Holiday Guide
Cultural Events in Pelion
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.
| Village | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Pteleos | Feb/Mar (Last week of Halloween) | The carnival for the Greek celebration of Halloween. |
| Sourpi | March (Last Sunday) | Cultural festivities, theater plays and music. |
| Keramidi | April 23 | Festival of Agios Georgios. Traditional music and dance. The traditional while rice "Pligouri" is served. |
| Trikeri | May 1 | Traditional marriage or engagement takes place. Traditional dance and music at the party, and the women of Trikeri wear the traditional clothes. |
| Alli Meria | May 1 | The flower festival "Yiotri Tou Louloudion". Beautiful exhibits of flowers from local gardeners. |
| Lafkos | May 1-2 | Large religious festival at the monestary, Traditional music, dance food and wine. |
| Portaria | May | "International Dance Day". |
| Agios Dimitrios | May 6 | Festival for Agio Gianni Theologou. |
| Katohori | June 1 | "Tsipouro" festival. See tsipouro being produced. Afterwards there is a large party with music, dance, and of course, "Free" tsipouro. |
| Potistika | June 4 | Name day of Agios Panteleimonas. Traditional dance and music. |
| Pteleos | June 8 | Festival of Agios Panteleimonas. |
| Agios Lavrentios | June (3rd weekend) | Festival of Kerasiou (Cherries) - traditional music and dance. |
| Makrinitsa | July | Celebrations of "Mays" and "Maithes", which have their roots with the ancient Greek God Dionysos - based on the renaissance of life and nature. |
| Portaria | July | "International Dance Festival for Children" |
| Lehonia Ano | July (First days) | Festival for the memory of Agii Anargiri - Organised cultural shows known as "Lehonitika". |
| Vizitsa | July 1 | Day of Agios Anargiron. Traditional dance and music. |
| Agia Kiriaki | July 6-7 | Festival for the memory of Agia iriaki. Traditional dance and songs, with folklore instruments. |
| Amaliapolis | July 17 | Large festival at Agia Triatho. |
| Kissos | July 17 | Festival of Agia Marina. Traditional dance and music in the village square. |
| Mouresi | July 20 | Festival for the name of "Profiti Hilia". |
| Agios Vlasios | July 24 | Religious feast for Agios Vlasios in the main square. Traditional song and dance. |
| Kalamos | July 25 | Festival of Agia Paraskevi - traditional song and dance. |
| Lafkos | July 25 | Festival of Agia Paraskevi - traditional music and dance. |
| Sourpi | July 25-26 | Celebration of Agia Paraskevi. | Milies | July 25-27 | Name day of "Sotiros" - traditional dance and music. | Mouresi | July 27 | Celebration of Agios Panteleimonas. | Pteleos | July 27 | Festival of "Agios Panteleimonas". | Stagiates | July (End of) | "Sausage Festival" - traditional dance and music plus a demonstration of how the sausages are made. | Agria | July (End of) | 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. | Portaria | August | "International Dance Festival". | Pteleos | August | The celebrated "Olive Festival". | Nea Anhialos | August (First 10 days) | Wine festival "Yiorti Tou Krasiou" - local wine and Greek song and dance. | Pigadi | August (First days) | Festival of "Psarathiki Vrathia" - (Fishermans Night) - free fish and wine. | Sourpi | August (First week) | Cultural Festivals, theater plays and music. | Agios Dimitrios | August 3-5 | Ceremony at the Metamorphosis of Soteria - traditional dance and song and food. | Amaliapolis | August 6 | Celebration for the "Metamorphosis of Soteria" - traditional song and dance. | Mikro | August 6 | Name day of "Sotiros" - Traditional dance and music. | Vizitsa | August 15 | Big festival at the main square - traditional dance and music. | Pteleos | August 15 | Festival in memory of the God Mother of Theotokos. | Kala Nera | August 15 | Festival of Panagia (The Holy Mother) - traditional dance and music. | Agios Lavrentios | August 15-16 | Celebration for the memory of Monk Lavrentios. This is a large ceromony, and people from all over Greece travel to pay their respects. | Milina | August (Middle) | "Milina Night" festival. | Pteleos | August 23 | Festival in memory of Panagia Xenia (The Holy Mother, Protector of Hospitality). | Makrirahi | August 25 | Local "Flower Association" organises a huge flower exhibition in the village square. | Mouresi | August 27 | Celebration for Agios Fanourios. | Vizitsa | August 29 | Day of Agios Ioannis Prothronos. - Traditional dance and song. | Milies | August (End) | Festival for "Pear Night". | Portaria | August (Last week) | Revival of a traditional Pelion wedding. | Afissos | Summer | A collection of shows and festival, known as "Argonautica", in tribute to Jason and the Argonauts. | Zagora | September (Start) | Festival of the "Apple", organised by the female corporation of Zagora - traditional dance and music. | Kissos | September 2 | Festival of Agiou Efstathiou - traditional music and dance in the village square. | Paltsi | September 5-6 | Festival for the name day of Agion Taxiaharhon. | Gatzea Kato | September 13-14 | Festival of Timiou Stavrou (The Holy Cross). |