Tinos Festivals & Cultural Events

Tinos is an island that maintains its old-age customs and traditions. Several feasts are organized on the island throughout the year, many of which are held on the occasion of a saint’s feast day. The festivities are usually accompanied by local delicacies, as well as plenty of music and dancing, and afford a unique glimpse into the local folk culture, while visitors are sure to enjoy a glorious welcome.

Religious feasts & festivals

• March 25th
The 25th of March, the day when the Greeks celebrate the anniversary of the 1821 War of Independence coincides with the the feast of the Annunciation. Organized by the Evangelistria Church, festivities in Chora include litanies and church services, followed by traditional dances. Delicious treats are served to the people.

• July 23rd
On the 23rd of July, Tinos celebrates the feast day of Agia Pelagia. It is an important feast during which the icon is taken to the Kechrovouni Monastery. Visitors and nuns arrive to pay their respects to the icon before it is returned to the church where it was found.

• August 15th
On the 15th of August, the feast day of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, thousands of pilgrims and visitors from all over Greece flock to Tinos. The feast lasts for two days and includes various services in the glorious Evangelistria Church, as well as a litany of the miraculous icon accompanied by the marching bands of Tinos. This is a very large celebration as the Virgin Mary of Tinos is considered the protector of all of Greece.

Cultural events

• Jazz on Tinos
The first Jazz music festival in Tinos was organized by and held at the Cultural Foundation of Tinos in 2009, as the “Tinos Jazz Festival”. Thanks to the efforts of the staff, musicians, volunteers, and, of course, the personal input of the festival’s artistic director, George Kontrafouris, and his associates, the festival quickly evolved into a major event in the Aegean. Since 2014, it has been renamed “Jazz on Tinos” and is held annually during the last weekend of August, featuring the participation of acclaimed Greek and international artists. 

• Tinos World Music Festival
The Tinos World Music Festival was founded in 2013 by the Cultural Foundation of Tinos, aiming to introduce the island into a broader intercultural network and become a meeting point for prominent musicians from the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean.

• Tinos Festival
Tinos Festival is held during the months of July, August, and September and comprises a series of entertaining events ranging from concerts and theatrical performances to traditional feasts, art exhibitions and much more. Taking place in many villages as well as in Chora, it is ideal for all ages and attracts locals and visitors alike.

• Tinos International Literary Festival
Established in 2010, the Tinos International Literary Festival is an annual event taking place on the last weekend of July. Bringing together writers from all over the world, it celebrates literature and the spiritual journey of humankind, aiming to create a platform for Greek and international authors, scholars, editors and translators.

• Revival of the Trawl
The Revival of the Trawl is one of the best-known events organized in the village of Kionia. Every year on the 16th of July, the people of Tinos gather at Kionia Beach and fish for hours to the sound of live traditional music. Wine and delicious local specialties are also served.

• Local products festivals
Throughout the months of July and August, colorful festivals are organized in various traditional villages, celebrating a range of the island’s most emblematic products. More specifically, there is an Oregano Festival in Dyo Choria on the 29th of July and a Caper Festival in Potamia on the very next day! Other feasts dedicated to the island’s excellent wines, honey, and raki are also held on the 19th and the 27th of August, as well as on the 2nd of September respectively. The feasts are invariably accompanied by plenty of music and dancing, and visitors are more than welcome to join in the merry-making.