- The 10th Amari Green Festival (July 18–21, 2025) concluded with great success, reaffirming its role as a vibrant institution that, for a decade now, has breathed new life into the villages of the Municipality of Amari through the fusion of tradition, ecology, and creative innovation.
Over four full days, more than 40 events unfolded across the valley, transforming the region into an open cultural, environmental, and social laboratory. The festival expanded from village to village, telling stories of local life and history.
A Festival Rooted in Place and Purpose
Launched ten years ago with the aim of highlighting the natural and cultural heritage of the area and fostering collaboration between institutions, artists, associations, and residents, the Amari Green Festival has now become a well-established event in Crete. It unites people of all ages around creativity, local identity, and sustainability.
This year’s central theme was “How Beautiful the Festivals in Our Villages Used to Be,” a journey into the memories of traditional Cretan festivals. Through photographs, oral storytelling, panel discussions, music, dance, and culinary revivals, the festival explored village feasts not just as entertainment, but as a communal ritual of social cohesion and cultural transmission. A highlight was the roundtable “Five Generations Talk About Amari’s Festivals,” where young and old shared stories, dance styles, and food memories. The photo exhibition “Festivals in Our Villages During the Last Century” moved and inspired attendees.
Unique Artistic Events
The festival’s artistic program was rich, diverse, and deeply connected to local culture. On Saturday, Eugenia Toli-Damavoliti and Kyrillos Damavolitis opened the evening with a musical journey through memory and tradition. They were followed by a powerful concert by Stelios Bikakis and his band, who stirred the audience with their heartfelt performance “I’ll Walk Alongside the Mountains.”
On Sunday, a unique orchestra featuring Zacharias Spyridakis, Avgerini Gatsi, Kostas Avyssinos, Nikos Paraoulakis, Alexandros Kanakakis, Kostas Poulianakis, and Yiannis Melampianakis presented tunes from festivals across Crete and Greece, in a show full of authenticity and soul.
Monday featured a special performance by the Pavlos Vlastos Traditional Music Choir under the direction of Antonis Micheloudakis, showcasing traditional Cretan songs. That was followed by the concert “The Basil Smells Sweet,” celebrating songs of togetherness, featuring Charalampos Angelakis, Despina Anastasopoulou, Vasilis Papadakis, Stergios Karaiskos, Nikiforos Volanakis, and Stelios Moulakakis.
5th Psiloritis Geopark Celebration
The festival culminated with its connection to the 5th Psiloritis Geopark Celebration, in collaboration with the IDAION Network and the UNESCO Psiloritis Geopark. On Monday, July 21, thematic tours were held at the Holy Monastery of Asomaton, Patsos Gorge, and Saint Anthony, while visitors also enjoyed a viticulture walk and wine tasting at Kourkoulou Winery.
At Panakron Estate, events included environmental awareness activities, local producer exhibitions, presentations, and workshops from the ARCHELON Sea Turtle Protection Society, as well as talks by scientists from the University of Crete and Hellenic Mediterranean University on language, sustainable agriculture, and the creative economy.
Rich Educational and Hands-On Program
The festival also featured a strong educational and experiential program. From traditional Amari clay pottery workshops and embroidery classes for all ages to the preparation of xinohondros (a traditional fermented grain dish), pies, and pork-based foods, each activity transmitted practical knowledge and cultural memory.
Children’s events, the online 1st Green Treasure Hunt, documentary screenings, outdoor cinema, the 2nd 5×5 Soccer Tournament, farm and monastery tours, beekeeping visits, and the traveling book exchange station—all enriched the community with stories, play, and learning.
The Amari Green Festival was organized by the Municipality of Amari with co-organization from the Region of Crete, Rethymno Regional Unit, Rethymno Chamber of Commerce, and the Psiloritis UNESCO Geopark. It was supported by AMARI MAE OTA, the Natural History Museum of Crete, the University of Crete, Hellenic Mediterranean University, ESEE, The Smile of the Child, and, of course, the Cultural Associations of the villages, who were the heart and soul of the event.
Mayor Pantelis Mourtzanos emphasized:
“Amari has proven that the hinterland can be a model of sustainable development, cultural creativity, and social cohesion. The Amari Green Festival is now an institution and a clear example that when we join forces, anything is possible.”
Festival Organizing Committee President Manolis Psaroudakis stated:
“Ten years of the Amari Green Festival mean ten years of trust in the local community, collective memory, and the green transition. Amari shows that the countryside is not behind—it leads. It’s a place that can inspire, collaborate, and propose a new collective narrative for the future. Amari remembers, creates, and celebrates. The festival is its celebration.”
