Get a taste of traditional Cyprus this month

Typically, after the hustle and bustle of the summer’s loud, vibrant festivals, September brings a variety of local, more traditional festivals. Celebrating local produce, music and handicrafts, September’s festivals are usually organised by folklore organisations and municipalities.

Coming up on September 6 is the 9^th Annual Carob Festival, taking place at Saint George’s Church in Peyia. Live music, traditional Cypriot fayre and a variety of carob sweets will be part of the one-day fiesta. Expect an evening with musical performances and a dozen different food and drink options to try dedicated to carob products and more. Part of the night’s specialities will be fresh anari with carob syrup, traditional plates of resi and, of course, plenty of wine and zivania.

The Carob Festival is one of the most popular cultural activities of the Paphos region in recent years, a free event and a taste of something different. Starting at 7.30pm, traditional dances and songs will fill the outdoor area of Saint George’s Church. Included in the musical programme are performances by Constantina and Christina Tselepou and by the Choir of the Municipality of Peyia under the direction of maestro and composter Stalo Georgiou.

Another annual festival is the Pomegranate Festival in Ormidia. Due to Covid measures and restrictions, there won’t be a festival in 2021 but instead, some theatre performances are being organised.

At the Ormidia Municipal Park on September 15 at 8pm, Antilogos Theatre will bring their popular adaptation of Waiting for Godot. This is a well-known play by Samuel Beckett which has been translated and adapted into Greek and the Turkish Cypriot dialect by director Kostas Silvestros. The play has been touring theatres around the island this summer and in a few days it will arrive in Ormidia.

Also scheduled for September was the Olive Festival in Tseri but it has been postponed to October 1. This 50^th edition will take place at the Tseri B’ Elementary school instead of the main square where it usually is so that the organisers can keep a better count of the visitors due to Covid measures. From 7.30pm onwards the usual activities will take place – food, drink, live music and plenty of green olives to taste.

Previous editions included a grand variety of activities, stalls and food options yet this year it will be a slightly more minimalistic affair. But fear not, as one of the oldest and most popular traditional festivals, the organisers know how to host a grand celebration and it’s the perfect chance for old and young to come closer with the island’s traditions.

9^th Annual Carob Festival

Festival with traditional carob products and sweets, food, drinks and live music. September 6. Saint George’s Church, Peyia. 7.30pm. Free

Waiting for Godot

Adaptation of Samuel Beckett’s play into Greek and the Turkish Cypriot dialect. By Antilogos Theatre. September 15. Ormideia Municipal Park. 8pm. €8 and €4 for under 12 years old. Reservations: 99-929542

50^th Olive Festival

Food, drinks and live music at one of the oldest and most popular traditional festivals. October 1. Tseri B’ Elementary school, Nicosia. 7.30pm. Free