Festivals

Cultural development in Kefalonia and Ithaca was mainly influenced by the Italian conquerors, as evidenced in the case of the Ionian chant, 'cantada', which differs from the pattern of traditional songs in the other parts of Greece. Weddings, festivals and feasts, as well as the collection of olive oil and grapes constituted occasions of pleasant gatherings, with dances, recitation of rhymes and singing of traditional songs.  

The entire ancient and modern history of the islands of Kefalonia and Ithaca, resulted in the formation of a very interesting and diverse cultural background with a strong influence of different elements of each historical period. One of the most characteristic examples of that, is the great musical tradition of the islands (which includes philharmonic orchestras, chants and traditional songs), which is manifested through cultural activities that include both traditional festivals and events of a more alternative nature.

Folkore festival of Saint John Lampadaris at Fokata Village source:www.inkefalonia.gr
Folkore festival of Saint John Lampadaris at Fokata Village source:www.inkefalonia.gr

 

Folkore festival of Robolas at Fragata Village source:www.kefaloniapress.gr
Folkore festival of Robolas at Fragata Village source:www.kefaloniapress.gr
Folkore festival of Holy Mother Lamias at Dilinata Village source:www.inkefalonia.gr
Folkore festival of Holy Mother Lamias at Dilinata Village source:www.inkefalonia.gr
Folkore festival of Themata source:www.inkefalonia.gr
Folkore festival of Holy Mother at Themata source:www.inkefalonia.gr
Folkore festival at Argilia Holy Monastery source:www.kefalonianews.gr
Folkore festival at Sami Holy Monastery of Argilia source:www.inkefalonia.gr

 

Folklore festival of Saints Fanentes

All Saints’ Day

Sami, Agioi Fanentes

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

 

Folklore festival of the Holy Mother at Themata

Easter Tuesday

Pilaros, Themata

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

 

Folklore festival at Agrilia

May 1st

Sami, Holy Monastery of Agrilia

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

 

Folklore festival of  Saint John Lampadaris

June 24th

Fokata

Traditional food, music, traditional dances, local custom

 

Folklore festival of  the Apostles Peter and Paul

June 29th

Valeriano

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

 

Folklore festival of  the Apostles

June 30th

Frikes, Ithaca

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

Afales Beach, Marmakas Beach


Folklore festival of  the Holy Mother Diotissa

July 1st- 2nd

Lourdata, Dias Islet

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

Agios Thomas Beach

 

Folklore festival of  Saint Prokopios

July 8th

Kampitsata

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

 

Folklore festival of Saint Ephimia

July 11th

Agia Ephimia

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

 

Folklore festival of Saint Marina

July 17th

Exogi, Ithaca

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

Afales Beach, Marmakas Beach

 

Folklore festival of Saint Marina 

July 17th

Michalitsata, Lixouri Paliki

Traditional food, music, dances

Michalitsata

 

Folklore festival of the prophet Elias

July 19th - 20th

Razata

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

Grouspa Cave

 

Folklore festival of the prophet Elias

July 20th

Kioni, Ithaca

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

 

Folklore festival of the prophet Elias

July 20th

Agrapidies, Fragkata

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

Polje of Valsamata

 

Folklore festival of  Saint Ephpraxia

July 25th

Aphragia, Tzanata

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

 

Folklore festival of Saint Anna

July 25th

Lakithra

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

Ai- Chelis Beach

 

Folklore festival of  Saint Paraskevi

July 25th

Faraklata

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

 

Folklore festival of  Saint Paraskevi

July 25th

Lepeda

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

 

Folklore festival of  Saint Paraskevi

July 25th

Xerizomeno, Troianata

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

 

Folklore festival of  Saint Paraskevi

July 25th

Tsiphata, Lourdata

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

 

Folklore festival of  Saint Paraskevi

July 26th

Asprogerakas

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

 

Folklore festival of  Saint Paraskevi

July 26th

Atheras

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

 

Folklore festival of  Saint Panteleimon

July 27th

Thenia, Kontogourata

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

 

