Lassithi Festivals & Cultural Events

Lassithi counts on various religious and cultural events, which take place in the villages and the beautiful coastal towns. The local products of Lassithi and old traditions handed down from generation to generation are celebrated around the area.

Religious feasts & festivals

• August 15th
August 15th is the day when most panigiria are organized in Lassithi in honor of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. Almost every village has a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary and organizes its own panigiri. Notable among them is the service held in the Byzantine church of Panagia Kera in the village of Kritsa, followed by an open panigiri in the square.

• Easter
On Easter Sunday, a wooden platform is put in the middle of the lake in Agios Nikolaos and the burning of Judas takes place, symbolizing the punishment of Judas for betraying Jesus Christ.

Cultural events

• Carnival of Sitia
Carnival celebrations are very popular in Sitia, with treasure hunts and a large parade on Carnival Sunday.

• Nautical Week
The Nautical Week is organized every other year in the port of Sitia, during the last week of June. There are sailing races, traditional dancing events, and lectures.

• Kornareia Festival
Kornareia Festival has been named after the Cretan poet Vitsentzos Kornaros and includes events held between early June and late August in Sitia, in the Venetian fortress of Kazarma. Events include theatrical performances, music concerts, traditional dance shows, lectures, art exhibitions, and even sports competitions.

• Plateias Festival
Taking place annually around mid-August in the beautiful town of Neapolis, the Plateias (Square) Festival is dedicated to folk guitar music and brings together some of the best artists not only from Crete but also from the whole country. The events last for three days, while seminars for both young and experienced musicians are also organized.

• The Kronio Festival
Established in 2023, the two-day Kronio Festival is a fitness event combining camping, cycling, yoga, and dance classes, as well as a mountain running race across the Lassithi Plateau. Tours to the Kronio Cave, the cave where Zeus was born according to the myth, are also offered to participants.