Andros Festivals & Cultural Events

In the beautiful island of Andros, surrounded by colorful flowers, religious feasts re highly appreciated by the locals and the tourists. Visitors taste the local food that is distributed at the churchyard at noon. Andros organizes a plethora of festivities on the name day of many saints, with lovely ceremonies in the picturesque churches and at the squares where visitors offer food and wine. For the major feasts, a Holy Mass is conducted followed by a procession around the village. After the litany, people are gathered in the square to eat, drink and dance till the early morning hours. The most notable feasts in Andros are:

Religious feasts

August 15th
On the 15th of August, the feast day of Virgin Mary is celebrated with local events in Pano Katakolo, in Panachrantos Monastery in Korthi, in Mesaria and finally in the small chapel of Panagia Thalassini, in Chora. There is a big fair that includes music, dancing, and feasting till dawn.

Panagia Theoskepasti
Another religious festival that is worth seeing in Andros is on the name day of Panagia Theskepasti, two weeks before Easter.

Day of Zoodochos Pighi
The feast day of Zoodochos Pighi, on Friday after the Easter Sunday.

July 17th
On the 17th of July, locals celebrate the feast day of Agia Marina, in the old and abandoned monastery of Agia Marina. On that day various ceremonies are held and the island organizes a great festivities with local dances.

Cultural festivals

Gavriotika Festival
Gavrio is home to Gavriotika Festival which marks the beginning of the summer festivals. The event involves art exhibitions, folklore items, sports games, and other events.

Carnival
A traditional feast which is worth seeing is the Carnival Parade of Gavrio which takes place on the last Saturday of the Carnival festivities. Local treats are offered to visitors.

Korthiana Festival
During August, the cultural festival of Korthiana takes place in the village of Korthi.

Ploes Festival
The famous Ploes Festival is organized by Petros and Marika Kydonaeus Foundation and highlights the musical and art events presented in Andros.