Weekend events to explore in Nicosia

December hosts a huge variety of events: music nights, end-of-year performances, workshops and Christmas markets. This weekend even more are happening in the capital. Here is a selection of a few events that are worth checking out.

Music

Within a nocturnal portrait, five talented musicians present the musical show Nocturna this December in Paphos, Limassol, Larnaca and Nicosia, where the viewer is invited to face his own existence as it is composed of his light and darkness. The Nicosia show at ARTos House on Saturday concludes the series by bringing melodies by Hatzidakis, Theodorakis, Alexia, Aurora and Agnes Obel as well as examples from various traditional Greek and Cypriot idioms to the capital.

Maria Voultsopoulou (voice), Kyriakos Kostas (piano), Alexandros Komodromos (electric guitar), Yiannis Koudounas (trumpet) and Petros Kkallis (percussion) will take the stage at 8.30pm for an evening filled with nostalgia and reflection.

On the same evening, a night of Swing Classics will erupt at Sarah’s Jazz Club with the Jazz Party Quartet. With Sarah Fenwick singing, Dimitris Miaris playing the piano, Irenaeos Koulouras thrumming the bass and drummer Francesco di Lenge keeping time, Saturday night will be all about swing.

Other events

The morning of Saturday also has plenty in store. Soloneion Book Centre is hosting Worldwide Buddies for an all-day event of holiday cheer, activities, storytelling, bookish gifts and magic. Apart from Christmas shopping and bites, festive crafts and games for children will be on, special gift wrapping, a dedicated section with the entire Worldwide Buddies book collection and interactive readings of The Book of Cultures at 11am and 5pm in both English and Greek.

Continuing the fun is a creative workshop for little artists at Bomba Picnic, guided by artist and educator Elena Christou. During the one-hour Saturday morning event, children will be introduced to three great artists, Alexander Calder, Keith Haring and Salvador Dali, and inspired by their artworks with Christmas as a subject, they will be guided to create their own Christmas cards. Experimenting with different techniques, children will create original Christmas art.

Christmas pop-ups

Last but not least, are the festive markets and pop-ups happening this Saturday and Sunday. Evergreen Vegan & Vegetarian will host its last bazaar of the year on Saturday welcoming not only local artists who will be selling their work but also creatives who will offer workshops. While the bazaar is on from 11am to 5pm and DJ Fuzz plays music, a cooking workshop will take place. Zoe Kavaltzi will be making vegan Christmas delights sharing secrets on how to bake tasty vegan cookies and hot chocolate. A Christmas Kids Workshop by Rizes ArtStudio will guide little ones in creating decorations inspired by nature.

In the old town, on Ermou Street the artists and studios of the neighbourhood organise a Christmas weekend opening up their workshops and displaying their handmade items while putting on a festive party on Saturday and Sunday.

Nocturna

Five musicians perform together. The concert is under the support of Larnaca Interact Club. December 17. ARTos House, Nicosia. 8.30pm. €12. www.soldoutticketbox.com/nocturna-dec-2022

Jazz Party Quartet

Live music with Sarah Fenwick, Dimitris Miaris, Irenaeos Koulouras and Francesco di Lenge. December 17. Sarah’s Jazz Club, Nicosia. 9pm. Tel: 95-147711

The Buddies Take over Christmas 

Event by Worldwide Buddies with children’s games, readings, crafts and more. December 17. Soloneion Book Centre, Nicosia. 9am-7pm. Tel: 22-666799

An Artist’s Christmas Card Workshop

Kids workshop making artistic cards. Ages 5 and above. December 17. Bomba Picnic, Nicosia. 10.30am-11.45am. Tel: 99-836276

Christmas Bazaar

Market with local artists and creative workshops for kids and adults. December 17. Evergreen Vegan & Vegetarian, Nicosia. 11am-5pm

Ermou Christmas 272

Studios, artists and shops host Christmas market. December 17-18. Ermou street, Nicosia. 10am-7pm