The 15 traditional festivals taking place this October
In many villages of our island, at the initiative of the Community Councils, cultural associations or individually, festivals and traditional festivals continue to be organised mainly for the grape harvest, but also for the promotion of the traditional culture of our country.
Also, many of these traditional events are based on local produce. And this month, we take the mountains to enjoy local delicacies, music, and dances.
In October celebrations will also be set up in the cities, attracting our interest.
Let’s take a look at them!
Third Festival of Traditional Flavours
The 3rd Festival of Traditional Flavours and Exhibition of Traditional Products returns this year to Ayia Napa, in particular on the road of the “Thalassa” Museum on 4-5 October 2019. The festival will include a rich artistic program and plenty of free Cypriot wine. Entrance will be free!
Info: Friday 4 & Saturday 5 October, Thalassa Museum Road, Ayia Napa, 18.00. Free entrance.
Traditional Bread Festival at Neromylos Kouyoukas
On Saturday, October 5 (from 10.00 until late at night), those who decide to visit (for free) the Water Mill Museum will have a very beautiful day. There will be stalls to showcase traditional crafts, as well as locally produced traditional product, where you can learn how to make then and taste authentic flavours. You will also enjoy live traditional Greek music.
Info: Saturday, October 5th, Kouyouka Water Mill, Paphos, 10.00am.
Palouze Festival Koilani
The most well-known of the wine-producing villages, Koilani, famous for its vine varieties, and especially for its traditional grape variety, organises Afamia Festival for another year. The holiday celebration (and this year as well as last year) will be two days long and will take place on the weekend of October 5 & 6, and this year as with every year will include events such as a traditional music and a dance program, preparation and offering of free palouze to guests, distillation of zivania and visit community museums, wineries and churches that will remain open during the event.
Info: Saturday 5, 17.30 & Sunday 6 October, Koilani, Limassol, 11.00.
Fikardou 2019: “Traveling the Paths of Tradition”
On Sunday October 6th in the cobbled streets of Fikardou village, we will land 100 years in the past. Every street has a story, every home tells the tale of another adventure. In the framework of the festival we will visit the village houses and make palouze and dip soutzouko, see how the zivania is traditionally prepared, how to make halloumi and anari, toast the bread, watch the weaving of baskets and many other things.
Info: Sunday, October 6, Fikardou, Nicosia, 11.00. Info 99193080.
Olive Day
For another year, we will celebrate Olive Day at the magnificent Olive Park “Oleastro” in Anogyra. So, on Sunday, October 6th from 12.00-16.00, in Anogyra, for activities, tastings, tastings, games and more head to the Olive festival. Entrance will be free and the program will be rich, including Demonstration & Tasting, Traditional & Modern Bakery / Confectionery by MIEEK and making traditional products, Tasting of Olive Oil and Presentation of Wines, Traditional Products and Exhibition , Traditional music and dance with folklore group ‘To Vima’, traditional games, cheesy gifts, souvenirs, food and drink. Visitors to the park can see exhibits and representations of our history and culture as well as the importance of olive oil to our health and beauty, the ‘olive in art’ painting exhibition and film on olive and olive oil in Cyprus. For young guests there is a playground and animals. The Olive Park ‘Oleastro’ was created to promote the culture of the olive tree. For information, 99525093.
Host: Organic Olive Oil. Promoter: ATHEX Papal Greek. Communication Sponsors: Radio Proto and Check In Cyprus.
Info: Sunday, October 6th, Olive Park “Oleastro”, Anogyra, Limassol District, 12.00-16.00.
Grape Harvest Festival in Panayia
The Community Council, the Association of expatriates and the Cultural Centre of the Makarios III in Panayia are organising the Grape Harvest Festival for the third consecutive year and invite us to visit the village of Paphos, Panayia, and participate in a beautiful traditional celebration fill with grapes, wine and various other traditional products of our country. The event is part of the CTO’s Dealing with Events Grant Scheme (de minimis). The event is under the auspices of Honourable Paphos Governor Mary Lambrou.
Info: Sunday, October 6th, Panayia, Paphos.
3rd Pancyprian Festival of Atheniou Products
Athienou is ready to welcome you for the third consecutive year at the Pancyprian Atheniou Festival. During the Festival you can try: authentic traditional bread, delicacies, meat, dairy products, nuts, palouze, home-made jams, spoon sweets, eggs, and nuts. Follow the traditional bread preparation. Get to know the exhibitors and buy their products. At breakfast, young guests will have the opportunity to have breakfast with local products and engage in children’s workshops and activities.
Info: Sunday, October 6th, Konstanteio Municipal Park. Free entrance.
Apple Festival
At the foot of the Papoutsas and Madaris Mountains and at an altitude of 1,350 metres, a beautiful picturesque village emerges, the largest mountain village in Cyprus, Kyperounda, which is preparing to host the Apple Festival this year.
