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The Best Festivals in Cyprus: A Celebration of Culture, Food & Music All Year Round

 

If there’s one thing Cyprus does effortlessly, it’s celebration. The island isn’t just about sun and sea (though we’re definitely not complaining about those). It’s also home to a lively calendar of festivals — some tied to centuries-old traditions, others that are newer but already feel like they belong.

And if you’re staying in or around Protaras, you’re in a great spot to enjoy them. Some are just down the street. Others make for an easy day trip. All of them offer a different way to experience Cyprus — through music, food, dance, or simply the joy of being surrounded by locals doing what they do best: coming together.

 

MoonWalk Festival — Protaras

 

When: Late August to mid-September (varies with the full moon – recent years: August 31, 2023 and September 20, 2024)

This is as local as it gets. The promenade between Ayios Nikolaos chapel and Fig Tree Bay transforms into a living, breathing stage when this festival takes place. Dozens of mini stages line the coast. More than a hundred musicians take part. And the whole event is timed with the full moon, so the sky and sea feel like part of the performance.

 

What Makes It Special:

  • The festival is completely free and accessible to everyone

  • No barriers or fences — you simply walk from stage to stage at your own pace

  • Multiple music genres from jazz to traditional Cypriot folk music

  • The combination of moonlight and stage lighting creates a magical atmosphere

  • Local and visiting musicians perform side by side

 

Getting There from Protaras: This festival literally happens on your doorstep if you’re staying in central Protaras. The walking promenade is easily accessible from all major hotels and villa areas, with the entire route taking about 30 minutes to walk end-to-end.

 

Potato Festival — Xylofagou

 

When: Early to mid-September (recent years: September 7-8, 2023 and September 20, 2024) 

Yes, a whole festival dedicated to potatoes. But don’t underestimate it. This one’s full of charm. The village of Xylofagou throws a big, proud party celebrating its most famous crop. The area has been growing potatoes for generations, and this festival celebrates not just the vegetable, but the farming community that has sustained the village for decades.

 

What to Expect:

  • Traditional potato dishes prepared by local families using recipes passed down through generations

  • Live traditional Cypriot music and folk dancing demonstrations

  • The famous giant potato statue that has become a beloved photo opportunity

  • Local craft stalls featuring handmade goods from the village

  • A genuine community atmosphere where visitors are welcomed as honorary villagers

 

From Protaras: Xylofagou is approximately 20 minutes by car through scenic countryside roads. The drive itself offers beautiful views of traditional Cypriot farmland.

 

Strawberry Festival — Deryneia

 

When: Every two years in May/June (most recent: June 2025)

The name of Deryneia has been intrinsically linked with strawberry cultivation since the first commercial strawberry plantations in Cyprus were established here over 55 years ago by pioneer farmer Mitsio Yiannouko. Today, despite the occupation and loss of 70% of the region after 1974, Deryneia still holds the leading position in strawberry cultivation and production in Cyprus, producing 60% of the island’s total strawberry harvest.

 

What Makes It Special:

  • Free strawberry abundance: Thousands of visitors enjoy complimentary fresh strawberries and various strawberry products including juice, jam, liqueurs, sweets, and ice cream

  • Family tradition: All treats are prepared with enthusiasm by passionate local producers and their families using traditional recipes

  • Biennial celebration: The festival has been organized every two years since 1999, making each edition a special anticipated event

  • Cultural program: Rich artistic performances with traditional music, dancing, and impressive fireworks displays

  • Community spirit: Over 12,000 guests attended the 2012 edition, including Cyprus’s former president

 

From Protaras: Deryneia is just 20 minutes by car through scenic countryside, offering beautiful views of traditional Cypriot farmland.

 

Limassol Wine Festival

 

When: Late September to early October (9-day festival, recent years: September 28 – October 6, 2024 and September 27 – October 5, 2025) 

This festival has been a cornerstone of Cyprus’s cultural calendar since the 1960s, celebrating the island’s 5,000-year winemaking history. The event takes place in Limassol’s Municipal Gardens, transforming the city center into an open-air celebration of Cypriot viticulture.

