| NAXOS ISLAND | Potato Festival | In July, the Union of Rural Cooperatives in cooperation with the cultural association of Saint Arsenios and the Region of South Aegean organise a fabulous potato festival. More than 4.000 people participate every year enjoying dancing with traditional music and tasting many recipes based on potatoes. Naxos is well known for its delicious potatoes, cultivating almost 17.000 tons every year and 1.500 tons of potato seeds. |
| NAXOS ISLAND - KOMIAKI VILLAGE | Wine Festival | Naxos is known also as the island of Dionysus. The residents cultivate 5.646 acres of vineyards producing tasteful and fragrant varieties of wines. At the end of every summer the Komiaki village takes on the whole procedure of wine production. The villagers collect the grapes, they squeeze them in the traditional grape mill and transfer the grape must using animals into the vats. Afterwards, everyone tastes the wine that had already being produced, as well as local delicacies whilst listening to traditional music. |
| NAXOS ISLAND - MONI VILLAGE | Raki Festival | During October all the traditional distilleries of the island prepare to produce raki. The fragrance of the produced spirits and the aromas of the baked goat meat and quinces spread all over the island. In late November, in the village of Moni the raki festival takes place where everyone is invited to watch the procedure of raki’s distillation and taste the traditional spirit. |
| NAXOS ISLAND | Honey Festival | Because of its rich flora, Naxos has approximately 5.000 beehives, producing almost 50 tons of virgin thyme annually. The honey festival takes place during August having many educational activities focused on both children and adults. The villagers also reveal many recipes based on honey. |
| NAXOS ISLAND | Olive Oil Festival | Every start of the year, the olive oil festival brings many visitors to the traditional oil mill of Damalas village, to watch the traditional production of olive oil, and celebrate with the locals by tasting the delicacies made by the housewives of the village. |
| NAXOS ISLAND | Graviera Festival | Approximately 1.000 tons of the famous graviera cheese is produced every year on the island. the cheese is labelled as Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). Because of its rich flora and the perfect climate conditions, Naxos has about 4.500 bovines and 110.000 goats and sheep. The produced varieties of cheese and meat are well known for their excellent quality. The festival takes place in September, it is organized by the Union of Rural Cooperatives and aims to further promote this famous product. |
| NAXOS ISLAND - TOWN AND APOLLONAS VILLAGE | Fishermen’s Festival | About 3.000 tons of fish are fished from around the waters of Naxos by the local fishermen fleet. The fishermen’s festivals take place during the name day of Saint Nikolaos (in December), in the medieval settlement, known as Chora, and in early summer in Apollonas village. |
| SCHINOUSSA ISLAND | Broad Been/Fava Been Festival | Known as the gold of Schinoussa, its fava seeds and the knowledge of its cultivation were passed down through generations since the Middle Ages. It is a high quality and nutritional product consisting an important part of the famous Mediterranean diet. Many young and new farmers came back to their homeland in order to cultivate fava and Schinoussa became again a living island because of this product. Every year, the first Saturday of July, this local festival takes place consisting of fava, fish, wine and raki. |
| KOUFONISSIA ISLANDS | Fisherman’s Festival | Every June, the Cultural Association, named as “Keros” in cooperation with the local fishermen and the residents, organizes a fest with traditional music, delicacies from fish, raki boiled with honey, wine which are offered to the guests. The fest begins from the sunset till the dawn. |
| AMORGOS ISLAND | Pasteli (Sesame Seed Candy) Festival | After the 15th of August, the traditional producers of pasteli offer to visitors delicious and nutritional candy on lemon leaves along with raki. |
| AMORGOS ISLAND - AEGIALI VILLAGE | Xerotigano Festival | Xerotigano is a traditional candy (baked bread with honey) and during this festival, the residents of Aegiali village, prepare it and offer it to visitors alongside the sounds of traditional music. |
| AMORGOS ISLAND - KATAPOLA | Raki Festival | On the 26th of July in Katapola village the raki festival takes place full of music, dancing and local delicacies. |
| SANTORINI ISLAND - PERISSA VILLAGE | Fisherman’s Feast | The festival is held in Perissa village (the creek of Koladas) during the last weekend of August. The "Fisherman’s Feast" refers to the representation of the traditional way of fishing in Santorini at the time that there were no mechanical means. |
| SANTORINI ISLAND | Vedema | It is celebrated during the first Saturday of August and organized by Santo Wines (the cooperative union of local products of Santorini). It is a celebration of the first day of the year’s harvest and a representation of the traditional way of harvesting. It is accompanied by local songs and customs of the viticulture. |
