236 festivals on 74 islands, day by day. Movable feasts are computed for 2027.
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Early June to the end of August
Eastern Crete's big summer festival, named after the 17th-century Sitia-born poet Vitsentzos Kornaros, author of 'Erotokritos'. Concerts, dance, theatre and exhibitions from early June to the end of August, in and around the Venetian Kazarma fortress, plus village panigiria with raki, Cretan bands and communal tables. One of the most honest cultural experiences on the island.
Late July to late August
The port of Gavrio spreads the Gavriotika across a month, from late July into late August: sports tournaments, a chess competition, folk evenings and, on the closing night, a big kakavia (fishermen's soup) cooked on the waterfront and served free with music and dancing. The programme is announced by the Filoproodos Omilos 'To Gavrio' each summer. Handy if you are arriving or leaving by ferry.
late July / first Saturday of August (2 Aug 2025), 21:00
Fournoi thyme honey is the island's pride, and the professionals' association with the municipality celebrate it with an evening on the harbour square: a re-enactment of the honey harvest, traditional dances, dishes cooked with honey, goat and mezedes. Held on a Saturday around the turn of July/August (2 August in 2025). Free, and a good night to buy honey straight from the beekeepers.
1 July to late September
The municipality's summer season: over 130 concerts, plays, dance and children's shows at the Nikos Kazantzakis open-air theatre by the Venetian walls, the Manos Hatzidakis theatre and the Vethlehem bastion (1 July – 21 September in 2025), with an open-air cinema and forty-odd free events. The Festival of the Walls closes it in early September. Tickets go on sale per event on the municipality site; the Kazantzakis theatre is a ten-minute walk from Lions Square.
July through August (varies)
Three-day traditional weddings in Olympos still happen in the original form — costumes, music, lyra. If you're in Karpathos and a wedding is happening, all visitors welcome.
one evening in late July or the first days of August
The municipality of Lixouri and the local fishermen grill sardines by the tonne outside the Ionian Aquarium on the harbour, pour local wine and put on an orchestra for dancing; free, from 9:30pm. It moves around — 3 August in 2023, 28 July in 2026 — so check the Lixouri summer programme; the ferry from Argostoli runs late on the night.
July through September, with Hippocratic Week in mid-October
Annual cultural festival named after the island's most famous son, running from July through September with Hippocratic Week in mid-October. Open-air concerts, theatre, the symbolic re-reading of the Hippocratic Oath at the Asklepieion archaeological site. The main draws are the dance performances and ancient drama productions in atmospheric settings.
early July to mid-August
Ierapetra's municipal summer festival: concerts at the Kales fortress on the harbour and the 3rd Gymnasium yard, theatre, shadow puppetry and a 'White Night' on Eleftherias Square, plus village events in Myrtos, Pacheia Ammos, Gra Lygia and Ferma. Runs from the first days of July to mid-August (3 July – 6 August in 2025). The programme is published on the municipality site in June; most events are free.
Late July or August (varies)
The largest ouzo celebration in Greece, running since 1981 in the Epano Skala neighborhood of Mytilene with parallel events in Plomari (the ouzo capital). 40+ labels for tasting, traditional dances, local food. Free admission.
last days of July to first Sunday of August (28 Jul-2 Aug 2026)
Lesvos's biggest summer event, in its 39th year in 2026: the Kalloni gulf's famous sardines are grilled and given away free with ouzo on the waterfront of Skala Kallonis, with live music, dancing, chef demonstrations and exhibitions over several evenings, peaking on the final night when 5,000+ people turn up. Organised by the Kalloni community and the Municipality of West Lesvos. Accommodation in Skala fills; stay in Kalloni or Petra and drive.
Late July through early September
Running since 1987, Rethymno turns its Venetian past into a summer-long stage. Theatre, music and dance — Cretan Renaissance works alongside Shakespeare and Molière — staged mostly at the open-air Erofili theatre inside the Fortezza, the great fortress above the old town. Book ahead for the headline nights.
July and August
On the pine-covered Bourtzi peninsula between the two harbours — a former fortress, now a cultural centre — Skiathos stages a summer of open-air theatre, concerts, film and shadow-puppet (Karagiozis) nights. It takes its name from a story by Alexandros Papadiamantis, the island's great writer, who is honoured here. Free or low-cost, and walkable from town.
July to September, most nights in August · Gialos / Chorio
Three-month cultural festival across Symi: classical and traditional music, theatre, dance, art exhibitions in venues like Panormitis monastery, the Symi Naval Museum, and various harborside squares. Refreshingly substantive for an island this small.
late July to mid-August, several nights (main rebetiko gathering 9-10 August)
Ano Syros, birthplace of Markos Vamvakaris, hosts rebetiko nights in its stepped lanes and at the small square below the Catholic cathedral: concerts, bouzouki and baglama workshops and an instrument exhibition, with the 'August moons' gathering around 9-10 August. Free or cheap; wear shoes for the 500-odd steps up from Ermoupoli.
26 July – 1 August
Chalkida's patron is Agia Paraskevi, whose historic basilica is in the Kastro quarter; her feast on 26 July opens a week-long fair established by royal decree in 1864, with hundreds of stalls, street food and rides, held since 2026 in the Parko tou Laou (26 July-1 August in 2026) after decades in Vourkos. Vespers and a procession on the 25th at the church; the fair is at its liveliest after 9 pm. Park at the municipal pool.
last week of August, 8 days (21-28 Aug 2026) · Agios Efstratios
The municipality's new late-August festival (first held 2025, second edition 21-28 August 2026): concerts, art exhibitions, poetry and storytelling nights in the council hall, the Marasleio school, the church square, the oak forest and on the beach. It is the one week the tiny island fills up, so book the Lemnos ferry and a room early. Programme at ai-stratis.com.
weekend around 1 September · Kyra Panagia islet
The Athonite monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos on the uninhabited islet of Kyra Panagia, north-east of Alonnisos, keeps its feast with vespers on the Saturday and an Athonite-style liturgy on the Sunday around the turn of August-September; pilgrims come out by kaiki from Alonnisos, Skopelos, Skiathos and Volos. There is no tourist infrastructure on the islet, so you need a place on one of the boats organised from Patitiri and your own water and hat.
last weekend of August, 1 evening
The municipality's end-of-season fish feast in the tiny fishing harbour of Votsi, held for the third time on 29 August 2026: fresh fish grilled on the quay, astakomakaronada cooked to island recipes, live music and dancing by the boats. Portions are served until they run out, so arrive when it starts rather than fashionably late, and walk the 1.5 km from Patitiri as there is nowhere to park.
August, one weekend
Revived ancient-style games — running, swimming and other contests with prizes for the winners — organised in August by the community and the Association of Anafiots living away, ending with an open-air party in Agios Nikolaos square in Chora with live music, food, wine and dancing. Part of the 'Argonautika' August programme of the Anafi cultural association; the exact weekend is announced on the island each summer.
a Saturday in the second half of August
The Chora Sfakion cultural association hands out free sfakianes pites (thin cheese-filled pancakes with honey) with wine and raki on the new harbour quay, with a Cretan band and dancing; recent dates were 19 August 2022 and 26 August 2023, always a Saturday evening from about 8:30 pm. The village is tiny, so book a room well ahead or plan to drive back over the Imbros gorge road at night.
first or second weekend of August, 2 days
Running for over forty years in the village that has the 3,000-year-old olive tree, this is two nights in the schoolyard with a bottle of local wine included in the ticket, big-name Cretan lyra players (Zoidakis, Tzouganakis in 2026) and dancing. Dates shift: 4–5 August in 2017, 8–9 August in 2026. Check the cultural association's announcement and come early for a table.
August through October
Not a single-day festival but a season. Visit any of the 24 mastichochoria during this time and you'll see the cleaned ground beneath the schinos trees waiting to catch the resin tears. Tours from the Mastic Museum in Pyrgi.
a Sunday in mid-August (18 Aug 2024), from 11:00
Souma is the fig-based spirit of northern Chios, and the tiny Amani village of Leptopoda has celebrated it for 15+ years with a Sunday festival: unlimited souma poured from the village stills, mezedes, and island music from late morning. There is no square, so 2,000-plus visitors spread through the lanes, on balconies and roofs. Get there before noon and arrange a driver.
a Saturday or Sunday evening in the first half of August
Since 1997 the Lakones cultural society has staged the arrival of Odysseus on the island of the Phaeacians in the bay of Paleokastritsa: decorated boats and floating stages, divers, dancers, philharmonic bands and a big fireworks finale, from about 8:45pm. Dates vary — 4 August in 2024, 12 August in 2023, 13 August in 2022 — so check kerkyrasimera in July; the road down to the bay closes early, park at Lakones and walk down.
an evening in the last ten days of August · Elafonisos (harbour square)
Elafonisos has the biggest fishing fleet in Laconia and its fishermen's society hosts a night on the harbour square in the last ten days of August: fresh fish grilled by the fishermen, free wine, island dances with a live band until the small hours, sometimes an exhibition of old photos from the society's archive. The municipality calls it the most authentic event in the Peloponnese, which for once is not far off; the exact date is announced in early August.
first Saturday of August, 1 evening · Gianides (Kymi-Aliveri)
The tiny village of Gianides in the Kymi-Aliveri hills holds its Transfiguration panigiri on the Saturday nearest the start of August (1 August 2026, 9 pm) around a single dish: keskeki, the wheat-and-meat porridge stirred for hours by the grandmothers, served by the village youth, with proceeds going to the playground. No stage acts, just food and dancing; bring cash.
late August, 1-2 evenings
Rovies sits in the biggest olive grove in northern Evia and celebrates it in the last third of August: an evening of olive-and-oil dishes and dances in the school (19 August 2026), a local products fair on the beach (21 Aug) and the olive festival proper in the square with singers on 22 August, plus an 'experiential' olive-grove day in early September. Village-scale, free, and the olives and oil are sold at producer prices.
last week of August, 6 days
The municipality's late-August week in memory of Admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis, the Hydriot who became first President of the Republic: six days of lectures, exhibitions and films in the mansions and the Historical Archive, a memorial at his house, sea and running races and concerts on the harbour (25-30 August in 2026, 'around 22 August' in other years). Less spectacular than the Miaoulia in June but the island is calmer and the events are free.
first Saturday of August (2 Aug 2025, 1 Aug 2026), 18:30
A free 10 km / 5 km / 2 km evening road race starting and finishing in the square of Plagia, above Agios Kirykos, organised by the village association on the first Saturday of August (13th edition in 2026). Places are capped (150 for the 10 km, 200 for the 5 km) so register online early; free buses run from the ports of Evdilos and Agios Kirykos at 16:00. Expect a village-style party after the medals.
around 20-24 August
Besides Profitis Ilias, the Vrakades association stages a non-religious summer glendi in the second half of August (20 August on the 2026 island list, 23-24 August in older lists) with the same recipe: goat, wine, a violin band and the cliff-top views over the west coast. Kastanies (Tragostasi) does its own association feast around 23 August. Check the ikariaki.gr calendar for the exact night.
