CULTURAL FESTIVALS

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There the variety of music and the literal folk tradition is revealed. In every popular festival you will experience unknown emotions by taking part or watching the ancient local dances, the different kinds of live music, the Sitian “kontilies” (the mastery of the lyre) and “mantinades” the old or improvised folk Cretan couplets, traditions in which Sitians the born revellers are unrivalled. Usually simple or casual meetings of locals or foreigners turn out to become a party.

Mediterranean Festival of Sitia

The Mediterranean – Radio Festival of Sitia was organized for the first time in 2016 in Chlouverakis Grove after the collaboration of the Friends of Music Association and the Municipality of Sitia, with the kind support of Ross Daly’s Music Workshop Lavirinthos. Since 2014, the event has become an affair of Sitia’s Development Association, the Municipality of Sitia and the Friends of Music Association of Sitia with the cooperation of CosmosArte.

It hosts contemporary sounds and music blended with the Greek tradition, as well as the wider area of the Mediterranean, the Balkans and the East. The Festival is radio-broadcasted and goes on-air through the cooperating radio stations of Crete as well as the rest of Greece. During the Festival, there is an open exhibition where one can find crafts, local products, musical instruments and other things, while at the same time informative – entertaining activities and creative workshops take place.

PLACE: In 2015 the Festival moved to the Port of Sitia, as well as in the pedestrian area “Papies”, where it is still held today.
 
TIME: The Festival lasts for 3 days and it always takes place during the first Friday-Saturday-Sunday of July.
The Music Scene opens at 21:00 while the exhibition and the workshops start at 19:00.

Kornaria

Cultural festival from the beginning of July until mid August. Events include concerts of music, dance and theatre, exhibitions of fine art and photography, talks and sports events (eg. “Kornarios ” road race, beach volley competition). Events take place outdoors in the Venetian fortress “Kazarma” and indoors at the “Polikendro”. Events are also organized in the villages, such as “Kazanemata” (raki festivals) and Klidonas. The Council of Sitia organizes these events in order to encourage the cultural development of Sitia and to provide foreign visitors with an opportunity to get to know the customs and traditions of Sitia.

Village Church Festivals

The village festivals, which include traditional music and dance, take place every year on the following dates:
 
  • St. George 23/4 , in the ruins of the hamlet of Skalia, Sitanos
  • St. Marina 17/7, Exo Mouliana and Mirsini.
  • Prophet Ilias 20/7 Mesa Mouliana
  • St. Paraskevi 26/7 Ziros and Agia Triada
  • St. Panteleimona 27/7 Roussa Ekklisia, Hamezi, Schinokapsala.
  • Metamorphoseos, 6/8, Exo Mouliana, Agio Stefano and Zakros.
  • Panagia 15/8, Palekastro, Lastro, Piskokefalo, Tourloti, Sitanos.
  • St. John 29/8 Ziros.
  • Panagia 8/9 Lithines
  • Holy Cross 14/9 Sfaka
  • St. Sophia 17/9 Armenous
  • St. Anna 9/12 Piskokefalo.
  • Holy Trinity Palekastro and Agia Triada
  • Holy Spirit Armenous