Klirou 6th Culture Festival – “The Wood Burning Oven Gives Birth to Bread and Love” – 9-10.10.2026
The Klirou Community Council is inviting you to attend the 6th Cultural Festival in the village of Klirou, entitled “The Wood Burning Oven Gives Birth to Bread and Love” — a two-day celebration of cultural events dedicated to the traditions, memories and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Cyprus.
The Festival will take place on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 October 2026 in Klirou, and is aiming at transforming the old village centre into a vibrant space for gathering, creativity and hands-on engagement with Cypriot tradition.
The Intangible Cultural Heritage Comes to Life
The main goal of the Festival is to present and promote the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Cyprus through hands-on experiences. Tradition is not only presented as a part of the past, but also as a living process passed down from generation to generation through creativity, music, dance, flavours and human connections.
Visitors will have the opportunity to take part in hands-on workshops focused on breadmaking, music and dance, whilst exploring the old village centre of Klirou.
A special place in this year’s Festival is given to the participation of the Municipalities of Lapithos and Lefkoniko, who will present elements of their cultural heritage as inscribed on the UNESCO list, bringing their memories, local practices and traditions from the Turkish occupied areas to the village of Klirou.
In an effort to promote and document our cultural heritage, the contribution of the University of Cyprus is important and instrumental, supporting the Festival’s academic and educational dimensions.
The Two-Day Festival Itinerary
The Festival starts on Friday 9 October, with the opening ceremony at 7:00 p.m. at the Events Hall of the Klirou Community Council. Before that, at 3:00 p.m., there will be a Traditional Dance Workshop, where the renowned dance instructor Antonis Dallarís will teach traditional dances from the Greek Island of Leros.
At 8:30 p.m., there will be an opening of an exhibition by Maria Chatzitofi, entitled “Colours and Threads”, at the Old Inn Hall of Klirou (Chàni tis Klirou). The exhibition will be officially opened by Mr Konstantinos Georgatzis, the President of the District Local Government Organisation (EOA).
The Festival’s main event will take place on Saturday, 10 October.
From 3:30 p.m., the old village centre will come alive with activities and hands-on workshops, giving visitors the opportunity to experience traditional practices up close and actively participate in a unique cultural experience.
Highlights include the Tsippopitta and Millopitta workshops, presented by the two guest municipalities of Lefkoniko and Lapithos. Also featured is a pumpkin (nerokolloko) decoration workshop, showcasing two different techniques — traditional and contemporary — presented by two enthusiasts of this craft.
Our young visitors will have the opportunity to take part in children’s workshops, which will include activities like storytelling and crafts, all inspired by our Cypriot folk traditions. Among the workshop leaders are Christiana Mouzoura and Chrysostomos Melis.
Dancing and singing are among the key elements that make the Festival stand out. In four small village squares, visitors will have the opportunity to sing and dance to traditional music from the Greek Island of Leros, Macedonia, the Cyclades and, of course, Cyprus.
Another highlight of the Festival will be the reenactment of a traditional Cypriot wedding, which will include a lot of Cypriot customs and ceremonial traditions.
And, just like every other festival in Klirou, there will be plenty of food and drinks.
The two-day Festival will peak at 8:00 p.m. in the village church courtyard with a grand music and dance event — a festive celebration bringing together music, dance and tradition.
The 6th Cultural Festival in Klirou is an open invitation to reconnect with tradition through the senses, human participation and collective memory. Because the oven does not give birth to bread alone; through fire, kneading and sharing, it creates human connections, stories and culture.
The Klirou Community Council is inviting everyone to take part in the two-day schedule of events and experience firsthand a celebration dedicated to tradition, cultural heritage and love for the place we call home.
Attached hereby you will find the itinerary of the planned hands-on activities, children’s workshops as well as all the music and dance activities.