Late August, about a week after the Dormition
Not the 15 August panigiri, despite the name: on the Dormition the liturgy is in the Arginonta parish church, and the mountain chapel of Panagia Galatiani gets its own night about a week later, when the icon is carried back up the valley with a procession, vespers and a glendi in the chapel courtyard (21-22 August in 2026). An easier option than the climb to Kyra Psili and popular with the climbing crowd staying in Masouri, ten minutes away by scooter.
last Saturday of August · Troianata (Xerizomeno)
At Agia Paraskevi in Xerizomeno, the Robola vineyards of Troianata, the harvest is celebrated the old way: grapes are trodden in the wooden press, the must is boiled into moustalevria pudding and handed out, and there is Robola, food and a Kefalonian glendi with local musicians. Held 30 August in 2025; the field is just off the Argostoli–Sami road below the Omala valley.
around 22 August, one evening
Kefalonian kreatopita, the goat-and-rice pie, gets its own night in Tzannata near Poros: from 8:30pm the community bakes hundreds of pies at the village spring (Vrysi Tzannaton), serves them with wine, and the Angelos Andreatos orchestra plays for dancing in the square. Some 1,500 people came in 2026; it is the last big food night before the Robola weekend, so arrive early for a seat.
weekend around 22–24 August, Saturday–Sunday · Fragata (Omala)
Annual celebration in Frangata (Sami area) of the indigenous Robola variety. Tastings, tavern events, music. Robola only grows on Kefalonia and Zakynthos and has a Protected Designation of Origin. Confirm dates locally — they shift year to year.
a Saturday in the second week of August · Mantzavinata (Paliki)
The Kounopetra cultural association pours the Paliki wine in the old school / association courtyard in Mantzavinata, near Xi beach, from 9:30pm, with traditional food, dancing and the Andreatos band. Held 12 August in 2023 and 8 August in 2026; a good low-key alternative to the Robola crowds.
late August (Saturday), one evening
The municipality's celebration of ladenia, the island's olive-oil flatbread with tomato and onion: from 21:00 in the schoolyard in Chorio, hand-made ladenies and tyrenies (cheese pies) and local cheeses are handed out free with wine, and a live island band keeps people dancing until morning. Held on a Saturday in late August (29 Aug in 2026); some listings put it 'around 15 August', so confirm on kimolos.gr before you plan around it.
a weekend in the second half of August
Held by the 'Proodos' cultural association at the restored windmill of Antimachia, as part of the Hippokrateia programme (23 August in 2026): local honey and honey sweets to taste, beekeepers' stalls, traditional music and a concert to finish. Free; go around 8 pm to catch the light on the mill.
a Saturday in mid-August
Kythira's farmers' fair, running for almost forty years in Fratsia in the middle of the island: stalls of local honey, cheese, wine, olive oil, animals in the pens, presentations by the island's institute (KIPA), and in the evening food and a folk band. 17 August in 2024; a good place to buy the island's thyme honey direct from the producer.
a Saturday around 10 August
Mitata, the village of wine and honey in the centre of the island, holds the Kythiran wine festival on a Saturday evening in the second week of August (10 August in 2024), organised by the Myrtia cultural association: local wine poured from the barrel, meat on the grill, and a live band in the square from 9pm. It is the island's main food festival; combine with the Sunday morning market in Potamos.
a night in the first half of August
Kritsa's athletic club bakes the village's sweet myzithra pies for a summer glenti with live Cretan music in the schoolyard (8 August in 2026). The cultural association also runs a 'moonlit night' with boiled meat and raki up in the Kritsa forest at 1,000 m in late summer. Ten kilometres above Agios Nikolaos; the village is steep and parking is at the entrance by the Panagia Kera turn-off.
a weekend in the second half of August, 3 days
The plateau's biggest event, run by the Tzermiado association 'Anagennisi' for nearly thirty years in the old schoolyard: a Cretan night with a full potato-based dinner (15 euros in 2025, Stavrakakis and Alexakis), a laiko concert night with a national name (20 euros, Makropoulos in 2025, tables by phone) and a free Sunday of dance schools. 22–24 August in 2025, 21–22 August in 2026. The plateau is cool at night even in August.
first Friday–Saturday of August
Two evenings in the new square of Karya (the car-park courtyard): on Friday a theatre group plays out the old village wedding customs, on Saturday the 'wedding' itself is re-enacted with bride, dowry procession and violins, and it turns into a proper glendi with a live orchestra and dancing. Held 1–2 August in 2025, 3 August in 2024; free, starts around 8:30–9:30pm, arrive early for a chair.
mid/late August (18 Aug 2026), 21:00
The 'Astrapi' club of Romanos, a village in the centre of the island, holds a traditional August panigiri in the square with a full Lemnian orchestra (violin, bouzouki, percussion and singers), food and drink on site; tables are reserved by phone. Not tied to a saint, so the date moves within the second half of August. Atsiki (Agios Ermolaos) and Lychna (Agios Fanourios, 26 August) hold similar association nights the same fortnight.
a Saturday in early/mid August (9 Aug 2026), 21:30
Fysini, the small village in the remote south-east of Lemnos next to the monastery of Agios Sozon, holds its summer panigiri on a Saturday in the first half of August, run by the 'Agios Sozon' cultural association: island music, dancing and local food from 21:30. It is the same community that keeps the island's big Agios Sozon feast at the monastery on 7 September. Long drive from Myrina (about an hour); the beach below is one of the wildest on the island.
a Saturday in late August
The municipality's wine festival is a proper panigiri on the basketball court of Drymonas, the hamlet on the west coast road (23 August in 2025, from 9 pm): traditional orchestra, Lerian dishes and free wine. It is the biggest of a run of free summer feasts the Dimos Lerou runs each year; check the programme in July.
Late August (20–25 August in 2026)
Major international LGBTQ+ summer festival drawing 30,000+ visitors — six days in late August, on dates that move every year (20–25 August in 2026). Pool parties, beach events, headline DJs at Cavo Paradiso and other venues. Mykonos has been a leading gay summer destination since the 1970s; XLSIOR is the most concentrated week of it. Expect rooms to be impossible.
two days in the second week of August (8-9 August in 2025)
Prodromos bakes its revithada, the slow-cooked chickpea stew that goes into the wood oven on Saturday night, and serves it free to everyone in the village square over a two-day programme of music, dancing and food stalls organised with the municipality. Arrive early on the main evening because the pots run out, and expect to park along the road outside the village.
first Saturday after 15 August
The Yria Lefkon association cooks the big local snails (karavoloi) three ways, in tomato sauce, fried, and with skordalia and potatoes, plus chickpeas, pork, Parian cheeses and local wine, on tables under the pines by the community hall and the open-air theatre. About 800 seats, roughly double that in people, and the balos and syrtos go on until 6 in the morning. Come before 21:00 to get a table; the road up from Parikia is narrow and parking is on the verge.
17-26 August, 10 days
A ten-day summer piano academy and festival in its 15th year (17-26 August 2026): masterclasses by day and free recitals and concerts in the evenings at venues around the town, including the Diana open-air cinema and the harbour. Free admission; the recitals start around 9 pm.
last days of August, 4 days
Four days at the end of August (27-30 August 2026, 30 Aug-1 Sep 2024) commemorating the 1828 Poros Conference where the borders of the new Greek state were drawn under Kapodistrias: lectures, Navy band concerts, theatre on the waterfront and a visiting Navy ship open to the public. Free; the concerts on the quay are the evening draw.
a day between 10 and 15 August
The Mylopotamos shepherd village next to Anogia puts on an afternoon-to-night feast around its dairy tradition: cutting of a giant kefalotyri, dishes cooked by the village women, ethnographic talks, and a stage of Psiloritis lyra players and the local dance societies. The 11th edition was on 15 August 2019, the 12th on 10 August 2026, so check the date each year. It starts around 5–6 pm; the village is 45 minutes from Rethymno via Perama.
first or second weekend of August, 2-3 days
Siana, a mountain village under Akramytis known for thyme honey and souma (grape spirit), throws its honey-and-souma festival on the village square in early August: producers' stalls, free tastings, grilled food and live music with local musicians. It has run for over 20 years; the 2026 edition was on 1 August, earlier years 7-9 August. Combine it with the Kritinia castle and Monolithos nearby, and don't drive back after too much souma.
a Saturday in early-mid August
Koskinou, the village of painted doorways just south of Rhodes town, celebrates melekouni, the sesame-and-honey wedding sweet of Rhodes, with a one-night festival in early August (8 August in 2026): women make it live on the square, you get it free with souma, and there is dancing to a local band. Five minutes by taxi from the town; go around 9 pm.
last two weekends of August, 2 days
Rhodes' wine village on the slopes of Attavyros has held its wine festival for over 65 years, organised by the cultural association 'O Attavyros' on the municipal car park: local wine and moustalevria (grape-must pudding) with grilled meat, and two nights of live Rhodian and Cretan music from 9 pm. Dates move within late August (22-23 August in 2025, 28-29 August announced for 2026), so check the association's page. Book a table by phone if you want to sit.