The festival, which takes place on the second weekend of October, is one of the largest local festivals in Cyprus, and has become an institution, both for the local community of the Pitsilia area and for Cyprus.
So this year, on October 12 and 13, visit the village to try and enjoy all that can be made from apples! Locals have already begun preparations for the festival, making Cypriot specialties from Cyprus apples, as much of the Cypriot apple production is produced in Kyperounda.
During the festival, visitors will have the opportunity to see and enjoy an exhibition of apple varieties grown in Cyprus, apple photography, traditional and modern apple cultivation tools, market, presentation of dishes and drinks with apples’ as the main ingredient, apple zivania distillation, demonstration of traditional crafts, yeast breads, chocolates and caramelised apples, and more.
Visitors also have the opportunity to tour the churches and museums of the community.
Info: Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th October, Kyperounda, Limassol.
Palouze and Soutzouko in Pedoulas
Pedoulas invites us to bake and dip the soutzouko in the courtyard of the Pedoulas Folk Museum. The event will start at 10.00 and last until 15.00. The program includes activities such as baking and testing the palouze as well as dipping the soutzouko. Traditional fruits and vegetables will be sold. Visitors will also be able to visit local museums, churches, and walk the nature trail that leads to the chapel of Panayia Voreinis and stroll through the streets of the village. Finally, they will have the opportunity to admire the view from various parts of the village and enjoy their meal in one of the village’s restaurants.
Info: Sunday, October 13th, Pedoulas, Nicosia, 10.00-15.00.
Pancyprian Honey Festival & Pancyprian Beekeeping Conference
In the Limassol Old Port area from October 18-20 the Cyprus Beekeepers Association – Cyprus Beekeeping Centre invites us to a festival as sweet as honey! In the area you will be able to learn everything about honey and bees, try and of course get to know everything made of bees: honey, royal jelly, propolis and more.
Info: Friday 18-Sunday 20 October, Limassol Old Port.
Madari – Earth Festival
The very beautiful celebration of the grape harvest in Polystipo, which has now become an institution, returns in October. Under the general heading “Mother Earth”, Polystipos invites us on Sunday, October 20th from 11:00 to 14:00, to enjoy a rich program this year.
Info: Sunday, October 20, Polystypos, Nicosia, 11.00-14.00.
Mosfilo Festival
The Mosfiloti Community Council invites us to the “3rd Mosfilo Festival” which will be under the auspices of the Honourable Minister of Education and Culture, Mr. Costas Hambiaouris. The festival, which will take place on Sunday, October 20 from 13.00-18.00 at the Youth Centre (next to the church), includes a rich program, including a depiction of a Cypriot wedding, traditional dances, demonstration of textile art and traditional craftsmanship workshops on halloumi, trahana, palouze and soutzouko, baked bread, zalatina and more. Of course there will be plenty of mosfilo jam. Souvlaki and traditional products will be sold on site, while the children of the community will keep us entertained with traditional songs.
Info: Sunday 20th October, Youth Centre (next to the church), Mosfiloti, Nicosia, 13.00-18.00.
Culture Festival Ayios Dimitris
The Agios Dimitrios Marathasa Development Association is organising for the second consecutive year the “Saint Demetrios” tradition and culture festival. The festival, which will take place on Saturday, October 26 in the centre of the village, focuses on traditional red clay pottery included in the UNESCO National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. At the same time, traditional products from the Southern Marathasa area will be highlighted. Visitors will have the opportunity to see and learn the traditional red clay pottery and participate in an experiential process with clay wrapping and vessel construction. At the same time, guests will enjoy the traditional soutzouko, the preparation of palouze and trahana as well as the traditional distillery of zivania. They will also have the opportunity to taste traditional dishes while the festival will sell traditional products in the Southern Marathasa area. The festival will feature a music and dance program by a folklore group, and food and drink.
Info: Saturday 26 October, Agios Dimitrios Marathassas, Limassol.
1st Olive & Aroma Festival
The Evrychou Community Council, in collaboration with organised groups, expatriates and community friends, is organising the 1st Olive and Aroma Festival. The festival will take place on the weekend of October 26 & 27. The festival will take place in the courtyard of the Solea Gymnasium-High School, honouring 100 years of school education.
Info: Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th October, Courtyard area of Solea High School, 10.00-20.00. 22 932228.
7th Festival of Tomato, Wine and Foods from Soil and Water of Farmakas
For the 7th consecutive year, the Festival of Local Traditional Dishes & Products takes place on Sunday, October 27 in the village square from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm. The 7th Annual Festival of Tomato, Wine and Foods from the Soil and Water of Farmakas will feature a rich program, fine dining, zivania and wine. In addition there will be a presentation on how to prepare various traditional village dishes such as soutzouko, palouze, quince sweet, halloumi, trachana, cookies etc., and zivania distillation.
Info: Sunday, October 27, Farmakas, Nicosia, 10.00-17.00.
