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Skiathos festivals & panigiria, 2027

9 feasts and festivals, April–December, across 4 villages. The big one: Bourtzi summer festival (July and August). Dates are computed for 2027.

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23 AprilAgios Georgios horse races and Kamara dance, Koukounaries
7 MayPanigiri of Zoodochos Pigi (Bright Friday), Skiathos Town
23–24 JuneKlidonas bonfires of Ai-Giannis, Skiathos Town
4–5 JulyFeast of the Finding of the Icon of Panagia Eikonistria, Skiathos Town
25–26 JulyPanigiri of Agia Paraskevi, Platanias · Platanias (Agia Paraskevi)
26–27 AugustFeast of Agios Fanourios (fanouropita), Skiathos Town
20–21 NovemberPanigiri of Panagia Kounistra (Eikonistria), Kounistra Monastery · Kounistra Monastery (Troulos)
6 DecemberLighting of the Christmas boat, Bourtzi, Skiathos Town
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Otherconfirm locally

Agios Georgios horse races and Kamara dance, Koukounaries

23 April

On St George's day (or Easter Monday when 23 April falls in Lent) a liturgy is held at the chapel of Agios Georgios by the Koukounaries lagoon, the horses are blessed and then raced along the strip of land by the old carnagio, with separate heats for racehorses, working horses and donkeys. In the Chora the same days see the Kamara, the island's slow women's dance in heavy traditional dress, in the square of Agia Triada on Easter Monday and Tuesday. Spring, so accommodation is cheap; the races are informal and start late morning.

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Panigiriconfirm locally

Panigiri of Zoodochos Pigi (Bright Friday), Skiathos Town

7 May

The Friday after Easter is Zoodochos Pigi, and since 2026 the Dimos Skiathou has revived the old daytime panigiri in the courtyard of the church of that name in town, from about 11 am after the liturgy, with music, dancing and food. It is a family, Easter-week affair rather than a night glenti, and a good excuse to be on the island when it is still green and quiet.

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Carnival

Klidonas bonfires of Ai-Giannis, Skiathos Town

23–24 June

On the evening of 23 June the old neighbourhoods of the Chora (Plakes, Agios Nikolaos, around the church of Ai-Giannis) light bonfires, burn the May Day wreaths and children jump the flames three times for luck. There is violin-and-lute music, teasing couplets, oregano (the saint is 'Riganas' here) and wine poured for anyone standing nearby. It is a neighbourhood custom, not a ticketed event, so just walk up from the old port after 9 pm and follow the smoke.

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Music

Bourtzi summer festival

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.

Religious

Feast of the Finding of the Icon of Panagia Eikonistria, Skiathos Town

4–5 July

Skiathos' second feast of its patroness marks the finding of the icon in a pine tree in 1655. On the evening of 4 July the icon is carried from Treis Ierarches to the church of Genniseos tis Theotokou for vespers with several bishops, and on the morning of the 5th, after the liturgy, it is processed through the streets of the Chora. Pilgrims come from the mainland, so the town churches are packed; it is a religious event with no glenti attached.

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Panigiri

Panigiri of Agia Paraskevi, Platanias

25–26 July · Platanias (Agia Paraskevi)

The municipality's main summer panigiri: vespers at 8 pm on 25 July at the chapel of Agia Paraskevi behind Platanias beach, then from about 9 pm a live nisiotika orchestra, dancing and food and drink in the churchyard until late. The 2026 edition was run by the Dimos Skiathou with free entry. It is on the main road to Koukounaries, so take the bus from town rather than fighting for parking.

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Religious

Feast of Agios Fanourios (fanouropita), Skiathos Town

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.

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Panigiri

Panigiri of Panagia Kounistra (Eikonistria), Kounistra Monastery

20–21 November · Kounistra Monastery (Troulos)

Skiathos' patroness is honoured on 21 November (Eisodia), and the real event is the night before: islanders drive or walk the 8 km through the pine forest to the fortified monastery above Troulos, keep vigil and sit around fires lit in the courtyard until the morning liturgy. It is a winter feast, so expect wool coats, tsipouro and simple food rather than a tourist show. Bring a torch and warm clothes; parking on the monastery track is limited so arrive early on the 20th.

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Arts & cultureconfirm locally

Lighting of the Christmas boat, Bourtzi, Skiathos Town

6 December

Skiathos, a sailors' island, decorates boats rather than trees: on St Nicholas' day, 6 December, the municipality lights the big illuminated boat by the Bourtzi at the old port at 8 pm and switches on the town lights, with carols and a stall or two, and smaller lit boats appear in house windows. It opens a month of Christmas events at the Bourtzi cultural centre (bazaars, Karagiozis, school plays). Ferries run a reduced winter schedule from Volos and Agios Konstantinos, so check them first.

＋ Calendar (.ics)Googlesource

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.

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