Throughout August
The Heraion half of the Municipality of East Samos's Iraia–Pythagoreia festival: concerts, theatre and commemorations of Hera, ancient patroness of Samos, staged at and around the sanctuary. The programme runs across August, with some events into September and October; the municipality publishes it in July.
a Saturday in late August (29 Aug 2026)
The Mytilinioi association also throws a purely festive 'nisiotiko panigiri' on a Saturday at the end of August (29 August in 2026), at the volunteer fire station: island orchestra, dancing and food. Not a saint's day, so the date moves; watch samosvoice.gr.
last ten days of August (22-31 Aug 2025) · Vathy (Samos town), Manolates, Pyrgos, Pandroso
A ten-day celebration of Samos Muscat run by the Municipality of Eastern Samos with the EOS Samos wine cooperative: opening night with tastings and live music at the Wine Museum in Malagari (22 Aug 2025), then village wine nights in Manolates (25 Aug), Pyrgos (26 Aug) and Pandroso (30 Aug), a free-entry museum day, and a two-night finale with grape-treading, dancing and free wine on the central square of Vathy (30-31 Aug). Dates shift slightly each year; the programme is published in early August on samosvoice.gr.
Early-to-mid August
Classical music and arts festival hosted at the 17th-century Megaron Gyzi mansion in Fira — about eleven days in early-to-mid August (3–13 August in 2026). Chamber concerts, recitals, exhibitions. The quiet, refined antithesis to Santorini's mass-tourism reputation. Limited tickets — book ahead.
15-20 August, 4-6 evenings
The Cultural and Folklore Society's week of island customs held around Dekapentavgoustos: a trachanas night where shepherds cook the sour wheat soup in cauldrons at the municipal café, a re-enactment of a Skopelitiko wedding that ends with a full glenti with orchestra, food and wine on the harbour (10 EUR in 2026), and an evening of making and tasting the island's spiral tiropita. Dates were 25-27 August in 2025 and 15-20 August in 2026, so check the programme; the wedding night sells out.
mid-August (12 Aug 2026; a week of events 10-17 Aug 2024)
The old capital Theologos stages a full traditional Thasian wedding each August as part of the municipal Arts Festival: procession of the bride and groom through the stone village with live music, the wedding feast with local dishes, dancing in the square. In some years it is expanded into a 'wedding week' with textile exhibitions. Theologos also revives its water-mill era on 31 July with street food. Check the festival programme on thassos.gr in early July.
24-25 August
Panagia, the plane-shaded village above Golden Beach, celebrates its walnut groves in the last week of August (24 August 2026, 25 August 2024): handmade walnut sweets and spoon preserves, local food and music in the square. A relaxed evening for families; park at the top of the village. Panagia also revives an 'Augustos Paraugoustos' village gathering around 1-2 August.
a Saturday in the second week of August (8 August in 2026)
The tiny valley village of Potamia, above Agios Fokas beach, throws a glenti for the capers that grow on its walls: caper salads and meze, local wine, and island dances to violin and laouto in the square until the early hours. One of the smaller Tinos festivals and one of the friendliest.
a Saturday around 22-23 August
Tripotamos, the wine village just inland from Chora, opens its barrels for a glenti in the square: local wine poured freely, meze from the association, and violin-and-laouto dancing until late. Held on a Saturday near the Enniamera of the Virgin (23 August in 2026). Ten minutes by car from the port, so easy to combine with a late ferry.
first Sunday after 29 August
The relic of Osios Iosif, brought from Crete when Candia fell in 1669, rests in the church of the Transfiguration in Gaitani, and on the first Sunday after 29 August the Metropolitan, clergy and village lead an evening procession with it through the streets of Gaitani, followed by a village celebration; the municipality's 2026 programme also lists a traditional dance evening in Gaitani on 3 September. Gaitani is 3 km from Zakynthos town on the Machairado road.
1–2 August
For the feast of St Stephen's relics (2 August) the mastic village of Elata celebrates on the islet of Agios Stefanos off Agia Irini bay: boats leave the little harbour of Agia Irini around 18:00 on the eve for vespers and a gathering at the chapel. Small, unusual and weather-dependent; bring water and something for the boatman.
4 August
Dafni, a small mountain village inland from Evdilos, celebrates on 4 August with a panigiri organised by its cultural association: roast goat, mezedes and Ikarian wine, with Nikos Fakaros's orchestra in 2025. Two days later the same village keeps the Transfiguration (6 August) alongside Christos Raches, Frantato and Stavlos, so it is a good base for a three-night run.
5–6 August
Chora's own feast, held by the Simonidis association in the Loza square on 5-6 August: after the liturgy the village serves food and wine with live island music and dancing under the plane trees. Smaller than Agia Paraskevi but right in the middle of the prettiest village on the island.
5–6 August
Arni, the highest and greenest village on Andros, celebrates the Transfiguration with a panigiri on the evening of 5-6 August: froutalia (the Andros potato-and-sausage omelette), roast meat, wine and violins in the square, organised by the village association with free entry. The road up from Batsi is long and twisty; allow 40 minutes.
5–6 August
A small Apokoronas village with one of the area's most consistent 5–6 August panigiria: Cretan music in the square on the eve, liturgy and a second glenti on the day itself. Expect boiled goat with pilafi, local wine and syrtos/pentozalis; it is a village affair, so come with cash and no expectations of a menu.
5–10 August · Pantokrator summit / Strinilas
From 1 to 6 August pilgrims climb to the monastery on the 906 m summit of Pantokrator for the six days of the Transfiguration, sleeping in the cells and celebrating the liturgy at dawn on the 6th; the villages below — Strinilas, Perivoli, Spartylas, Palaiochori in Lefkimmi, Agios Matthaios — hold their own panigiria on the evening of the 5th or 6th. Strinilas, the last village before the summit road, is the one with tavernas and music.
5–6 August
The longest and largest panigiri on Ithaca, with more than a century of history: two nights, 5 and 6 August, in the central square of Stavros with an orchestra playing continuously, long tables of grilled meat and wine, and the whole north of the island dancing. Nothing to book, but arrive by 9pm on the second night if you want a table.
5–6 August
Othos, the highest village on Karpathos, and neighbouring Aperi both celebrate the Transfiguration on 5-6 August with vespers, communal food and dancing to lyra. Go up on the evening of the 5th; the two villages are five minutes apart, so you can do both.
5–6 August
The Transfiguration is kept at the church of the Saviour in Katomeri and at the Faneromeni monastery's dependency on the island, with vespers on 5 August and liturgy on the 6th attended by the mayor and the monastery's abbot; a reception follows. It is a church feast more than a party, but it lands in the busiest week of the year and the tavernas of Katomeri fill afterwards.
5–6 August
The fortified Byzantine monastery of Fotodotis Christos above the tiny village of Danakos celebrates the Transfiguration on 6 August with the Metropolitan's liturgy and the blessing of the first grapes, and Danakos holds a small, warm panigiri with food and live music. Local listings also give Danakos a feast for Agios Panteleimon on 27 July, so ask which night the village is actually cooking. Glinado, Damarionas and Kourounochori keep Sotiros the same day.
5–6 August
Marpissa's parish church is dedicated to the Transfiguration, so 5-6 August is the village's own feast: a bishop's liturgy on the day, and the night before a panigiri in Papa-Giorgis Stamenas square with food, wine and live island music. Aliki on the south coast holds a smaller Sotiros feast the same evening, often with a fish festival on the beach. Marpissa's lanes are car-free; park at the entrance by the main road.
5–6 August
The church of Christos in Kato Kampos celebrates the Transfiguration with a vespers on the 5th and a panigiri with music and dance run by the Kampos cultural association 'Evangelistria', spilling into the tavernas on Kampos beach. Easy: it is the island's main beach village.
5–6 August
The balcony village above Plakias holds its feast of the Saviour on the evening of 5 August with a Cretan kompania in the square and food from the cultural association. It is the panigiri for anyone staying on the Plakias coast; the road up is short but parking in Myrthios is scarce, so walk up from the first bend or take a taxi.
5–6 August
Fanes, on the west coast between Kalavarda and Soroni, celebrates the Transfiguration with a village panigiri on the evenings of 5 and 6 August: liturgy at the Sotiras church, then a glendi on the square with local bands, souvlaki and wine. Neighbouring Maritsa does its own 'Sotiria' the same days, so you can hop between them. Kiotari in the south also feasts the Saviour on 5-6 August.
5–6 August
Samos's biggest date: the Transfiguration is also the anniversary of the 1824 naval victory over the Ottomans off Mycale. On the evening of 5 August the icon is carried from the church of the Metamorfosi to the harbour (around 21:00), followed at 22:00 by a re-enactment of the sea battle with fireworks and a harbour-front glendi; on 6 August there is a hierarchical liturgy, wreath-laying at the Lykourgos Logothetis monument and dance groups in the square. Roads into Pythagoreio close from 17:00 on the 5th, so park outside town and walk.
5–6 August
Pyrgos keeps an old custom for the Transfiguration: on the eve the village boys 'steal' basil plants from the girls' courtyards to decorate the dome of the church of Christ, and after the liturgy on 6 August there is a panigiri in the kastro lanes with wine, food and music. One of the few Santorini feasts that still feels like a village affair.
5–6 August
The Transfiguration is kept at the village of Pyrgos and at the chapel of Sotiras above Kalo Ampeli beach, with vespers on the evening of 5 August, the ktitores' table of fava and goat, and liturgy on the 6th. Pyrgos is the more accessible of the two and has the village-square glenti; Kalo Ampeli is a walk-in beach chapel and very quiet.
