About the festival
The heart of rural Cyprus will beat strongly in Skarinou on Thursday, October 1. The 21st Traditional Culture Festival returns, ready to fill the village with flavors, aromas, traditional arts, and images of an authentic Cyprus.
This year's event holds special significance as the festival returns to Skarinou after 20 years. Its realization in the village is a result of the collaboration between the Larnaca Rural Women's Association and the Lefkara Municipality.
Behind this important institution is the Larnaca Rural Women's Association, which for over two decades has been working to promote traditional products, strengthen female entrepreneurship, and preserve rural professions and arts. The Association was founded in 2004 by 22 women and has evolved into a dynamic network with hundreds of members from the mountainous and semi-mountainous communities of Larnaca.
The Traditional Culture Festival is not just another event on the autumn calendar. It is a grand gathering of people who love rural Cyprus and are determined to keep alive the recipes, techniques, and customs passed down from generation to generation.
At the festival, we expect to meet women producers, small family businesses, artisans, and creators from the communities of the Larnaca district. Traditional delicacies, sweets, local produce, and handmade creations will highlight the richness and creativity of rural Cyprus.
Experiential workshops have always held a special place in the event. The public is not limited to the role of spectator but has the opportunity to closely observe the preparation of traditional dishes and learn techniques that were once part of daily life in every Cypriot home. Previous events featured, among others, makaronia tis smilas, tertzellouthkia, trachanas, palouzes, halloumi, anari, carob syrup, and eliopyttes baked in a wood oven.
This year, I will also be there, alongside the women of the Association and the people of the countryside, to cook unique local recipes together. It will be a wonderful opportunity to share stories, secrets, and flavors, and to remember that Cypriot cuisine is not just what we put on the table. It is the people, the memories, and the way a recipe travels from grandmother to mother and from there to younger generations.
In parallel with the gastronomic presentations, the festival traditionally hosts exhibitors with local products and handicrafts, as well as demonstrations of folk arts. Embroidery, basket weaving, pottery, and other rural creations meet music and dance, composing a complete experience around Cypriot cultural heritage.
Skarinou is the ideal setting for this grand celebration. Located at a pivotal point in the Larnaca district and with a strong agricultural character, the village will welcome people from all over Cyprus for a day full of taste, creativity, and authentic hospitality.
The 21st Traditional Culture Festival reminds us that tradition is not something static or distant. It remains alive when we cook it, share it, teach it to children, and give space to rural people to showcase their work. So, on October 1, we meet in Skarinou to celebrate all that makes our Cyprus special.
Information: Thursday, October 1, 2026, Skarinou, Larnaca district, Organization: Larnaca Rural Women's Association, in collaboration with Lefkara Municipality, 15.00.