musgrave Park in South Brisbane, with all funds raised going back into the community via the Greek Orthodox Community of St George.