5–6 August
On 5 August the 16th-century monastery of Metamorfosi tou Sotiros above the Chora holds festive vespers with artoklasia at 8 pm, often with Athonite monks concelebrating, and the liturgy at 7.30 next morning. On the evening of the 6th the Dimos Skopelou stages the town's big open-air panigiri on the harbour front / KAPI courtyard with a name nisiotika singer (Nasia Konitopoulou in 2025), free to attend. Go up to the monastery for the vespers and come down to the port for the dancing.
5–6 August
The Transfiguration is kept at Nimborio, the bay a half-hour walk west of Gialos, with vespers on the 5th and a feast in the courtyard with fried fish, salads and wine, and Symiot music; it is also the 'Ag. Sotiris' night listed within the Symi Festival programme. Walk back along the coast road with a torch, or take a water taxi.
6 August
Mantoudi's parish church is the Metamorfosi, and on 6 August the food for the feast is cooked in cauldrons in the churchyard and shared after the liturgy, with music in the square; the municipality lists it each summer. A weekday-style village panigiri rather than a concert, which is the point.
6 August
Christos Rachon throws one of the two biggest panigiria on Ikaria, for the Transfiguration. The mountain village fills with thousands and the proceeds fund the village all year — school, roads, the clinic. The dancing routinely runs until 7am.
6 August
Frantato, in the green interior between Evdilos and Raches, throws its Sotiros panigiri on the evening of 6 August with the Zevkalides band, the island's best-known young Ikarian ensemble. It is the panigiri locals from the Evdilos side choose over Christos Raches: smaller, with goat and wine from the village association and dancing until daybreak. Stavlos, a short drive away, runs an all-day feast the same date.
6 August
The west-coast valley of Poisses celebrates its Sotiras church on 6 August from 20:00, organised by the municipality and the Poisses society 'Agios Isidoros': liturgy, then food, wine and live island music by the beach. It's a long drive from the port on the west-coast road — allow 30 minutes and don't rush back in the dark.
6 August
The fishing village of Avlemonas keeps its annual chorós on the evening of 6 August, feast of the Saviour, with live music and dancing on the harbour from 9pm and food from the tavernas around it. Small and very pretty; parking is at the entrance of the village.
6 August
Upper Zakros, the village at the top of the Gorge of the Dead, celebrates the Saviour on the evening of 6 August with several local musicians and a dinner ticket (15 euros, 10 for children in 2025). Combine a morning at the Minoan palace and Kato Zakros beach with the glenti in the village square; the road back to Sitia is an hour of bends.
6 August
On the feast of the Transfiguration the Eglouvi cultural association cooks the village's famous lentils the old way in cauldrons on the Agios Donatos plateau above the village, and serves them free with bread, olives and wine from about 7pm, followed by live music and dancing under the stars. Parking on the plateau is chaotic; the association runs a shuttle bus from the old KTEL station in Lefkada town at 6:30pm with a stop at Agios Minas, which is the sane way up.
6 August
Nikiana's church of the Saviour celebrates on 6 August with a big open-air panigiri on the seafront the same evening, booking well-known folk singers and a full orchestra; food and drink from the village associations, dancing late. Nikiana is on the east-coast road 10 minutes north of Nydri, so it is easy to combine with a stay anywhere on that coast.
6 August
The cultural association of Pedino celebrates the village church's feast on the evening of 6 August in the square of Neo Pedino, central Lemnos: free entry, live music 'until morning', food and drink from the association. A typical Lemnian village panigiri, 15 minutes from Myrina, and one of the few kept on the saint's day itself rather than the eve.
6 August
The hill village of (old) Kallirachi on the west coast celebrates the Transfiguration on 6 August with a feast organised by its cultural association, part of the municipal summer programme. The next night (7 August) Skala Kallirachi below holds its harbour festival with a big-name Greek singer. Prinos, further north, has a traditional celebration with Thracian-style music around 16 August.
7–8 August
One of the largest panigiria in Crete: the Malevizi village where the saint lived holds a hierarchical vespers and an all-night liturgy on 7 August, the procession of his relics on the 8th, and two nights of Cretan music in the main square (Kounalis brothers and Kallergis brothers in 2026). Pilgrims queue for the saint's tomb and the holy-water cave under the church. The village is 20 minutes from Heraklion; parking is on the approach road, so come early.
8 August
A small Raches-area village feast on 8 August, with Nikos Fakaros and the Musicarous playing in 2026. Typical west-Ikaria format: tables in the square, goat and wine from the association, dancing well past midnight. Kossoikia (Evdilos side) keeps the same saint the same night.
9 August
The olive village south of Sitia celebrates its oil on the evening of 9 August with dishes cooked in the new-season Sitia PDO oil and a Cretan kompania (Petros Maroulis in 2025), part of the Kornaria programme. Twenty minutes from Sitia; the Minoan villa of Achladia is next to the village if you come early.
10–11 August
One of four annual processions of the relics of Saint Spyridon, patron of Corfu. The casket is carried through the old town accompanied by all three philharmonic orchestras. The August one commemorates deliverance from a 1716 Ottoman siege.
10 August
Amalou, a tiny stone village on the wild west coast below Vrakades, hosts a 'big panigiri' on 10 August with the Zevkalides. It is one of the most atmospheric spots on the island to dance, but the access road is rough and there is almost no parking; go with one car per group. Faros (near the airport) and Steli/Platani celebrate the same night.
10 August
The beach village of Faros at the eastern tip, next to the airport, holds its panigiri on 10 August with the Ikariotiki Kompania. Handy if you are staying in Agios Kirykos or arriving by plane: flat, by the sea, easy parking along the beach road. Food and wine from the village association, dancing till late.
10–11 August
The 11 August miracle of Agios Spyridon is a big day in the Sfakiotes villages: in Lazarata there is vespers with artoklasia on the 10th, liturgy on the morning of the 11th and an evening procession of the icon through the village to the square, while neighbouring Karya carries its own reliquary under the plane trees the same morning. Village tavernas and the squares fill up afterwards; the lay panigiri on Karya's square has traditionally followed the same weekend.
11 August
The fishing hamlet of Avlaki near Karavostamo serves fish instead of goat at its psaropanigiro on the harbour. Sources disagree on the date: the 2026 island list gives 11 August (Agios Efplous / Agios Fanourios), while older lists put it on 27 August for Agios Fanourios, so check the ikariaki.gr calendar in the week before. Either way it is small, cheap and on the water.
13 August
Manganitis, the cliff-hung fishing village on the south coast reached through the tunnel road, has its summer panigiri on 13 August, run by the residents' association 'To Kavaki' (Nikos Fakaros's orchestra in 2019, the Periichou ensemble with Panagiotis Choutras in 2026). It is not tied to a saint, just the village's night: tables around the harbour, island songs and dancing until late. Fles near Evdilos holds a wine feast the same night.
14–15 August
The little church of Panagia in the hamlet of Metochi above Megalochori has the island's Dekapentavgoustos celebration, reached on foot along the trail; the whole island turns out and the tavernas in Megalochori take the overflow. Book a room for that weekend, Agistri fills with Athenians.
14–15 August
Langada above Aegiali celebrates 15 August at the church of Panagia Epanochoriani (Panochoriani) up the hill; older pilgrims still ride donkeys up, and afterwards the village serves patatato and xydato with plenty of rakomelo, violins and dancing in the square through the night. The Archaia Arkesini association in Kato Meria holds a traditional food-and-dance evening the same day.
14–15 August
Korthi bay in the south is the island's best-known 15 August panigiri: liturgy and procession, then froutalia and soumada (almond cordial) in the square with island instruments and dancing. The same night Livadia and Makrotantalo in the north, and Ammolos and Pano Katakoilos hold their own glentia, and in Chora the seaside chapel of Panagia Thalassini celebrates.
14–15 August
The big island festival at the Portaitissa church just below the castle. Procession, music, lamb on the spit.
14–15 August
The white monastery on its rock five kilometres from Elafonisi is the big Dormition pilgrimage of western Chania: vespers on the 14th with a Cretan glenti below the monastery (Kounalis and Georgiladakis in 2026), then the morning liturgy on the 15th. The approach road is single-track and fills with cars, so come before sunset and expect to walk the last stretch.
14–15 August
On the eve of the Dormition the village at the foot of the White Mountains bakes its kreatotourta, the Chania meat-and-cheese pie, and serves it with music in the square (Nikos Pontikakis played 2026). It is one of a dozen panigiria in Kydonia that night, so it is not overrun. The road up from Fournes is narrow; leave the car below the church.
14–15 August
The Apokoronas plateau is the densest panigiri zone in Chania on 14–15 August: Fres, Litsarda, Pemonia, Alikampos and Kefalas all hold two-night feasts with lyra-and-laouto kompanies (Pantermakis, Karkanis, Kontaros, Pontikakis in 2026). Villages are a few minutes apart, so people move between squares; dancing goes on until dawn. Book a taverna table or bring cash for the syllogos food stall.
14–15 August
Sidirounta, a hillside village on the west coast road to Volissos with a wide view over the Aegean, holds a big open-air panigiri on the night of 14 August from 22:00 with a live orchestra (Makrokanis-Tzikas in 2026), free entry and food from the village taverna. Good stop if you are heading to the western beaches; the road back to town is dark and winding.
14–15 August
The village above the Loggas cliffs runs a two-night panigiri on 14 and 15 August organised by the local football club, with well-known Corfiot folk musicians (the Skolarikis family in 2025) and dancing in the square; food and wine from the club. Combine with sunset at Loggas beach, then walk up; parking in the village is tight.
14–15 August
The port village of Stavros hosts Donousa's biggest feast on 14-15 August: liturgy, then patatato (goat with potatoes) and other local dishes served to everyone, with live traditional music and dancing on the square until late. The island has a handful of rooms and one ferry a day; book both months ahead.
14–15 August
The island's big day: an all-night vigil at the church of Panagia Katonisiotissa in Kato Nisi on the 14th, while the young people light fires on the Panagia beach below and sing and dance until dawn; liturgy on the morning of the 15th, then a popular panigiri with the island's women's and children's dance groups in the afternoon. Boats used to bring crowds from Mani and Kythira; today it is islanders and summer visitors, and the beach bonfire is the thing to see.