Folklore festival of  Saint Panteleimon

July 27th

Poulata

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

Aggalaki Cave

 

Wine Festival, Perachori

Last Saturday of July

Perachori, Ithaca

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

Cave of the Nymphs, Rizes Cave

 

Folklore festivalDivarata

Last days of July

Divarata

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

Damage zone of Charakas, Myrtos

 

Watermelon Festival

Last days of July

Agios Demetrios, Paliki

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

 

Folklore festival of Saint Eleftherios

Last days of July

Mount Aenos, chapel of Agios (Saint) Eleftherios 

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

Carstic erosion of Aenos, Rudists

 

Sardene festival

July / August

Fokata

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

 

Festival of serenades and traditional riganada

First days of August

Vlachata

Traditional food, music, traditional dances, local custom

Agios Thomas Beach

 

Saristra Festival

First days of August

Old Vlachata

Artistic events, exhibitions, music

 

Folklore festival of the Savior, Stavros

August 5th- 6th

Stavros, Ithaca

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

 

Folklore festival of the Savior, Sami

August 6th

Grizata

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

 

Folklore festival of the Savior, Poros

August 6th

Poros

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

Poros Gorge

 

Folklore festival of the Savior

August 6th

Davgata

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

 

Folklore festival of the Savior

August 6th

Travliata

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

 

Folklore festival at Farsa

August 7th

Farsa

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

 

Festival of Harvest and Moustalevria

August 12th

Troianata

Local products, traditional food, music, traditional dances, local customs

 

Wine Festival, Mantzavinata

Saturday before August 15th

Mantzavinata

Local products, traditional food, music, traditional dances

Xi Beach

 

Folklore festival of  the Holy Mother’ s Day Eve

August 14th

Simotata

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

Agios Thomas Beach

 

Folklore festival for the Holy Mother’s Day Eve

August 14th

Anogi, Ithaca

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

Menhir of Anogi

 

Folklore festival for the Holy Mother’s Day

August 15th

Platrithias, Ithaca

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

Afales Beach, Marmakas Beach

 

Folklore festival of  the Holy Mother

August 15th

Chionata

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

 

Folklore festival of  Panagia Lagouvarda or Panagia Fidousa of the snakes

August 15th

Markopoulo

Local products, traditional food, music, traditional dance, local customs

 

Folklore festival of  the Virgin of the lilies or Panagia Gravaliotissa

August 15th

Pastra

Traditional food, music, traditional dances, local customs

 

Folklore festival of Saint Gerasimos, the patron Saint of Kefalonia

August 16th and October 20th

Omala, Holy Monastery of St. Gerasimos

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

Polje of Valsamata

 

Robola wine Festival

the 1st Saturday after August 15th

Fragata, Valsamata

Local products, traditional food, music, traditional dances

Polje of Valsamata

 

Folklore festival of  Saint Dionisios

August 24th

Livadi, Paliki

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

Livadi Wetland

 

Folklore festival of  Saint John

August 28th

Karavomylos

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

Karavomylos Lake

 

Shepherds Festival

Last days of August

Pilaros, Themata

Local products, music, traditional dance

 

Festival of the Kefalonian meat-pie

Last days of August

Tzanata

Traditional food, music, traditional dance

 

Argostoli barcarole

August

Argostoli

Traditional music, local custom

Koutavos Lagoon

 

Assos barcarole

August

Assos

Traditional music, local custom

Lower Cretaceous, Assos

 

Festival of the Hunters’ Association

Last days of August, first days of September

Mount Aenos, Molou hunting lodge

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

Carstic erosion of Aenos, Rudists

 

Folklore festival of  the Holy Virgin in Lamia

September 7th

Dilinata

Traditional food, music, traditional dances

 

Folklore festival of  the Virgin Mary Mirtidiotissa (meaning of the myrtle trees), Drapano

September 24th

Drapano

Traditional food, music, traditional dances, local custom

Gorge of Agia Varvara and Agia Varvara cave - church

 

Folklore festival of  Saints Taxiarches

November 8th

Pastra

Traditional food, music, traditional dances