Festivals and Cultural Events in Pelion Greece
There
are many festivals and celebrations that take place in Pelion throughout
the year. These can range from celebrations for the name days of many of
the villages, such as Agios Dimitrios, Agios Ioannis and Agios Lavrentios,
to specially organised musical or theatrical events.
These festivals and local events are a wonderful way for visitors to the Pelion peninsula to partake in something very special amongst the locals. There is usually food and drink available at these events, as well as traditional Greek dance and music.
Everyone is welcome to attend these celebrations, so if you happen to
be in Pelion one of these special days, you should really take the opportunity
to experience a very traditional and unique event.
Below is a list of the festivals and cultural events , and the villages
that they take place in.
DATE OF EVENT |
VILLAGE |
DETAILS |
|
March
(Last week of Halloween) |
Pteleos
|
The carnival for the Greek celebration of Halloween.
|
|
March
(Last Sunday of ..) |
Sourpi
|
Cultural festivities, theater plays and music.
|
|
April 23rd
|
Keramidi
|
Festival of Agios Georgios. Traditional music and
dance. The traditional while rice "Pligouri" is served.
|
|
May 1st
|
Trikeri
|
Traditional marriage or engagement takes place. Traditional
dance and music at the party, and the women of Trikeri wear the traditional
clothes.
|
|
May 1st
|
Alli Meria
|
The flower festival "Yiotri Tou Louloudion".
Beautiful exhibits of flowers from local gardeners.
|
|
May 1st and 2nd
|
Lafkos
|
Large religious festival at the monestary, Traditional
music, dance food and wine.
|
|
May
|
Portaria
|
"International Dance Day".
|
|
May 6th
|
Agios Dimitrios
|
Festival for Agio Gianni Theologou.
|
|
June 1st
|
Katohori
|
"Tsipouro" festival. See tsipouro being
produced. Afterwards there is a large party with music, dance, and
of course, "Free" tsipouro.
|
|
June 4th
|
Potistika
|
Name day of Agios Panteleimonas. Traditional dance
and music.
|
|
June 8th
|
Pteleos
|
Festival of Agios Panteleimonas.
|
|
June
(3rd weekend of ..) |
Agios Lavrentios
|
Festival of Kerasiou (Cherries) - traditional music
and dance.
|
|
July
|
Makrinitsa
|
Celebrations of "Mays" and "Maithes",
which have their roots with the ancient Greek God Dionysos - based
on the renaissance of life and nature.
|
|
July
|
Portaria
|
"International Dance Festival for Children".
|
|
July
(1st days of ..) |
Lehonia (Ano)
|
Festival for the memory of Agii Anargiri - Organised
cultural shows known as "Lehonitika".
|
|
July 1st
|
Vizitsa
|
Day of Agios Anargiron. Traditional dance and music.
|
|
July 6th and 7th
|
Agia Kiriaki
|
Festival for the memory of Agia iriaki. Traditional
dance and songs, with folklore instruments.
|
|
July 17th
|
Amaliapolis
|
Large festival at Agia Triatho.
|
|
July 17th
|
Kissos
|
Festival of Agia Marina. Traditional dance and music
in the village square.
|
|
July 20th
|
Mouresi
|
Festival for the name of "Profiti Hilia".
|
|
July 24th
|
Agios Vlasios
|
Religious feast for Agios Vlasios in the main square.
Traditional song and dance.
|
|
July 25th
|
Kalamos
|
Festival of Agia Paraskevi - traditional song and
dance.
|
|
July 25th
|
Lafkos
|
Festival of Agia Paraskevi - traditional music and
dance.
|
|
July 25th & 26th
|
Sourpi
|
Celebration of Agia Paraskevi.
|
|
July 25th - 27th
|
Milies
|
Name day of "Sotiros" - traditional dance
and music.
|
|
July 27th
|
Mouresi
|
Celebration of Agios Panteleimonas.
|
|
July 27th
|
Pteleos
|
Festival of "Agios Panteleimonas".
|
|
July
(End of ..) |
Stagiates
|
"Sausage Festival" - traditional dance and
music plus a demonstration of how the sausages are made.
|
|
July
(End of ..) |
Agria
|
Psaradiki Vrathia (Fishing Night) - Festival with
a variety of fishing traditions and customs, and offering of the famous
fish soup (Kakavia) - Traditional song and dance.
|
|
August
|
Portaria
|
"International Dance Festival".
|
|
August
|
Pteleos
|
The celebrated "Olive Festival".
|
|
August
(First 10 days of ..) |
Anhialos (Nea)
|
Wine festival "Yiorti Tou Krasiou" - local
wine and Greek song and dance.
|
|
August
(First days of ..) |
Pigadi
|
Festival of "Psarathiki Vrathia" - (Fishermans
Night) - free fish and wine.
|
|
August
(First week of ..) |
Sourpi
|
Cultural Festivals, theater plays and music.
|
|
August 3rd - 5th
|
Agios Dimitrios
|
Ceremony at the Metamorphosis of Soteria - traditional
dance and song and food.
|
|
August 6th
|
Amaliapolis
|
Celebration for the "Metamorphosis of Soteria"
- traditional song and dance.
|
|
August 6th
|
Mikro
|
Name day of "Sotiros" - Traditional dance
and music.
|
|
August 15th
|
Vizitsa
|
Name days for Panagia (Virgin Mary) - Traditional
song and music.
|
|
August 15th
|
Xourihti
|
Big festival at the main square - traditional dance
and music.
|
|
August 15th
|
Pteleos
|
Festival in memory of the God Mother of Theotokos.
|
|
August 15th
|
Kala Nera
|
Festival of Panagia (The Holy Mother) - traditional
dance and music.
|
|
August 15th and 16th
|
Agios Lavrentios
|
Celebration for the memory of Monk Lavrentios. This
is a large ceromony, and people from all over Greece travel to pay
their respects.
|
|
August
(Middle of ..) |
Milina
|
"Milina Night" festival.
|
|
August 23rd
|
Pteleos
|
Festival in memory of Panagia Xenia (The Holy Mother,
Protector of Hospitality).
|
|
August 25th
|
Makrirahi
|
Local "Flower Association" organises a huge
flower exhibition in the village square.
|
|
August 27th
|
Mouresi
|
Celebration for Agios Fanourios.
|
|
August 29th
|
Vizitsa
|
Day of Agios Ioannis Prothronos. - Traditional dance
and song.
|
|
August
(End of ..) |
Milies
|
Festival for "Pear Night".
|
|
August
(Last week of ..) |
Portaria
|
Revival of a traditional Pelion wedding.
|
|
Summer
|
Afissos
|
A collection of shows and festival, known as "Argonautica",
in tribute to Jason and the Argonauts.
|
|
September
(The beginning of ..) |
Zagora
|
Festival of the "Apple", organised by the
female corporation of Zagora - traditional dance and music.
|
|
September 2nd
|
Kissos
|
Festival of Agiou Efstathiou - traditional music and
dance in the village square.
|
|
September 5th and 6th
|
Paltsi
|
Festival for the name day of Agion Taxiaharhon.
|
|
September 13th and 14th
|
Gatzea (Kato)
|
Festival of Timiou Stavrou (The Holy Cross).
|