14–15 August · Oxylithos (Kymi)
The most famous Dekapentavgoustos custom in Evia: at the church of Panagia Petriotissa in Oxylithos, near Kymi, the bell rings on the afternoon of 14 August, fires are lit under dozens (locally 'over 200') of cauldrons and volunteers stew beef with tons of onions all night, nobody tasting, until it is blessed and served free to everyone after the liturgy on the 15th. Neighbouring Kalimeriani and Potamia keep the same custom. Thousands come from Athens; sleep in Kymi or Platana and get there before the 8 am liturgy.
14–15 August
The village of Papades, in the hills between Agia Anna and Vasilika, throws its Panagia panigiri in the square on the night of 14 August with a live orchestra, organised by the local cultural society and listed by the municipality. Small, cheap and genuinely local; the coast villages are 15 minutes away for a bed.
14–15 August
The white church of Panagia on the hill above Chora — the island's landmark — celebrates the Dormition with vespers on the evening of 14 August, a procession, and a glenti with violin and laouto in the Chora squares, followed by liturgy on the 15th. The island is at capacity that week; the zig-zag path up to the church is unlit, so bring a torch.
14–15 August
Halki's Dormition is a two-part affair: liturgy on the 15th at the restored church of Panagia Choriatis up in the old village of Chorio, and on the evening of the 14th and 15th a glendi with Dodecanese musicians on the Nimborio harbour front. Everything is a five-minute walk in Nimborio; the Chorio church is a 3 km walk or taxi ride uphill.
14–15 August
Archanes keeps the Dormition at its church of Panagia Faneromeni: festive vespers with a Byzantine choir and artoklasia on the 14th, liturgy from 7 am on the 15th, and a glenti in the restored village square with the local wine flowing. The village is 15 km from Heraklion with plenty of tavernas; reserve a table for the evening of the 14th.
14–15 August
The 17th-century monastery-cathedral of the Koimisis on the harbour front is Hydra's main church, so 15 August is its name day: vespers on the 14th, liturgy and a procession of the icon through the port streets on the 15th, with the whole island in its best clothes. Peak season, no cars and every room taken, so book months ahead if you want to be there.
14–15 August
Ios's biggest feast — the Dormition, celebrated at the cliff-edge church of Panagia Gremiotissa crowning Chora. Morning liturgy, then the whole village tips into eating, dancing and music until dawn, with fireworks over the harbour. The walk up through the white lanes at dusk is half the experience.
14–15 August · Panagia (Chora)
The upper village of Panagia celebrates its church on 14-15 August with a vigil, the liturgy, and a panigiri in the church courtyard: goat and patatato cooked by the community, wine, and violins until late, with boats bringing people over from Schinoussa and Naxos. Walk up from the port (30 minutes) or take the minibus.
14–15 August
On 14 August the mountain hamlet of Anogi, home to the byzantine church of the Dormition with its frescoes and Venetian bell tower, hosts a panigiri in the church courtyard: the villagers roast meat and pour their own wine, and there is dancing until sunrise. Ithacans call it the most fun night of the summer; the drive from Stavros is short but winding, so share a car.
14–15 August · Kefali (Porto Leone)
The abandoned village of Kefali at Kalamos's southern cape comes alive once a year: festive vespers with artoklasia at 7:30pm on 14 August and a hierarchical liturgy on the morning of the 15th at the church of Agioi Anargyroi, with the Metropolitan of Lefkada, pilgrims arriving by boat from Mytikas and Kalamos village, and a treat offered afterwards. There is no road; arrange a boat from Kalamos port or Mytikas the day before.
14–15 August
The island's main Dormition feast is at the cliff monastery of Kyra Psili above the Vathy valley: pilgrims walk up in the evening of the 14th with mats and blankets, the vigil starts around 9-10 pm, and afterwards there is tsambouna-and-laouto music, dancing and food stalls until morning. Wear proper shoes for the path and bring water; cars stop well below the monastery.
14–15 August
The biggest day of the Kasos year: the whole island, plus 2,000-odd diaspora Kasiots, gathers at the church in the village of Panagia. Kasiot dolmadakia (tiny stuffed vine leaves), stewed meat with cinnamon pilaf and fried potatoes are served free, and sousta and zervos dancing to lyra and laouto runs from midday to dawn. Ferries and the tiny plane fill up; book in June.
14–15 August
Between 6 and 15 August small harmless snakes with a cross-like mark appear around the church of the Dormition in Markopoulo, above Katelios, and are handled by the faithful during the vespers of the 14th and the liturgy of the 15th; years when they fail to show (1940, 1953) are remembered as bad omens. It is a pilgrimage, not a panigiri, and the church is tiny, so arrive by 6pm on the 14th if you want to get inside.
14–15 August · Simotata (Livathos)
The Livathos village of Simotata keeps 15 August the traditional way: vespers, then from 8pm on the 14th a village panigiri in the square with live music, food from the cultural association and dancing. Ten minutes from the airport and the Lassi hotels, so easy to reach; the same night Agkonas in Thinia has a panigiri with the Pavlatos orchestra if you prefer the west.
14–15 August
Kimolos keeps Dekapentavgoustos simply: vespers on the 14th, liturgy and a procession of the icon through the lanes of Chorio on the 15th, and a traditional glenti with violin and laouto in the village. It coincides with the peak of the summer 'Cultural August' events run by the Athens-based Kimolian associations, so the island is at its fullest — the Milos–Kimolos ferry from Pollonia gets very busy those days.
14–15 August
The biggest village panigiri on Kos: the shepherds of Kefalos, the old capital at the far west, cook boiled goat with pilaf in huge cauldrons and serve it free after the liturgy on the 15th, with dancing to island music on the square the night before and after. Kefalos also runs a fish festival in the first half of August. Parking in the village is tight; use the road below and walk up.
14–15 August
The island's patroness, whose icon was found floating in the channel between Kythnos and Serifos, draws pilgrims from all over the Aegean: vespers on 14 August at the pine-shaded shrine above Kanala beach, an all-night glenti with violin and laouto, and on the 15th a liturgy and a re-enactment of the icon's finding with a procession down to the little harbour. Rooms in Kanala sell out weeks ahead; most people stay in Dryopida or Chora and drive over.
14–15 August
Kalamitsi, the hill village above Kathisma beach, runs a two-night panigiri on 14 and 15 August in the old school yard, organised by the Neromylos cultural society: live folk orchestra, souvlaki and local wine, dancing until late. It is the closest proper village panigiri to the west-coast beaches; the road up from Kathisma is steep and parking is on the roadside.
14–16 August
The Athonite metochi of Panagia tis Trygis ('of the Vintage') at Propouli in north-west Lemnos, a chapel of 1706 with a rare icon of the Virgin in white, is the island's main Dormition pilgrimage: services from the 13th, liturgy and procession on the morning of the 15th, vespers at 17:00, served by monks of Simonopetra. Hundreds come from all over the island; combine with Myrina's own Koimisis parish feast (14-15 August).
14–15 August
Leros' most photogenic chapel, wedged between the rocks 800 m along the coast track from Xirokampos beach, where a fisherman found the icon among crabs (kavouria). It is kept on 15 August with a liturgy and blessing at the chapel and a small feast in Xirokampos afterwards. Walk along the shore from the beach; there is no parking at the chapel.
14–15 August
Petra's landmark church sits on a 40 m rock in the middle of the village, reached by 114 steps; on the eve and day of the Dormition it fills with pilgrims and the village below with tavernas and music. Petra also keeps the 'Enniamera' (22-23 August) at the Faneromeni chapel. Combine with the beach and the Molyvos road; parking in Petra on the 15th is hopeless, so come early.
14–15 August
The mountain town of Agiasos and its church of Panagia (Agia Sion) host the great Dormition pilgrimage of the northern Aegean: pilgrims walk the 27 km from Mytilene on the night of 14 August and sleep in the church courtyard, the icon is carried round the church after the liturgy, and the square then fills with folk orchestras and dancing. Agiasos is also famous for its own musicians and carnival, so the party is genuine. Cars are stopped at the edge of town; go by bus or walk in.
14–15 August
The monastery of Panagia Tourliani in Ano Mera's square is the island's spiritual centre, and on the evening of 14 August, after the vespers, the square fills with a free traditional panigiri: local musicians (Lefteris Kantenas in 2026), wine, and dancing until late, then the liturgy and procession on the 15th. Ano Mera is 15 minutes by bus from Chora and the buses run late that night.
14–15 August
Apeiranthos, the marble-paved village with Cretan roots, does its own Dormition feast on 14-15 August with the village's celebrated violin players, kotsakia (improvised rhyming couplets), local wine and food in the square, competing with Filoti a few kilometres away. If you want a slightly smaller crowd and the best musicians, this is the one.
14–15 August · Geranou (north Patmos)
The largest panigiri on Patmos, at the old double chapel on the hilltop of Geranou, north of Kampos, with a view over the strait: after the vespers on the 14th thousands crowd the courtyard for food and wine and a traditional orchestra keeps the dancing going until dawn. Go by bus or scooter and expect to walk the last stretch; cars queue on the narrow road.
14–15 August · Gaios (Panagia islet)
On 14–15 August the whole of Paxos crosses to the monastery of Panagia Vellianiton on the islet that closes Gaios harbour: vespers and vigil on the eve, liturgy in the morning, and then the centuries-old custom of the islanders serving beef broth (zomos) and meat cooked in copper cauldrons to every pilgrim, local or visitor. Five or six local boatmen shuttle from the Gaios quay from early morning for a small fare; the wait was minimal in 2026.
14–15 August
On the eve, 14 August, islanders and returning Psarians go up to the monastery of the Dormition for vespers, after which the church serves chickpeas to the fasting pilgrims; the party then moves to the old threshing floor, where a small panigiri has been revived in recent years. A rare chance to see the island full; boats from Chios are booked out that week.
