Paros Festivals & Cultural Events

Every summer, Paros Island offers a great selection of cultural events and religious festivals, with food, wine, and music. Lots of people from all over the island participate in the celebrations. Find a selection of the most renowned open-air events on the island during summer below.

Religious feasts & festivals

June 23rd
The Kleidonas festival is celebrated in the villages of Naoussa, Prodromos, and Aliki.

July 16th & 17th
The feast name of Agia Marina is celebrated in Kostos village.

July 24th
The feast name of Agia Anna is celebrated in Parikia.

August 15th - Panagia Ekatontapyliani
The feast day of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary is celebrated in Parikia at the church of Panagia Ekatondapiliani. The festivities start with a litany of the icon of the Virgin Mary and continue until dawn with local dances, traditional music, local food, wine, and great fun.

Karavolas Festival
On the first Saturday after the feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary (on August 15th), the traditional festival of Karavolas takes place in Paros’ old capital, Lefkes. The festival took its name after karavoles - the name given by locals to large snails, which are considered a delicious local delicacy. Visitors can enjoy traditional food, wine, music, and dances.

August 23rd
The festival of the Pirates is celebrated in Naoussa village.

27th August
The feast day of Agios Fanourios is celebrated in Ampelas village.

August 29th
The feast day of Agios Ioannis Theologos is celebrated in the village of Drios and the Monastery of Agios Ioannis Kaparos in Lefkes.

Early September
In the first days of September, the festival of Trata takes place in Parikia.

September 14th
The feast day of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is celebrated in the villages of Aigeria and Aliki.

Cultural events

The Pirates Festival is a major celebration representing the raids of the pirates in Paros that were usual in Medieval times. It takes place on the occasion of Barbarossa's raid in 1537. Young boys dressed in traditional pirate costumes jump from the caiques (fishing boats) and run in the crowd to snatch the girls and take them away. Fireworks, traditional music, dances, local food, and wine are all part of the event.

Paros offers an extensive list of events and music happenings during the summer season. Art exhibitions, dance and music events, concerts, festivals, theatrical performances, or even book fairs take place throughout summer. One of the highlights is the Fish Festival which takes place in Naoussa on the first Sunday of July. The Park Festival is another huge festival of Paros. It lasts from June to August and features more than 20 events of cultural, athletic, and environmental interest.