The Kalavryta Ski Resort changed course…and for the third consecutive summer, Helmos welcomed the Helmos Mountain Festival, proving that a mountain does not need snow to attract a crowd.
Instead of ski slopes, music stages were set up. Instead of snowboards, guitars, beats, and lighting were put up, offering summer escape experiences that connected nature with culture.
The Helmos Mountain Festival evolved into a multi-thematic theme park of creation, bringing to the fore the way in which mountain destinations can function as living cultural centers 12 months a year. The Kalavryta ski resort, from a purely winter destination, was transformed into a setting for artistic expression and outdoor experience.
This year’s event featured names such as:
Gindiki, Phoivos Delivorias, Ethismos, Eisvoleas, Koupes The Band, Socrates Malamas, Natassa Bofiliou, Miltos Paschalidis, Marina Spanou, Trio Latrio feat Ioulia Karapataki, Alborosie & Shengen Clan, Dub FX, Nouvelle Vague, Planet Of Zeus, Social Waste – Konstantinos Pistiolis, Lefteris Eleftheriou – Alkiviadis Konstantopoulos.
The festival was hosted on three stages – two on the mountain and one in the square – with over 18 musical groups and DJs who kept the audience awake with loud live and back-to-back sets until the early hours of the morning. At the same time, dozens of activities were held in nature, while families found specially designed areas and programs for children.
All this, against the backdrop of the natural coolness of Helmos – a pleasant alternative to the heat of the city.
The Helmos Mountain Festival proved this year that it is not just a musical event. It is a model of sustainable tourism development. A success story about how mountain destinations can be reintroduced to the public and function as theme parks of experiences, hospitality, culture, and recreation, beyond the snowy season.
