The Cretan Diet Festival 2026 (Γιορτή Κρητικής Διατροφής) runs from 3 to 7 July in the Rethymno Municipal Garden. The Cretan Diet Festival gathers island producers for a week of food, wine, and music, so visitors taste Crete’s olive oil, cheese, wine, and honey straight from the farmers and makers who bring them.
Last updated: 19 August 2026
The Cretan Diet Festival 2026 takes place from 3 to 7 July in the Rethymno Municipal Garden, in the centre of Rethymno on Crete’s north coast. Festival dates can move by a few days from year to year, so confirm the exact schedule on the organisers’ official website and social pages before you travel.
The festival fills the Municipal Garden with producer stalls, food and wine tastings, craft and cookery exhibitions, and nightly Cretan music and dance. Producers pour local wine, cut graviera and other island cheeses, and sell olive oil, honey, and herbs from their own farms. The daily programme changes each year, so check the organisers’ official page for the day-by-day line-up.
The Municipality of Rethymno, the Regional Unit of Rethymno, and the Chamber of Rethymno organise the festival. The event is one of Rethymno’s established summer gatherings and, according to TasteAtlas, has been held since 2012.
The Cretan Diet Festival shows the Cretan diet through the ingredients that define it: extra-virgin olive oil, island cheeses, local wine, wild herbs, and honey. Cretan producers use the week to bring these products directly to visitors, so guests learn how each one is grown, made, and used in everyday Cretan cooking.
Rethymno sits midway along Crete’s north coast, within about 90 minutes’ drive of both Chania and Heraklion airports, and the Municipal Garden is a short walk from the old town and the seafront. Crete Locals follows the island’s events on the ground, and this one is easiest to reach on your own schedule, with time afterwards to visit the mountain villages behind Rethymno where the same food is made. To drive from the airport to Rethymno and on to those villages, book a car rental in Crete.
Olvia A breath away from Old Town Center has a balcony and is located in Rethymno Town, within just 1.3 km of Rethymno Beach and 1.5 km of Koumbes Beach. It features city views and free WiFithroughout the property.
The air-conditioned apartment consists of 2 bedrooms, a living room, a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher and a coffee machine, and 2 bathrooms with a walk-in shower and free toiletries. Towels and bed linen are provided in the apartment.
Popular points of interest near the apartment include Archaeological Museum of Rethymno, Municipal Garden and Centre of Byzantine Art. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 69 km from Olvia A breath away from Old Town Center.
Located 300 metres from the centre of Rethymno Town, 1.3 km from Rethymno Beach, Pal Calma Suites provides air-conditioned accommodation with a terrace, a garden and a bar.
Featuring free WiFi, the units have a safety deposit box, a washing machine and a flat-screen TV with streaming services. A dishwasher, an oven and toaster are also provided in the kitchen, as well as a coffee machine.
The daily breakfast offers Full English/Irish, American or vegetarian options.
A car rental service is available at the apartment, while walking tours can be enjoyed nearby.
Popular points of interest near Pal Calma Suites include Koumbes Beach, Archaeological Museum of Rethymno and Municipal Garden. The nearest airport is Chania International, 69 km from the accommodation, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.
from
€197
/night
Petalo Suites offers beauty services, as well as air-conditioned accommodation with free WiFi in the centre of Rethymno Town, 1.3 km from Rethymno Beach.
Featuring a kitchen with an oven and a fridge, each unit also comes with a safety deposit box, a satellite flat-screen TV, ironing facilities, wardrobe and a seating area with a sofa. There is a private bathroom with shower in every unit, along with bathrobes, slippers and a hair dryer.
Continental and Full English/Irish breakfast options are available every morning at the aparthotel.
A car rental service is available at Petalo Suites.
Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Koumbes Beach, Archaeological Museum of Rethymno and Municipal Garden. The nearest airport is Chania International Airport, 69 km from Petalo Suites.
from
€78
/night
Boasting a terrace and free WiFi, Casa Di Silvia is situated in the centre of Rethymno Town, close to Rethymno Beach, Koumbes Beach and Archaeological Museum of Rethymno.
Some units are fitted with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, washing machine and a coffee machine, as well as a kitchen.
A car rental service is available at the holiday home.
Popular points of interest near Casa Di Silvia include Municipal Garden, Centre of Byzantine Art and Historical and Folklore Museum. The nearest airport is Chania International, 69 km from the accommodation, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.
from
€113
/night
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.
The Traditional Strata is a music and dance event held by the Municipality of Chania on Tuesday evenings through the summer. The Traditional Strata gathers more than 1,500 dancers and musicians from over 20 traditional associations, from across Crete and other countries, who move through the narrow streets of Chania’s old town in traditional costume.
In 2026, the event runs on Tuesdays from June for several months, and August 11, 2026 is one of the listed dates. Each evening follows the same route through Chania Old Port and begins at 8:00 PM.
The Traditional Strata is a procession of music, dance, and song organized by the Municipality of Chania. The Traditional Strata represents the customs of Chania through costumes, instruments, and vocal performances from member associations, including groups from Crete and international regions.
The Strata takes place on Tuesday evenings from June for several months in 2026, and August 11, 2026 is one of the scheduled dates. The programme begins at 8:00 PM, so early evening is the time to arrive.
The procession follows one route through Chania Old Port each evening, in three stages. The main stages of the evening are listed below.
The harbour and squares of the old town fill with spectators on Strata evenings, and the surrounding tavernas make the event easy to combine with dinner. For more on the area and where to stay, see the guide to Chania.
The Traditional Strata is a traditional music and dance event organized by the Municipality of Chania. More than 1,500 performers from over 20 associations parade through the old town in costume.
The Strata runs on Tuesday evenings from June for several months in 2026, and August 11, 2026 is one of the listed dates. The evening programme starts at 8:00 PM.
The Strata takes place in Chania Old Port and the streets of the old town. It begins at the Neorio Moro Chania Sailing Club and ends at Cathedral Square by the Trimartiri Cathedral.
The Municipality of Chania organizes the Traditional Strata. Member associations from Crete and other countries take part.
More than 20 traditional associations take part, with over 1,500 dancers and musicians in total. The groups include performers from Crete and international regions.
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.
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