 

Festival Atmosphere:

  • Traditional lanterns hanging from ancient trees create a magical evening ambiance

  • Multiple wine stations featuring Cyprus’s indigenous grape varieties

  • Traditional dance performances on outdoor stages

  • Local musicians playing everything from classical Cypriot folk to contemporary music

  • Food stalls offering traditional meze perfectly paired with local wines

 

Cyprus Wine Heritage: The festival showcases wines made from indigenous grapes like Xynisteri and Maratheftiko, varieties found nowhere else in the world. Many participating wineries represent family businesses operating for multiple generations, some with vineyards dating back centuries.

From Protaras: Limassol is approximately 90 minutes by car, making this festival perfect for a memorable day trip. The coastal highway offers stunning Mediterranean views throughout the journey.

 

Kataklysmos — Larnaca

 

Every June, the Kataklysmos Festival — or Festival of the Flood — takes over Larnaca’s promenade for several days of seaside celebration. This ancient festival blends Christian Orthodox traditions with older pagan water festivals, creating a uniquely Cypriot cultural experience.

 

Festival Traditions:

  • Tsiattista performances: Witness this UNESCO-recognized art form where poets engage in improvised rhyming duels

  • Traditional water games and competitions along the seafront

  • Market stalls selling traditional crafts and local foods

  • Folk dance performances in traditional Cypriot costumes

  • Religious processions that mark the festival’s spiritual significance

 

Cultural Context: Kataklysmos has been celebrated in Cyprus for over 1,000 years, making it one of the island’s oldest continuous cultural traditions. The festival celebrates the biblical flood story while also honoring Cyprus’s relationship with the sea.

 

From Protaras: Larnaca is just 45 minutes away, making it easily accessible for a day of cultural immersion.

 

Anthestiria Flower Festival

 

Cyprus’s spring flower festival draws inspiration from ancient Greek rituals celebrating nature’s renewal. The festival takes place in May when the island is at its most beautiful, with wildflowers blooming across the countryside and temperatures perfect for outdoor celebrations.

 

Festival Highlights:

  • Elaborate flower-decorated floats parading through city centers

  • Traditional Greek and Cypriot dance performances in outdoor venues

  • Children’s activities celebrating nature and environmental awareness

  • Local craft demonstrations featuring flower-based arts and traditional techniques

  • Garden exhibitions showcasing Cyprus’s diverse flora

 

Spring in Cyprus: May represents Cyprus at its most spectacular — wildflowers carpet the countryside, temperatures are perfectly comfortable, and the island feels renewed after winter. The festival captures this seasonal magic beautifully.

 

Watermelon Festival — Frenaros

 

When: Mid-July (recent year: July 12, 2024)

Watermelon is undoubtedly the king of summer fruits in Cyprus, and no summer experience is complete without the heavenly combination of juicy watermelon paired with halloumi cheese. The Pan-Cypriot Watermelon Festival in Frenaros celebrates this beloved summer tradition in the heart of one of Cyprus’s prime watermelon-growing regions.

 

Festival Highlights:

  • Watermelon abundance: Free tastings of fresh watermelons and creative watermelon-based products

  • Traditional treats: Sample Glyko Karpouzi (watermelon spoon-sweet preserved in syrup) and refreshing watermelon cocktails

  • Summer celebration: Perfectly timed to coincide with peak watermelon season when the fruit is at its sweetest

  • Cultural performances: Live music and traditional entertainment celebrating the harvest season

  • Agricultural heritage: Learn about the cultivation methods that make Cyprus watermelons so exceptionally sweet

 

From Protaras: Frenaros is approximately 25 minutes by car, making it an easy evening trip for a authentic taste of summer in Cyprus.

 

Carrot Festival — Liopetri

 

When: Early July (recent years: July 5, 2025 and July 8, 2023)

Liopetri has built its reputation on producing some of Cyprus’s finest carrots, and the Pan-Cypriot Carrot Festival transforms this humble vegetable into a culinary star. This annual celebration showcases the versatility and quality of locally grown carrots while bringing the community together for an evening of food, music, and local pride.

