beat the brochure

Cyprus is home to many festivals all offering you a fly on the wall look at Cypriot tradition and culture. Here’s a few for you check out on cheap holidays to Cyprus:

All about the Grape
Well on this sun-drenched island, you’d expect some produce worshipping! The Wine Festival is held every year in September at the Municipal Gardens in Limassol to honour Dionysus, the ancient God of Wine.

Local wineries give casks of free wine which locals, visitors from all over the island and tourists enjoy. There is also lots of live music, theatre and dancing to be enjoyed.

Or catch the Alfamia Grape Festival every October in the village square at Koilani, near Limassol. The harvest’s in for another year so this is all about celebration. You can taste the local wine including Commandaria – delicious and sweet and first made by the Crusaders. Make sure you try the sweet dessert Palouze, another local delicacy.

Limassol Beer Festival
Every July enjoy three days of partying in Limassol at the beer festival. Cut a few shapes and sample local and imported beers at this free festival. Beer is cheap too.

Zeytinlik Olive Festival
The olive harvest is celebrated for a whole week in this village near to Kyrenia in North Cyprus during September.

You can visit the mills where the oil is pressed as well as seeing the many products made from this fruit. Or watch other local crafts such as cheese making, pottery, basket making and folk dancing. There’ll be concerts and theatre performances too and you can also sample local foods.

Guzelyurt Orange Festival
This annual festival is another North Cyprus tradition originally to celebrate the orange harvest. Today this week-long celebration has concerts, dancing, competitions and art events in the orange decorated village. You might even get to taste some of the celebrated oranges too. Takes place in June -July.

Celebrating their cultural heritage
You won’t be surprised to find that there is an Ancient Greek Drama Festival in the summer months. International productions can be seen in Limassol, Paphos and Nocosia. Limassol’s festival is held in the ancient Theatre of Citrium just outside the capital.

In Paphos, the festival takes place in the ancient theatres at Kourion and Odeion and at the Makarios III Amphitheatre in Nicosia. This year is the 15th annual event of its kind taking place throughout July. The plays are performed in Greek but can be easily followed especially after reading the English synopsis provided.

Opera for everyone
September sees the 14th Paphos Aphrodite Festival. This year the Festival will stage Verdi’s Otello in the Medieval Castle Square.

Culture for all tastes
If Opera isn’t quite your thing, then visit Possouri for Rock Pissouri in July. It happens for one night in the village’s amphitheatre when the air is filled with rock riffs.

Or sample the Paradise Jazz Festival in Paphos for some popular jazz and blues. Held in a music bar, this festival takes place at the end of July/beginning of August.

If you’re visiting Cyprus in April, don’t miss the Street Life Festival in Limassol for a feast of graffiti artists, skateboarders and beat boys. In fact everyone is encouraged to take part; daubing the walls or chalking the pavements as well as body or face painting. All will be accompanied by DJs, music and dancing too.

Roses galore
The Rose Festival in the village of Agros takes place every May for two days. The village is known for its production of rosewater – which you can see being made and learn about its properties. Find out about the symbolism of roses. Sample the delights also produced locally of rose liqueur, rose brandy and rose food products as well as perfumes and scented candles.