Paros festivities calendar

Aside from the natural charms and cultural richness of Paros, this Cycladic island in Greece is famous for its nightlife and year-round entertainment. Throughout the seasons, this magnificent Greek island is the scene of numerous festivities that convey the traditions of the country: religious celebrations, festivals, folk festivals, patron saint’s days, windsurfing world championships, fairs, concerts, cinemas, art exhibitions… Discover the Paros festivities calendar here!

Carnival in Paros

Carnival, from St. Anthony’s Day onwards, is an opportunity to discover the traditional dishes of the Cyclades. Typical Aegean dishes are prepared, as well as specialties such as mizithropitakia and rafiolia, cakes made with fresh cheese, sugar and honey, a treat for the palate. On the last Sunday of Carnival, the festivities take place in Marpissa. On Pure Monday, traditional Câreme dishes and “lagana” bread are prepared, and kites can be seen taking to the skies, as in Aliki. Disguises and traditional dances are the order of the day.

Religious festivals

Once a year, the small churches of Paros celebrate their patron saint. The faithful and the curious gather to enjoy a good meal and dance to the rhythms of local folk music.

• Festival of Lights:

Or Epiphany, takes place in the ports of Naoussa (January 6) and Parikia, among others. On this occasion, the priest throws a cross into the sea, and the youngsters have to dive and swim to retrieve it.

• Religious and national holiday:

On March 25, Paros hosts a divine liturgy and numerous parades, on the occasion of a religious and national holiday.

• Easter:

On Good Friday, scenes from the Passion of Christ are performed in towns such as Marpissa, Lefkes, Marmara, Prodromos and Aspro Horio. Sunday is the Feast of Love in Marpissa. Greek Orthodox Holy Week is also the most important festival in Greece, with numerous events throughout Lent, including religious events and processions. For your Easter vacation in Paros, for example, you can rent this beautiful villa with the allure of Cycladic boats, set in the middle of a small Mediterranean garden adorned with olive trees, oleanders and bougainvillea on Naoussa Bay.

• Ascension:

40 days after Easter, Christians celebrate the feast of Analipsi or Ascension in Agios Fokas, Parikia and Piso Livadi.

Fairs on Paros

Fairs also enliven the various villages of Paros before the high season. Every April 23, for example, you can attend the Agios Georgios (Saint George) Fair in Aliki, the Agios Ioannis Theologos (Saint John the Theologian) Fair in Drios on May 8 and the Kleidonas Fair on June 23. On May 1, the garlands are set ablaze in Naoussa, Aliki and Prodromos, and on June 30, at the Agioi Anargyri Fair in Parikia.

Summer festivals

Every week in July and August, Paros hosts a number of festivals. On the 1st Sunday in July, Naoussa celebrates the Fish and Wine Festival. On July 16-17, Antiparos and its Agia Marina Fair are a must. On July 17, we return to Naoussa to celebrate the revival of the “Tsambouna” (bagpipes) and on July 24, we attend the Agia Anna Fair in Parikia. From August 6, you can visit the Sotiros Fair in Aliki and Marpissa or the Metamorfosi tou Sotiros Fair in Naoussa. On August 15, Assumption Day, the Panagia Fair in Parikia, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is not to be missed. This is the island’s most important festival, with fireworks, dances, concerts and many other events on the program. On August 23, in Naoussa, you can watch the Niamera of Panagia, a representation of the invasion of the pirate Barbarossa on the island of Paros. In the last week of August, the feast of Agios Fanourios is celebrated in Ambelas on August 27, and the feast of Agios Ioannis Detis in Naoussa, Drios and Lefkes close the festivities. For a quiet, intimate stay without missing out on the highlights, this luxurious villa near Aliki and its beautiful beaches is well worth a visit. It’s perched on a hill, with a magnificent exotic garden overlooking the island of Antiparos and the Southern Cyclades.