The Traditional Strata of the Municipality of Chania is held every Tuesday afternoon from June for several months. This event showcases the region’s rich heritage through traditional costumes, culture, and the exceptional music, dance, and vocal artistry of members of the Traditional Associations, celebrating the unique identity of Chania.
The “Traditional Strata” is organized by the Municipality of Chania.
Traditional Strata is a music and dance event held in Chania. Over 1,500 participants represent more than 20 traditional associations, including groups from Crete and international regions. Dancers and musicians wear traditional costumes and move through the city’s narrow streets. Participants display musical and vocal performances rooted in local customs.
Start Time: Festivities begin at 8:00 PM at the Neorio Moro Chania Sailing Club.
First Stop: By 8:30 PM, the procession arrives at the Yiali Mosque (Giali Tzami).
Final Gathering: At 9:00 PM, all groups assemble at Cathedral Square of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary (Trimartiri Cathedral) to deliver distinct performances.
Chania Rock Festival is one of the most significant rock and metal music festivals in Greece.
Since 2002, the Chania Rock Festival has presented the best of the best in metal on stage in Chania, Crete. From the Greek rock scene to the international rockstars, if you like to headbang and jam out to metal, then the Chania Rock Festival is the music festival in Greece you’ve been searching for to live it up with fellow metal fans.
The Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos on August 15th is one of the most significant holidays in the Greek Orthodox calendar, celebrating the “falling asleep” and Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Neapoli hosts the largest festival in the prefecture, attracting thousands of visitors and Cretan musicians.
Celebrations begin on August 14th with a cycle race and a long-distance run ending in Neapoli’s central square. After the evening church service, young men race up and down the steep mountainside to the Timios Stavros summit. The square transforms into a lively party with traditional singing, dancing, live music, and a market offering toys, icons, and clothing, continuing into the early hours.
On August 15th, a lengthy church service is followed by a grand procession of the Virgin Mary’s icon through the town, accompanied by priests, dignitaries, and the Neapoli Town Band. The festivities, combining religious, sporting, and cultural events, make this a unique and vibrant two-day celebration.
Rethymno Rocks! #5 returns to Fortezza Castle from 27 to 30 August 2025 with four nights of live rock and metal. Fans created the festival for fans, bringing leading acts and diverse sounds to one of Greece’s main summer stages.
Tickets for Thursday, Friday and Saturday start at €20 (£17, $22) and are available online.
Chaniartoon – International Comic & Animation Festival was started in 2017.
Since then the festival has been embraced by locals and by people from around the world with short animation entries from all corners of the globe. The animation films are viewed at the open air cinema of the Municipal Garden.
The Chestnut Festival in Elos Village is a cherished autumn tradition on Crete, celebrated every year on the third Sunday of October. Located in the picturesque West part of Crete, near Kissamos, the village of Elos is surrounded by scenic chestnut trees that mark the harvest season.
This vibrant event offers visitors a taste of local culture and cuisine, with the spotlight on chestnut-inspired dishes. Along with indulging in these seasonal treats, festival-goers can enjoy live music, traditional folk dances, and the island’s famous spirit, tsikoudia. The festival also showcases traditional Greek costumes, hosts various competitions, and provides a lively atmosphere perfect for immersing yourself in Cretan culture. Whether you’re a local or a curious traveler, the Chestnut Festival is a delightful way to celebrate autumn in Crete.
Chania Film Festival (CFF) is an international festival in the last week of October every year.
An organisation that quickly became an institution with international collaborations, with many parallel events, recognition. A cinematographic event that aspires to host the best films in the field of cinema, from all around the world. A meeting place for fiction films, documentaries, and animation films, as well as directors, producers, and actors.
During its eleven-day duration (the last week of October and the first week of November every year), more than 22.000 viewers (including the school audience) attend the screenings and the parallel events, such as workshops, master classes, and exhibitions. The CFF is also active throughout the year, as it produces and presents several events, special screenings, educational workshops, film productions, etc.
OXI Day, meaning “The Day of No” (Oxi or Όχι, which means ‘No’ in Greek), is a significant national holiday celebrated on October 28 in Greece, Cyprus, and by Greek communities around the world. It commemorates the courageous refusal of Greece’s Prime Minister, Ioannis Metaxas, when he denied Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini’s demand to allow Italian troops to enter Greece on October 28, 1940. This bold rejection marked Greece’s entry into World War II and is admired globally as a symbol of bravery and resistance.
On Crete, Ohi Day is celebrated with parades held in most towns, including Chania, Rethymnon, Heraklion, and Agios Nikolaos. Schoolchildren and military personnel march proudly, accompanied by live music and local festivities. If you’re in Heraklion, Kournaros Square is a prime location to view the parade.
Expect road closures and traffic delays, as streets will be blocked for parades, and buses filled with schoolchildren will be transporting participants. In addition to the parades, special Orthodox services are held in the main cathedrals across the island. Note that all archaeological sites, along with most businesses and services, will be closed for the holiday.
Ohi Day is not only a time to celebrate Greece’s historical bravery, but also an opportunity to experience the local culture and pride that defines Crete.
The celebration will be held at the Wineries of Crete as part of World Wine Tourism Day.
On this special day, more than 20 wineries from Crete, along with many others across Europe, will come together to celebrate. Visitors are invited to join in the festivities.
At these wineries, you can explore the vineyards, meet the winemakers, take in the beautiful scenery, learn about the winemaking process, and see how the wines are produced and aged. You’ll also have the chance to taste both new and aged wines, as well as sample this year’s fresh harvest.
Wine Tourism Day on Crete takes place annually on the second Sunday of November. This year, the Wine Tourism Day on Crete falls on 9th November 2025.
The participating wineries are listed below:
You can purchase a bottle of wine from a winery in Crete and enjoy it with your meal at a Cretan restaurant by simply showing your receipt. The wine served at the tavern will be free of charge. Please note that ordering food along with the wine is required.
Here is a list of Restaurants that take part in this program:
HERAKLION
RETHYMNO
CHANIA
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