A celebration of water and a major concert for Mikis Theodorakis make up part of this year’s cultural summer in Crete, with events that highlight local identity, strengthen community participation, and attract visitors seeking experiences beyond sun and sea.
Water Festival in Zaros: a three-day celebration dedicated to life and tradition
From August 7 to 10, Zaros, the historic village at the foothills of Psiloritis, once again becomes a meeting point for those wishing to combine entertainment with a deep sense of place and roots. The “Water Festival 2025,” co-organized by the Region of Crete and the active Cultural Association of Zaros, has established itself in recent years as an institution for the area, drawing many visitors—locals and travelers alike—who want to experience the authentic hospitality and tradition of the village.
The event’s program spans three days with activities for all ages: workshops, children’s events, musical and dance evenings, as well as walking routes that highlight Zaros’s close relationship with water—a connection reflected not only in its famous natural landscape but also in its historical and economic development. At the same time, tradition takes center stage through a collective act: as every year, the women of the village will knead and bake pies of all kinds, which will be shared with visitors as a handmade symbol of hospitality and cultural memory.
Beyond the festive atmosphere, the main goal of the event is to enhance the area’s outward-looking character and strengthen the bonds among Crete’s residents, offering the opportunity to get to know the place, engage with local production, and recognize the intangible cultural heritage that accompanies it.
Chania – Mikis Theodorakis: a lyrical journey through 100 years
In September, cultural focus shifts to Chania, where the Region of Crete continues anniversary events marking 100 years since the birth of Mikis Theodorakis. On September 9, at the Eastern Moat Theater, an artistic event titled “The Lyrical Mikis Theodorakis – 100 Years Since His Birth” will take place, a tribute to the lyrical side of the great composer.
Two of the most iconic voices in Greek music, Maria Papageorgiou and Tania Tsanaklidou, will perform together on stage, interpreting songs that have marked the country’s culture. The concert is not just a musical event. It is a deep cultural statement aiming to bridge three generations through the work of a creator who managed to encompass Hellenism, its poets, and its struggles within notes, lyrics, and symphonies.
The tribute to Theodorakis aligns with one of the fundamental goals of the Region’s cultural strategy: to highlight Crete’s and the country’s cultural capital and connect it meaningfully and experientially with younger generations.
Culture with meaning, tourism with roots
As the above activities demonstrate, Crete does not rest on its traditional tourism model. Through initiatives combining culture with community, tradition with the present, and historical memory with contemporary creation, it reveals another side—one that inspires, moves, and creates bonds.
Whether through the baking efforts of the women of Zaros or the notes of Mikis Theodorakis, Crete proves that culture is not merely artistic expression—it is a way of life, a tool for outward engagement, and ultimately a bridge between past and future.