14–15 August
Pserimos, the 30-person islet between Kos and Kalymnos, has its one big day on 15 August: caiques from Kalymnos and Kos bring hundreds for the liturgy at the Panagia church at Avlakia, then traditional music, dancing and local food on the beach front. The excursion boats go back in the afternoon, so if you want the evening, arrange a room or a return caique in advance.
14–22 August
The Dormition feast at the big Panagia church of Kremasti, near the airport, turns into a nine-day fair (roughly 14-23 August) with a huge street market, funfair rides, food stalls and evening concerts on the square. The religious high point is the vespers and procession on the evening of the 14th. Traffic on the airport road is heavy those nights; come by bus from Rhodes town or park well outside the village.
14–15 August · Mesa Gonia (Episkopi Gonias)
The 11th-century Byzantine church of Panagia Episkopi at Mesa Gonia hosts the island's largest panigiri: on the evening of 14 August big cauldrons of fava and beans are cooked in the courtyard, and after the liturgy on the 15th everyone eats free and dances to live island music with locals and summer visitors mixed together. Park along the Kamari road and walk up; it gets very busy after 21:00.
14–16 August · Ramos / Pyrgos
Serifos spreads Dekapentavgoustos over several nights: on the eve (14 Aug) the Panagia chapels at Ramos and Skopoi (Skopiani) and the Evangelistria in Kato Chora celebrate, on the 15th–16th the feast moves to Pyrgos and Panagia at Liomantra (Sklavogianni), and the nine-day (Enniamera) feasts at Kamaroti, Maskailia and Pente Pigadia run on 20–23 August. Local sources also refer to a three-day 'Xylopanagia' feast at the village of Panagia; treat that as the 15–16 August cluster. Each is a ktitores' table of fava, goat and wine with dancing — pick one per night and ask in Livadi which has music.
14–15 August · Skyros Chora area
Skyros keeps Dekapentavgoustos at the chapels of Panagia Megklou (14-15 August) and Panagia Pathima (eve of the 14th), with the usual tavles and all-night music, and on the 15th the island's Skyrian wedding re-enactment in the Chora. It is peak season on a small island with one ferry a day from Kymi, so accommodation and the boat need booking well ahead.
14–15 August
On the evening of 14 August the fishing village of Kini revives the Fotarida, the old night-fishing lanterns lit along the beach, followed by an island evening with live music, and on the 15th the Catholic parish celebrates the Dormition, as do Galissas, Pagos, Piskopio and Chalandriani. Kini's beach tavernas are packed that night; book.
14–15 August
The car-free islet across the strait from Myrties keeps its own Dormition feast on 15 August, the quieter alternative to Kalymnos' Kyra Psili: liturgy at the Panagia church, then food and music in the tavernas along the little waterfront. The Myrties water taxi runs every half hour until late, so you can hop over for the evening.
15 August
On the evening of 15 August the Cultural Association stages a re-enactment of a traditional Alonnisian wedding in the old hilltop village, in costume with the old songs, at about 7 pm, and from 8.30 the municipality's panigiri takes over with violin, bouzouki and singers until dawn (in 2026 the glenti moved down to the harbour at 9.30 pm). The lanes of the Chora are car-free and the road up is a bottleneck, so use the bus from Patitiri and walk back down the kalderimi if you are still standing.
15 August
Pilgrimage to the cliff-top monastery above Korthi. The icon is revered for healing properties; villages across the island send delegations.
15 August
On the evening of 15 August the Anopoli cultural association and the Municipality of Sfakia lay a communal table on the plateau above Chora Sfakion: boiled meat with pilafi, Sfakian stew, graviera, honey and wine, with a Cretan kompania and the local dance society. It has run since the mid-1980s and draws people from all over Crete. Start is around 9 pm; drive up the hairpins from Chora Sfakion in daylight and park on the plateau road.
15 August
Limni, an old shipowners' town, marks the evening of 15 August with a naval night on the harbour: decorated boats, Bengal lights and flares over the bay, and music on the quay. Part of the municipal summer programme; the waterfront is packed, so come by 8 pm for a table.
15 August · Stouppaioi / Tsakaioi
Two of the stone hamlets on the slopes above Karystos, Stouppaioi and Tsakaioi, hold their Panagia panigiria on 15 August in the schoolyards, with violin-and-lute circle dances until dawn and home-cooked local dishes. Narrow roads and no lighting, so drive up in daylight or share a taxi from Karystos.
15 August
The island's biggest night: on 15 August from about 20:00 the cultural association sets tables along the harbour for homemade goat dishes, mezedes and wine, with a live traditional orchestra and dancing. Ferries from Ikaria and Samos are full that week; if you are day-tripping there is no late boat back, so book a room.
15 August
Akamatra, the pretty mountain village above Evdilos, runs an all-day 15 August panigiri in its central square organised by the association 'I Kefala': violins from 13:00 (two different ensembles in 2026, Panagiotis Choutras and Nikos Kochylas) through to the following morning. It is the sensible choice if Langada sounds like too much: paved road, a real square, food all day. Karavostamo, Gialiskari, Kouniadoi, Monokampi, Kampa, Perdiki and Panagia all celebrate the same day.
15 August
Kampa is the vineyard hamlet above Xylosyrtis under Mount Atheras; its 15 August panigiri, run by the Xylosyrtis association 'O Atheras', starts early afternoon with local food, the area's own wine and a violin-led band (Giannis Roussos in 2026) and goes 'until the shoes melt'. A daytime option on the south side of the island, 15 minutes from Agios Kirykos. Monokampi, further along the same coast, also does a midday-start panigiri this date.
15 August
The north coast's big 15 August, held on the day in Karavostamo 'from early' with an Ikarian company (Marios and his group in 2024). Larger and more accessible than Langada, on the main road between Evdilos and Agios Kirykos, with the sea a few steps away for a swim between dances. Buses do not run late; arrange a taxi or a sober driver.
15 August
The most famous panigiri in Greece. In the near-abandoned village of Langada above Agios Dimitrios, the Dormition draws people from across the island and the diaspora for an all-night feast that ends well after sunrise. Communal, unhurried, wine-and-dance till dawn — the clearest window into why Ikarians live so long.
15 August
The fishing hamlet of Gialiskari next to Armenistis, with its white chapel on the rocks, celebrates 15 August right by the water, organised by the cultural association 'I Koimisis': Ikarian wine, goat and local dishes, with Stroupa and the Zevkalides playing in 2023, until morning. Ideal if you are based in Armenistis and do not want the Langada trek; walk over along the beach.
15 August
The island's central 15 August liturgy is in Platrithias, and the evening panigiri in its big square marks the unofficial end of the Ithacan summer: live band, barbecues, pop-up bars and dancing until dawn, with the whole island and every returned emigrant there. Rooms in the north are full that week; plan to sleep in Vathy and drive.
15 August
Kea's big night: on 15 August from 21:00 the municipality throws the 'Traditional Tziotiko Panigiri' in the main square of Ioulida, with a full island orchestra, communal tables and dancing that goes on until the small hours. The next evening (16 Aug, 20:00) the party moves to Kato Meria for the 'Glenti Kato Merias' organised with the Karthaia society. Ioulida is on foot only — expect a long walk from wherever you find parking.
15–16 August
The northern village of Komitata, on the Erisos peninsula between Agia Efimia and Fiskardo, holds a two-day panigiri on 15–16 August run by the village cultural association: church in the morning, then long tables, grilled meat, wine and a live orchestra in the square both nights. Pyrgi on the Sami side has its own on the 16th and Antipata/Pylaros on the 14th if you are touring.
15 August
On 15 August the whole island crosses by caique to the uninhabited Kato Koufonisi for the liturgy at the church of the Virgin, followed by a free meal of fish and meat in the courtyard and a panigiri with kerasmata and violins; the return crossing is an informal race between the boats, and the winner's crew is feasted again. Boats fill up, so be at the harbour early in the morning.
15 August
Potamos, the market town of the north, throws its annual chorós on the night of 15 August in the big square, organised by the Potamos cultural association: live orchestra, tables, grilled meat and wine, and the whole north of the island plus the returned Australians dancing until late. The square is small for the crowd; eat first at one of the tavernas around it and drift in around 11pm.
15 August
Armeni, a few kilometres inland from Sitia, holds the area's best-attended Dormition glenti on the night of 15 August in the schoolyard, with a full menu (15 euros in 2025) and a name kompania (Giorgos and Nikos Stratakis in 2025); Paraspori nearby does its Panagia the night before. Reserve through the village association and expect it to run until 3 am.
15–16 August
Zefyria, the island's old capital, celebrates the Dormition at Panagia Portiani with vespers and bread-blessing at 20:00 on 14 August, liturgy at 07:30 on the 15th and the glenti itself on the evening of 15 August, with a band (violin, bouzouki, keyboards, laouto, vocals) and refreshments in the churchyard. Because the party is on the 15th rather than the eve, you can do Adamas on the 14th–15th and Zefyria the same night — the two are ten minutes apart by car.
15–16 August
The port's Dekapentavgoustos: vespers and bread-blessing at 20:00 on 14 August followed by a procession of the icon around the harbour, liturgy at 07:30 on the 15th, and from 21:30 on the 15th a traditional glenti with violins and laouto in the church courtyard. It is the busiest night of the year in Adamas — book dinner and accommodation well ahead, and expect the harbour road to be closed for the procession.
15 August
15 August is the one night of the year Othonoi is full: emigrants back from America and Corfu, liturgy in the morning, and a panigiri with music and food by the harbour that goes late. Rooms are few, so book months ahead or come on the day-boat from Agios Stefanos and go back on the late run.
15 August
The large village on the hill just west of Rethymno throws the town's nearest big Dormition glenti on the night of 15 August, with a headline Cretan singer (Manolis Kontaros in 2019, Grigoris Samolis for the Asteras club's anniversary in 2025) and tables that are reserved by phone in advance. It is five minutes from the city, so taxis are easy; expect it to run past 3 am.
