Festival fever holds strong through June

Summer is officially here! June arrives with a variety of festivals celebrating music, dance, films, cherries and lavender!

Kicking off the summer fun is the fourth Cyprus Accordion Festival that takes places this weekend, June 3-5, in Ayios Theodoros, Larnaca. The festival will welcome musicians, music lovers, old and young in two days filled with concerts, seminars, an accordion exhibition and workshops with musicians from abroad.

Accordionists from Greece and France will lead seminars but local musicians too will host interactive music-themed workshops for adults and children. In between the music activities, the festival is also organising morning and evening yoga flows, village tours and a traditional pasta-making workshop with ladies from the community.

Also kicking off on June 3 is the Cyprus Contemporary Dance Festival that until June 25 will host a plethora of dance performances at Rialto Theatre, welcoming local and international productions. Contemporary dance aficionados will have a unique opportunity to enjoy a series of exceptional performances reflecting contemporary dance trends, schools and movements, thus building bridges between Cyprus and international choreographic production.

The performances highlight current issues while showcasing the work of renowned choreographers, covering an extensive thematic that focuses on social, political or existential issues. This year’s edition especially highlights diversity as reflected in the identity of the performers and their country of origin.

Changing gear and taking in the season’s beauty is the 10th Annual Lavender Festival at CyHerbia Botanical Park in Avgorou village. This year’s festival not only celebrates the purple blossoms but also the theme park’s 10^th anniversary. Between June 11 and 26, there will be lots to do and explore at the park from witnessing the extraction of lavender essential oil, participating in lavender craft workshops, touring the lavender garden, a children’s scavenger hunt and storytelling and even having a photo shoot among lavender blossoms.

An opportunity to venture up the mountains will arrive on June 11 as Treis Elies village organises a Cherry Festival. An open-air market will sell numerous cherry products and art crafts while two creative workshops using cherries will happen throughout the day. Celebrations will conclude with a shadow theatre performance at 7pm along with traditional dances and a live music concert.

Continuing the cherry celebrations is the 4^th Annual Pedoulas Cherry Festival that will take place on June 18 and 19. Cypriot dances and songs, village tours, workshops with traditional professions, stalls with local produce and food will decorate the village centre with the protagonist of course being the sweet cherries of the region.

Towards the end of the month two summer film festivals will return, one in the heart of Nicosia and the other in Paphos. The Images & Views of Alternative Cinema Film Festival 2022 will be hosted at the Hambis Municipal Printmaking Museum from June 20 to 26 this year screening nine films.

In between those dates, the garden of Technopolis 20 will welcome the 7th edition of the Paphos International Film Festival. Screenings of short films and documentaries from Cyprus and abroad as well workshops, master classes and lectures will take place on June 24 to 26 welcoming cinema lovers.

Finally, the Loud Music Festival will return after two quiet years and bring back its lively fiestas. This year, the festival makes its comeback with four days of music at Limassol’s Potamos Germasogeia. In this 7^th edition, more than 40 well-known local DJs and bands will entertain partygoers from June 23 to 26. Let the summer fun begin!

4th Cyprus International Accordion Festival

Annual festival with music, workshops and concerts. June 3-5. Ayios Theodoros, Larnaca. www.cyprusaccordionfestival.com

Cyprus Contemporary Dance Festival

Nine dance performances as part of festival. June 3-25. Rialto Theatre, Limassol. www.cypruscontemporarydancefestival.com

10^th Annual Lavender Festival

Lavender themed activities, tours and workshops. June 11-26. CyHerbia Botanical Park, Avgorou village. www.cyherbia.com

Cherry Festival

Music, open-air market, workshops and more. June 11. Treis Elies, Limassol district. 10am-12pm. Facebook page: Treis Elies

4^th Annual Pedoulas Cherry Festival

Food, music, song and dance in annual cherry festival. June 18-19. Pedoulas village, Limassol district. Facebook event: Cherry festival in village Pedoulas

Images & Views of Alternative Cinema Film Festival 2022

Film screenings. June 20-26. Hambis Municipal Printmaking Museum, Nicosia. 8pm. www.ivacfestival.com

7th Paphos International Film Festival

Short film screenings and documentaries. June 24-26. Technopolis 20, Paphos. www.piffcyprus.com

7^th Loud Music Festival

4 days of music with DJs and live bands. June 23-26. Potamos Germasogeias, Limassol. 5pm-12am. Facebook event: 7^th Loud Music Festival