| SANTORINI ISLAND | Feast day of St. Averkios | The feast day of St. Averkios, who is patron saint of the Santorini Wines. The previous day, the wine makers open the barrels of the new harvest. |
| SANTORINI ISLAND | Wine Tourism Conference | 1st International Wine Tourism Conference (IMIC 2016, Wine Tourism) |
| PAROS ISLAND - NAOUSSA VILLAGE | Sea Festival | From the 70’s, every July, a festival takes place in Naoussa village dedicated to the sea. The local Women Association of the village which organizes this event, offers fresh fried fish, raki (named as “souma” in Paros) and wine to the guests. Many local traditional music groups take part in this festival. |
| PAROS ISLAND - PAROIKIA | Seine Fishing Net Festival | In Parikia village every July, the local authority of the island organizes this festIval offering fresh fried fish, souma and wine to the guests. Live traditional music accompanies this event. |
| PAROS ISLAND - PRODROMOS VILLAGE | Chickpea Festival | Revithada, a traditional recipe based on chickpeas is baked in old fashioned ovens (heated by woods and charcoals) in Prodromos village every August. The guests have the opportunity to watch the preparation of revithada, which is baked from Saturday night till Sunday morning and is served after the prayers in the village church. Many delicacies based on chickpeas are being offered to visitors accompanied by wine, souma and traditional music. There is also a photo gallery which consists of old photos showing the cultivation of chickpeas throughout the ages. |
| PAROS ISLAND - ALYKI VILLAGE | Fish Festival | Takes place in Alyki village every August where the guests can taste fresh fish and wine. |
| PAROS ISLAND - LEFKES VILLAGE | Karavola’s (local name for snails) Festival | Every first Saturday after the 15th of August, a well known festival dedicated to snails takes place in the mountain village of Lefkes. The traditional recipe, made up of snails baked with garlic, is served accompanied by wine and traditional music. |
| SYROS ISLAND - FINIKAS VILLAGE | Kakavia (bouillabaisse) Festival | Every August the fishermen of the island cook the delicious recipe of kakavia and offer it to guests along with wine. |
| SYROS ISLAND - POSEIDONIA VILLAGE | Sardine Festival | Every August on Agkathopes beach, a festival is held dedicated to the seine fishing nets and the sardines. Great quantities of sardines are baked on charcoal and served to guests and locals. |
| SYROS ISLAND - FINIKAS VILLAGE | Zucchini Festival | Festival For the last 4 years, every June in the village of Finikas, this festival takes place dedicated to zucchinis. Traditional recipes based on this product are offered to locals and guests along with traditional music and wine. |
| SYROS ISLAND - VARI VILLAGE | Trigopati Fest | Visitors to this festival have the opportunity to watch the grapes being pressed. |
| SYROS ISLAND - HERMOUPOLIS | Shrimp Fest | Delicacies based on shrimps are served to visitors. |
| SYROS ISLAND - PAGOS VILLAGE | Pastelaria Fest | Pastelaria is a local candy, made by figs and sesame seeds. |
| SYROS ISLAND - POSEIDONIA VILLAGE | Traditional candies and liquers exhibition | Handmade confectionery and liqueurs made by local produce. |
| TINOS ISLAND - KOMI VILLAGE | Artichoke Festival | Artichoke is one of the main agricultural products of Tinos, which the residents have cultivated throughout the ages. Every June, in the village of Komi, the ladies of the village prepare many recipes based on artichoke and offer them to visitors. |
| TINOS ISLAND - KOMI VILLAGE | Caper Festival | The Cyclades are well known for high quality capers grown on their typical dry soil. Every August in the village of Potamia many delicacies are served based on caper. |
| KIMOLOS ISLAND | Ladenia Festival | Ladenia is a traditional recipe from Kimolos, quite similar to pizza, full of tomatoes and onions. Every August the locals organise a festival dedicated to Ladenia. |
| ANDROS ISLAND | Fourtalia Festival | Fourtalia is a type of omelette with potatoes, sausages and local cheese. Every August in Messaria village, visitors and locals have the opportunity to taste this delicacy which is prepared and served by villagers. |
| SIFNOS ISLAND - ARTEMONAS VILLAGE | Tselementes Festival | Sifnos is well known for its legacy on gastronomy. This famous festival takes place in the village of Artemonas, every September and is dedicated to the Sifnian chef, Nikolaos Tselementes. In this event, delegations (consisted from professional chefs and amateurs) from other Cycladic islands visit Sifnos in order to cook and offer their traditional recipes to the guests. Every island has a stand and for three days many traditional delicacies of the Aegean islands are being served. There are also some cooking lessons for the young children, giving them the opportunity to be familiarized with the legacy of their island. |