15 August
Lampini's Byzantine church of the Panagia, with its frescoes, is the reason the whole Agios Vasileios valley comes here on 15 August: liturgy in the morning and a glenti in the evening with a well-known lyra player (Andreas Manolarakis in 2019, Nikos Manioudakis in 2025). Twenty minutes south of Rethymno on the Spili road, easy to combine with the Preveli coast.
15 August
The island capital's big night: on the evening of 15 August the square of Chora, under the castle, hosts a traditional panigiri with local musicians and dancing. Chora keeps the Transfiguration (6 August) the same way. Both are busy with the August camping crowd from Therma, so come up early for a seat.
15 August
The big island festival at the church above Chora. Music until dawn — entirely local, almost no tourists.
15 August · Glossa / Loutraki
The north of the island celebrates Dekapentavgoustos twice over: the municipality's panigiri on the little harbour of Loutraki (15 August in 2025, the 16th in 2026, with a local singer and dancing by the water), and since 2025 a revived all-night glenti in the central square of Glossa village above it, where the music went on until 6 am. Between them there is a shuttle-worthy 3 km of hairpins, so decide where you will sleep; rooms in Glossa are few and go early in August.
16–18 August
Kato Garouna, above Agios Gordios on the west coast, is famous on Corfu for its musicians ('Ta paidia ap' to Garouna') and throws a three-day panigiri from 16 August with its own players, long tables of pastitsada and sofrito and dancing every night; the village also does a wine festival on a Saturday at the very end of August. Twenty minutes from town; go on the first night, which is the most local.
16 August
Kymi's dried figs are a PDO product and the village of Vitala above the town celebrates them with an evening festival on 16 August, at 9 pm: fig sweets and fig-based dishes, live music and dancing, 5 EUR entry and food and drink deliberately held at old prices. Fits neatly with the Oxylithos stifado the day before.
16 August
The ferry port of Marmari, an hour from Rafina, follows the Dekapentavgoustos with its own harbour panigiri on the night of 16 August, with a nisiotika orchestra and singers (Matthaios Giannoulis and Maria Nomikou in 2025) and dancing on the quay. Easy to reach from Athens for a night; the last boat back is around midnight in summer, so plan to stay.
16 August
The day after the Dormition the hamlet of Pitsinianika, between Livadi and Mylopotamos, fills its little square from 9pm with traditional, folk and even jazz music, food and drink, a raffle, and the Kythiran circle dance 'apanochoro' danced by everyone. Run by the village association, 3 euro entry, one of the friendliest nights on the island.
16 August
Sitia's raisin festival is held in Piskokefalo, the sultana village 4 km south of town, at the athletic centre on the evening of 16 August, with raisin-based sweets and dishes, local wine and a big Cretan stage (Grigoris Samolis in 2025). It closes the Kornaria panigiri weekend, so it is the one to pick if you can only do one Sitia glenti; Piskokefalo also holds a corn festival there on 19 July.
16 August
The day after the Dormition the Eleftherna cultural association holds its glenti at the Panorama centre opposite the archaeological museum, with two Cretan singers on stage (Tzanidakis and Samolis in 2019). It is a good way to pair a museum visit with an evening of music; the site is 30 minutes from Rethymno past Arkadi.
20–21 August
The chapel of the Virgin at Mersinia, in the countryside north of Chora, holds its own feast on 21 August with a vespers the evening before, food and wine offered by the families who look after the church, and music. A small rural panigiri; ask in Chora for directions and a lift.
22–23 August
Arki, with its 40-odd inhabitants, has one feast a year worth crossing for: the ninth day of the Dormition on 23 August, when boats from Patmos and Lipsi bring people for the vespers at the Panagia church and a feast of fish and goat by the sea, with music and dancing by the harbour. Get there and back on a caique from Patmos or Lipsi the same day, or stay in one of the few rooms.
22–23 August
The Odigitria on 23 August (the leave-taking of the Dormition) is a second 15 August for a string of Corfu villages: Gastouri, below the Achilleion, holds vespers on the 22nd and a panigiri in the square with an orchestra and food, and Pelekas, Agioi Deka, Liapades and Pentati do the same. Good option if you missed the mid-August crowds.
22–23 August
Named by the municipality among the island's most important feasts: the nine-day of the Dormition at Panagia Flabouriani, the chapel by the west-coast beach of Flabouria, on the evening of 22 August and the morning of the 23rd, with the usual violin-laouto glenti. Panagia Eleousa at Kastro celebrates the same date. The last stretch to Flabouria is a rough track from Chora — a 4x4 or a walk.
22 August
A young festival (4th edition in 2025) in the hill village of Sykia west of Sitia, on the evening of 22 August: fresh and dried figs, fig sweets and raki, with local lyra players (Fasoulas and Kallergis in 2025) and a 5-euro entry. Small and friendly; go for the food rather than a big stage.
22–24 August · Lipsi village
The feast Leipsoi is known for, on the ninth day of the Dormition: the icon of Panagia tou Charou (the Virgin holding the crucified Christ) is famous for the dried lilies placed on it on 25 March that bud again in August. On 22 August at 6 pm the icon is carried in procession from the cathedral with the band and the whole island, and the municipality hands out grapes, sweets, mastic-and-anise bread and local meat over three days of music. Boats come from Patmos, Leros and Kos; book the ferry back before you go.
22–23 August
The historic chapel of Zoodochos Pigi at Kotsinas, by the statue of Maroula on Bournia bay, keeps the ninth day after the Dormition with festive vespers at 19:30 on 22 August and liturgy at 07:30 on the 23rd. A quiet, scenic feast rather than a party; the underground spring beneath the church is the reason people come.
22–23 August
The folklore society of Agia Paraskevi has run this two-day feast since 1985 at the chapel of Panagia Mosna, 2.5 km above the village: on 22 August a garlanded calf is led through the village at midday, society members ride decorated donkeys up to the chapel in the evening and the music goes all night; on the 23rd there is liturgy, blessed 'kiskek' (wheat and meat stew cooked overnight) for everyone, donkey races at Ligaridia in the afternoon and dancing in the village square till dawn. The rural end of the summer for Lesvos; book a table in the square.
22–23 August
Komia celebrates the nine-day (Enniamera) of the Panagia at the chapel of Panagia Giatrissa — 'the Healer' — with vespers and a panigiri in the churchyard on the evening of 22 August. It is one of the island's older rural feasts and draws Milians from every village; the same evening the Panagia chapels at Kipos and Trypiti also celebrate, so ask locals which one has the band that year.
22–23 August · Tripodes (Vivlos)
Nine days after the Dormition, Tripodes (Vivlos), the windmill village above Plaka beach, holds the Enniamera feast with tables in the square, wine and live island music. It is the closest big village panigiri to the west-coast beaches and a good one if you are staying around Agios Prokopios or Plaka.
22–23 August · Panagia Kyra monastery
The 'ninth day' of the Dormition on 22-23 August is kept at the monastery of Panagia Kyra, in the countryside between Mandraki and Loutra: after vespers huge tables are laid in the monastery courtyard for everyone, with music until late. Quieter than Spiliani and more of a locals' feast.
22–23 August
The biggest event on Salamina: the 16th-century monastery of Faneromeni on the north-west coast, opposite Megara, keeps the Apodosis of the Dormition on 23 August with a vigil on the 22nd, a procession of the miraculous icon and tens of thousands of pilgrims, many of whom walk through the night from Paloukia; a fair with stalls and food lines the road to the monastery. Extra buses run from Paloukia and the Perama ferry; go on the eve for the atmosphere.
22–23 August
The ghost village of Mikro Chorio, abandoned in the 1960s, fills again on 23 August for the feast of Panagia Kamariani, with music, dance and free food among the ruins. Same night as Politissa in Livadia, ten minutes away, so pick one.
23–24 August · Aegina Town
Aegina's hospital is dedicated to Agios Dionysios of Zakynthos, who was bishop of Aegina and lived on the island, and the translation of his relics is kept on 23-24 August with an episcopal vespers at 7.30 pm and liturgy and memorial next morning. A town event for those already on the island in late August.
23 August
Menites, the village of running water and plane trees above Chora, holds its Koumoulo panigiri on 23 August from 21:00 in the square, run by the cultural association with free entry: local food, wine and live island music. Katakoilos has its own big square panigiri on a nearby night (22-24 August), so you can do both in a weekend.
23 August
The 'Enniamera' (ninth day after the Dormition, 23 August) is kept as a village panigiri in the square of Nea Potamia in north-eastern Chios, organised by the local association with a traditional orchestra (Poupaloi-Pipidis in 2024). A quieter alternative to the mid-August crowds, popular with families from Chios town.
23 August
A harbour evening in Karavostasi built around kakavia, the fishermen's soup: the local boats' catch is cooked in big pots on the quay and served free with wine, with island music afterwards. Held on 23 August; arrive early with a plate and a spoon of your own if you can, and eat standing — there are few tables.
23 August
Nine days after the Dormition, Panagia Tourliani in Ano Mera has a second, quieter panigiri in the monastery square with the local group Aposperites playing island music, food and wine. Less crowded than the 15th and easier to get a table at the tavernas around the square.
23 August
On 23 August, the ninth day after the Dormition, Naoussa's Women's Association ends its Enniamera bazaar and the village youth stage the Koursariko: around 21:00 boats with torches sweep into the old harbour, 'pirates' dressed as Barbarossa's men (who sacked Naoussa in 1537) snatch the girls, the locals fight back, and it all dissolves into a panigiri with violins, dancing and wine on the quay. Revived in the 1960s and held every year since. Get to the harbour by 20:00 for a spot by the water.
23–24 August
On 23-24 August the caiques go north from Gialos to the uninhabited islet of Nimos for the feast of the Panagia (Ypakoi/Alithini chapels) with fish, wine and music on the shore. Boats are the only way; ask at the Gialos harbour on the 23rd.
