TRADITIONAL CULTURE, FOLKS AND FESTIVALS IN PAROS
Festival at the Park
Since 2009, the Environmental and Cultural Park of the Municipality of Paros has organized the “Festival at the Park”, a summer program with cultural, sports and environmental event held in the Park itself. The Festival starts in June and ends in September, and at least twenty excellent events are hosted at the Archilochus outdoor amphitheater, the Cine Enastron open air cinema and in other areas in the Park. The focal point of the Festival at the Park is the Archilochus amphitheater, an outdoor amphitheater that can seat 700 spectators. The theater, which has superb acoustics and the aura of an ancient theater, offers a spectacular view of the bay of Naoussa and the moon rise, allowing visitors to relax and submit to the images and sounds of the events. The theater was named after Archilochus, the revered Parian poet of antiquity, whose poetry is engraved on the walls of the theater.The planning committee of the Festival takes great care to ensure that there are events for everyone, both young and old, each year.
Naoussa Fish Festival
The Naoussa fish festival was started by a group of fishermen in the 70s. The “happening” was designed to attract tourists and was held on the first Sunday in July, at Mandraki – in the little port – in Naoussa. The fishing boats were tied together and fishermen fried fish in their boats and offered them to the people, along with wine and souma (a locally made spirit). When the large port was built, the festival was moved there, as it had become “tradition” and many more visitors attended. The festival was organized by the fishermen for the first 10-15 years, then the Community of Naoussa and now the Municipality of Paros. The festival is always attended by musicians and local bands, with traditional dances and songs.
Routes in Marpissa
Routes in Marpissa is a three-day experimental, cultural festival in Marpissa, Paros, which takes place each year in late August. The central idea of the festival is to create thematic routes in the traditional settlement of Marpissa, around which the activities of the three-day event are developed. It aims towards an experimental approach to activities, so everyone will have an active role in the events. The “Routes in Marpissa” initiative is the vision of a group of volunteers of different ages and backgrounds, who share a love for the region and a willingness to highlight the authentic character of the village and its inhabitants. The initiative aims to encourage teamwork and the action of residents and visitors to strengthen social relationships and develop the creativity of the participants. The organizing team comprises approximately 50 volunteers of different ages and backgrounds: architects, designers, educators, scholars, translators, musicians, artists, public relations managers, programmers.
Festival of Karavolas at Lefkes
The Festival of Karavolas (a folk festival) is held at Lefkes, the most mountainous village in Paros. The folk festival is held annually on the first Saturday after 15 August. It is one of the largest events held at Lefkes and Paros as a whole, and has been for the past twenty-five years. The festival is organized by the cultural association MEEAS YRIA LEFKES. Not many people know what a karavolas is. Karavolas is the Parian expression used to describe the large snail. The feast is an opportunity for residents of Lefkes to celebrate their love for karavolas snails (and how they got the nickname “karavolades”) and is held in the large area next to the Lefkes community center under the pine trees. The dishes served include karavoles with skordalia (garlic sauce) and boiled potatoes, delicious local cheeses, baked chickpeas and plenty of local wine. The preparation for the festival begins a full week before the event and nearly all the residents of the village volunteer, youths in particular. It is the most important feast held at the village and celebrations, merry making and dancing last until dawn, accompanied by live music performed by local musicians. If you are in Paros in late August, the village of Lefkes and the Festival of Karavolas are definitely worth visiting.