 

Culinary Adventure:

  • Creative carrot cuisine: Local chefs present innovative carrot recipes including carrot cakes, jams, doughnuts, burgers, bourekia, and countless other creative preparations

  • Quality showcase: Taste the difference that Liopetri’s fertile soil and traditional farming methods make in carrot flavor and texture

  • Live entertainment: Enjoy performances by popular Greek artists while sampling the diverse carrot creations

  • Community celebration: Experience authentic village hospitality and the pride locals take in their agricultural heritage

 

From Protaras: Liopetri is just 15 minutes away, perfect for an authentic village festival experience before returning to your accommodation.

 

Medieval Festival — Ayia Napa

 

When: Mid-October (8-day festival, recent years: October 12-19, 2024 and October 7-14, 2023)

Every October, the center of Ayia Napa undergoes a magical transformation, trading its reputation for beaches and nightlife for something far more enchanting. The Medieval Festival turns this modern resort town into a living, breathing medieval world, complete with knights, dragons, fair maidens, and centuries-old traditions brought vividly to life.

A Festival of European Significance: Since its inception in 2006, the Ayia Napa Medieval Festival has grown to become one of the largest medieval festivals in Europe. Through collaborations with prestigious events like the Medieval Festival of Rhodes, Malta’s Medina Festival, and the Carnival of Venice, it has gained international recognition and attracts performers from across the continent.

 

What to Expect:

  • International performances: Groups of dancers, musicians, and artists arrive from Greece, Russia, Italy, Ukraine, Romania, Slovakia, Germany, Holland, France, Spain, Belarus, Czech Republic, and Poland

  • Daily spectacles: Evening parades starting at 7 PM feature knights in armor, stilt walkers, medieval bands, pirates, Venetian masks, and percussion groups marching through Makariou Avenue

  • Street theater: Captivating performances throughout the town center bring medieval stories to life

  • Medieval market: Authentic crafts, traditional foods, wine served in wooden barrels, and period delicacies

  • Hands-on workshops: Learn medieval crafts including pottery, basketry, and traditional textile techniques

  • Monastery performances: The 16th-century Ayia Napa Monastery provides a stunning natural backdrop for theatrical performances

 

Historical Authenticity: The festival doesn’t just entertain — it educates. Every performance, costume, and activity is researched for historical accuracy, offering visitors genuine insights into medieval life, customs, and culture. The presence of knights particularly honors Cyprus’s 300-year Crusader legacy.

From Protaras: Ayia Napa is just 15 minutes away, making it incredibly convenient to experience this world-class cultural event before returning to your accommodation.

 

Why Festival-Hopping from Protaras Works

 

Your Protaras base puts you within easy reach of authentic Cypriot celebrations while maintaining access to beautiful beaches, excellent restaurants, and comfortable accommodations. After a day immersed in village traditions or cultural performances, you can return to your villa or hotel for a peaceful evening by the sea.

The combination of festival exploration and beach relaxation creates the perfect Cyprus experience — cultural immersion balanced with the relaxation that drew you to the island in the first place.

So, when should you visit? Truthfully, any time between May and early October puts you in range of at least one of these festivals. Some — like MoonWalk or the village food festivals — are small, local, and intimate. Others — like the Limassol Wine Festival or Kataklysmos — draw big crowds and span multiple days.

And best of all, if you’re staying in Protaras, you’re already close to several of them. So next time you’re planning your holiday, check the festival calendar. You might just end up dancing under a full moon, eating taro stew in a village square, or sipping wine in a garden full of lights.

Ready to Experience Cyprus Festivals from Protaras?

 

Don’t miss out on Cyprus’s incredible festival season – accommodation fills quickly as travelers discover these authentic cultural celebrations. Browse our collection of beachfront villas and apartments, all perfectly positioned to maximize your festival adventures while enjoying the beauty of Protaras.

Contact us today to secure your cultural escape and discover why combining festivals with seaside relaxation creates the perfect Cyprus holiday.