24–25 August
Heraklion's patron, the apostle Titus, is honoured at his basilica off 25 August Street: hierarchical vespers on the 24th, liturgy and the procession of the saint's skull through the city centre on the 25th, with the municipal band and the honour guard. It is a city religious event rather than a village glenti; the street is pedestrian, and the procession leaves the church mid-morning.
26–27 August
The seaside chapel of Agios Fanourios at Ormos Korthiou celebrates on 26-27 August with vespers, fanouropita for everyone and an evening glenti on the waterfront. A relaxed late-August feast in the south of the island.
26–27 August
On the eve of Agios Fanourios (26 August) the cultural association of Lychna, near Moudros, fills the central square from 21:30 with a five-piece Lemnian band, plenty of food and drink and dancing, with the municipality as sponsor. Reservations by phone. The last big village night before the September Agios Sozon feast.
26–27 August
Agios Fanourios is celebrated at Plaka, Pollonia and Trypiti, but the party is in Plaka: after vespers on the evening of 26 August a panigiri with a DJ and a food canteen takes over the church forecourt. Fanouropites (the saint's oil-and-cinnamon cakes) are blessed and handed round. Plaka is car-free — park at the lots below the village and walk up.
26–27 August · Mykonos Chora
On the evening of 26 August the chapels of Agios Fanourios in Chora and at Ano Mera (and the rural one at Chondros Gkremos) hold vespers with fanouropita for everyone, followed by wine and music. A small, local end-of-August feast worth catching between the beach clubs.
26–27 August
The fishing hamlet of Ampelas, east of Naoussa, keeps the feast of Agios Fanourios with vespers at the chapel on the evening of 26 August and a small panigiri with fanouropita, meze and island music by the water. It is a local, low-key evening; combine it with dinner at one of the fish tavernas on the beach.
26–28 August · Rhodes Town
Agios Fanourios, the finder of lost things, has his little 13th-century church in the heart of the Old Town, and on 25-27 August the lanes around it fill with fanouropites (the spiced cake baked as a vow), stalls and evening music. Paradisi holds a separate Agios Fanourios feast on the 26th. Stroll in after 8 pm; no car needed.
26–27 August
The chapel of Agios Fanourios belongs to the parish of Genniseos tis Theotokou in the Chora; on the evening of 26 August women bring their fanouropites (the spiced saint's cakes) to be blessed from 6 pm, followed by festive vespers at 8 pm and the liturgy and kollyva next morning. Cakes are cut and shared with everyone present, so turn up hungry but do not expect music or dancing.
27 August
Agios Fanourios on 27 August is the last big saint's night of the Ikarian summer, and it is kept in several places at once: in the church courtyard at Agios Panteleimonas above Agios Kirykos (Zelepos orchestra), at Maratho above Evdilos, at Vrakades and at Agios Dimitrios in Raches. Fanouropita (the saint's cake) is handed round with the goat. By now the August crowds are thinning, so it feels more local.
28–29 August
The village of Vroutsi in Kato Meria keeps the Beheading of St John with a panigiri on the evening of 28 August: goat patatato, wine and violins in the small square. A gentle end-of-August feast in the least visited part of the island.
28–29 August
For the Beheading of St John on 29 August, Makrotantalo in the far north keeps the feast with kerasmata and dancing after church, and the mountain village of Vourkoti above Apoikia holds its big panigiri the same night, with food, wine and violins in the square. Vourkoti is the more spectacular setting; the road up is narrow and unlit.
28–29 August · Agios Ioannis monastery (west)
On 28-29 August the panigiri moves to the remote monastery of Agios Ioannis on the wild west of the island, above the waterfall gorge: vespers, then food and violins in the courtyard. The last 3 km are dirt track; go in a group and share a car.
28 August
A celebration of Folegandros's own sour cheese, souroto, and its farm food, held in Ano Meria on 28 August: cheese, matsata pasta and local wine offered by the village, with violin and laouto and dancing until late. It marks the tail end of the season, when the crowds have thinned and it's mostly Folegandrians in the circle.
28–29 August · Agios Ioannis Alarga monastery
The monastery of Agios Ioannis 'Alarga' (far away) sits at the end of the road across the island from Nimborio, and on 28-29 August the whole of Halki plus its Rhodes and Florida diaspora drives, walks or rides out for the vespers, a traditional feast in the monastery courtyard and lyra-and-laouto music until late, then a procession back in the harbour. The municipality runs a shuttle; go on the 28th evening.
28–29 August
For the Beheading of St John, two chapels on the wild east coast, at Psathi bay and above Kalamos beach, hold their feasts on the same night of 28-29 August: meat soup and fasolada are ladled out free, with wine and traditional music by the sea. Both are at the end of long dirt roads; go with a car and a torch, and stay for the dawn liturgy if you can.
28–29 August · Cave of Agios Ioannis, south of Panagia
On the evening of 28 August the vespers for the Beheading of St John is sung inside the first great chamber of the Agios Ioannis cave, an hour's rough walk south of Panagia, with candles and crowds who come over from the neighbouring islands, followed by kerasmata outside. Take a torch and good shoes; the path is stony and the walk back is in the dark.
28–29 August · Olympos / Vrykounta
On 28-29 August the people of Olympos walk down to the underground church of Agios Ioannis at Vrykounta, an ancient site on the far north coast: park at Avlona and walk about 90 minutes down the old path, carrying a sleeping bag because everyone spends the night on the stone terraces around the church. Braised goat, chickpea soup and loukoumades are served at long tables, and the mantinades and dancing to lyra go on until dawn. Pack water and a torch; there is only a small canteen.
28–29 August
The Beheading of St John closes Dryopida's summer: vespers at the Prodromos church on the evening of 28 August and a glenti with the village's violin and laouto players; the Prodromos in Chora and the chapel of Ai-Giannis tou Skylou celebrate the same night. As it's a strict fast day, the food is Lenten — expect chickpeas, olives and fava rather than meat.
28–29 August · Agios Ioannis beach, Lefkada town
The tiny chapel of Agios Ioannis Antzousis on the beach west of town, said to have been founded by Angevin crusaders, opens only for its feast: vespers on the evening of 28 August and liturgy on the 29th (Beheading of St John), with the town's families walking or cycling out along the lagoon. No big panigiri, but a nice evening if you are staying in town; the beach bars behind the chapel stay open.
28–29 August
For the Beheading of St John on 29 August, Apeiranthos feasts on the evening of the 28th with traditional dishes such as paspalas and sourdough bread, wine, and violin music and dancing in the square. Apollonas and Agersani hold St John feasts the same night, and Apeiranthos celebrates St John the Theologian again on 26 September.
28–29 August
The fishing village of Apollonas at the northern tip keeps the Beheading of the Forerunner — vespers on the evening of 28 August, liturgy on the 29th — with grilled meat and seafood, local wine, music and dancing by the harbour. One of the last panigiria of the Naxos season, with the August crowds gone and the water still warm.
28–29 August
Lefkes' second big night: on 28-29 August, for the Beheading of St John, the village feasts at the chapel of Ai-Giannis Kaparos with food from the association, wine and violin-laouto dancing in the square. The same evening the monastery of Agios Ioannis Detis in the Paros Park at Kolymbithres holds its vespers, so some people do both. The village is pedestrian; park at the top by the bus stop.
28–29 August
For the Beheading of St John (29 August) Sifnos has five Ai-Giannis feasts on the evening of the 28th — Choni, Mavro Chorio, Siderou, Mangana — but the easiest for visitors is Ai-Giannis 'the Faster' at Faros, a chapel above the beach, which does its panigiri on the morning of the 29th after liturgy. Being a fast day, the panigyras serves the Lenten menu: cod with cabbage salad instead of lamb, alongside the revithada.
28–29 August
Alithini, the village on the hill just outside Ermoupoli, keeps the Beheading of St John on 28-29 August with vespers and a glenti with food, wine and music. The same village also feasts Agia Anna and Agia Paraskevi on 26 July. Poseidonia on the south coast holds a St John panigiri the same night.
29 August
At the chapel of St John in the rural settlement of Thermastis, 7 km from the port, the church committee marks the Beheading of the Forerunner with liturgy, refreshments and, in the evening, souvlaki, mezedes and a live traditional band in the chapel square. The fireworks-and-Easter-decoration team (PKF) also uses the same chapel for a fundraising panigiri a couple of weeks earlier (17 August in 2025). Dirt road at the end; a lift from a local is the usual way in.
29 August
Mavrato, a farming village in the hills west of Agios Kirykos, marks the Beheading of St John on 29 August with a panigiri that runs 'from midday until morning': roast kid, boiled goat, octopus pilaf and mezedes, with Nikos Fakaros's orchestra in 2024. One of the last chances of the season to dance the ikariotikos; Proespera in Raches keeps the same saint the same day.
29 August
Proespera, a hamlet on the Raches plateau, closes the west-coast season on 29 August with local meat, mezedes and plenty of wine, the Zevkalides playing in 2025. Small and friendly; it is the Raches-side twin of the Mavrato feast the same day.
31 August – 1 September · Agios Symeon hill (Kamares)
The end-of-summer feast on the 476 m peak of Agios Symeon above Kamares: on the evening of 31 August people walk or drive up the track for vespers, then eat revithada and lamb at the monastery's long tables with a violin-laouto takimi. The chapel of Pantokratoras at the Platys Gialos–Chrysopigi junction celebrates the same night and is the easy-access alternative. Ask at your hotel whether the panigyras is laying on food that year — it depends on the sponsor.
Dates are resolved for 2027: fixed saint's days as they fall, movable feasts computed from Orthodox Easter (2027: 2 May). Panigiria are usually held on the eve of the saint's day, and a village occasionally shifts one to the nearest weekend — where an entry says "confirm locally", the date comes from recent years' announcements rather than an official calendar. If you know better, the feedback button exists for exactly this.
