Source: tornosnews.gr
From 23 to 26 July 2026, the 11th Amari Green Festival returns with a bang to Amari, transforming 25 villages and settlements in the region into a single stage for culture and experiences.
With the Panakron Estate as its focal point, alongside activities at the Asomaton Monastery, Monastiraki, Neis Amari, Fourfouras, Platanos, Patsos, Meronas, Voleones, Agia Paraskevi, Vathiakos, Pantanassa and Apostoli, the festival invites residents and visitors to discover a place that lives, creates and shares its stories.
The event is being organised in collaboration with the Municipality of Amari, the Region of Crete, the Sub-Region of Rethymno, the Rethymno Chamber of Commerce and the IDEAL NETWORK – UNESCO Psiloritis Geopark. In addition, it is supported by AMARI MAE – Local Government, the Natural History Museum of Crete, the University of Crete, the Hellenic Mediterranean University (ELMEPA), ESEE, the Rethymno–Chania Bus Station, the “Agios Nektarios” Cultural and Social Centre, the Association of Volunteer Blood Donors of Rethymno Prefecture “DOTES ZOIS”, and the cultural associations and organisations of the villages within the Municipality of Amari: Monastiraki, Pantanassa, Apostoli, Vistagi, Patsos, Voleonas, Ano Meros, Apodoulou, Fourfouras, Agios Ioannis, Kouroutos, Nithavris, Gerakariou, Thronos and Meronas, as well as the Amari – Opsygia Women’s Social Group, who actively contribute to the organisation’s success.
The Amari Green Festival is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism.
Mantinada is the main character
This year’s event is dedicated to the mantinada, one of the most important bearers of Crete’s intangible cultural heritage. From the very first day, visitors are invited to contribute to the creation of a living archive by documenting mantinadas from the villages of Amari, whilst at the same time the photographic exhibition “From village to village with our organists” is inaugurated, a journey into the musical memory of the region.
The programme includes authentic experiences of the Cretan countryside: making sourdough bread in the neighbourhoods of Monastiraki, baking it the following day in Panakron, preparing traditional dishes with the help of housewives from our villages, sarikopites from the Apodoulou Cultural Association, pottery workshops using Amari clay, creating objects from papier-mâché, learning about traditional Cretan needlework, as well as activities for children, such as the creative archaeological experience “The Mantinada Shell – From the Fragment to the Vase of Words” , where Minoan history meets folk poetry.
Nature takes centre stage with sunset hikes to Koule Vathiakou, walks to the Potamos dam and Kefalovrysa, guided tours of the area’s olive groves and the Asomaton Monastery, visits to apiaries, and tastings at the Kourkoulou winery in Patsos.
Social Initiatives – Scientific Discussions
The social initiatives and projects undertaken by the Municipality of Amari also feature prominently in the programme, with a focus on measures, objectives and new opportunities for supporting the local community.
As such, it hosts voluntary blood donations, events organised by the Life Donors of Rethymno, book exchanges for children and adults, as well as two open-air cinemas “just like in the old days”, bringing back cherished memories of Crete.
Scientific and development discussions that bridge tradition and the present hold a special place. The olive tree of Amari from antiquity to modern cultivation practices, social initiatives in the Municipality of Amari, the opportunities created by the epathros+ Network for the Greek countryside, as well as the prospects for artificial intelligence and small-scale entrepreneurship are the main themes of the event.
Special events for Mantinada
Of particular interest is the event “The female voice in modern Cretan mantinades “, where female creators from across Crete will share their stories, experiences and mantinades, highlighting the crucial role of women in the preservation and modern development of this living tradition. The event will be accompanied by Cretan musicians who will perform songs and mantinades written by the creators themselves.
The programme also includes the launch of the book “My mind holds the mountains” by Michalis Sideris Publications. To mark the launch, philosophers and Mantinadologists gather round the same simple, hospitable Amarios table and discuss, in front of the audience, the great questions of the heart and the world.
Music Concerts
During the festival’s major musical evenings, tradition meets contemporary artistic creation. The concert “Two Edges – One Tradition” brings together musicians from Amarios and Agios Vasilios on a shared stage, Marios Christonakis takes the audience on a journey from artistic to traditional singing, whilst the festival concludes with the musical tribute “Where does the place have its voice”, in which the mantinada traces its journey from region to region across Crete, accompanied by dances that revive forgotten local traditions.
At the same time, the much-loved 5×5 Championship in the villages of Amari returns for the third year, whilst the digital Treasure Hunt, book presentations, the meet-the-author sessions with writers from Amari and the culinary surprises prepared by the cultural clubs round off a four-day event aimed at all ages.
Now in its eleventh year, the Amari Green Festival continues to demonstrate that culture is not confined to the stage. It thrives in the villages, in the courtyards, along the paths, around the tables, in the voices of the people and in the mantinades that continue to be born in the very place that gave rise to them.
Admission to all festival events and activities is free.
Free transport to and from Rethymno and the Panakron Estate to the School for the Disabled will be available from Thursday 23 July to Saturday 25 July. The transport is sponsored by the Chania-Rethymno Bus Company. For further information and the detailed programme of events, please visit the website of Amari Municipality and the Amari Green Festival’s social media pages.
Source: tornosnews.gr