As spring emerges, there will be lots of outdoor activities and events to enjoy as the island turns, momentarily and blissfully, green. Outdoor yoga sessions, nature hikes and events in parks are bound to blossom. This weekend is packed with a mix of outdoorsy fun – markets, village fruit festivals, walks and car boot sales – art exhibitions and, of course, events that celebrate International Women’s Day.

Art exhibitions

The art scene in March is busy and many exhibitions are opening this weekend. Several of them place their focus on women and womanhood.

Amongst them are the Worthy of Respect exhibition at Nicosia’s Garage Multipurpose Centre, the Female Portraits exhibition at Morfi Gallery in Limassol, the Scent of a Woman exhibition at NYX Hotel and the group exhibition HER at Lumiere Contemporary Art Gallery. All open on Saturday, March 8. This date is of course carefully selected as it is International Women’s Day.

Opening a day earlier, this Friday is the Light from Light showcase by Alexandros Yiorkajdis, held at the Centre of Contemporary Art Diatopos.

Next week, and throughout March, more art exhibitions will be added to the cultural agenda, this weekend seems to be only the beginning.

Live music

Could it be the weekend in Cyprus without a touch of live music? Of course not. Classical music, jazz melodies and Greek pop rock are in the pipeline for this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

A chamber music concert by the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra String Quartet will be held on Friday in Nicosia and on Saturday in Limassol presenting a repertoire of Bach, Shostakovich and Dvořák.

Nicosia music lovers will also get to enjoy more classical music at The Shoe Factory as the Pharos Arts Foundation welcomes internationally acclaimed pianist Sergey Belyavsky. The recital will feature a programme with works by C.P.E. Bach, Liszt, Rachmaninov, Scriabin and Schumann.

For a dose of jazz, the Charlotte Storer Jazz Quartet will celebrate Women’s Day by performing pieces by iconic ladies from the jazz genre on Saturday at John’s Restaurant in Trimiklini. The performance will take place at 8pm as the musicians pay tribute to the pioneering women artists of jazz.

Lovers of Greek music, pop rock and ‘entechno’ in particular, will have the chance to enjoy a double-trouble show this Saturday as the popular Greek band Mple takes the stage of DownTown Live, as will the Cypriot band Prospectus. Doors open at 10.30pm and the live music is set to kick off at 11.30pm and go on until late.

Diverse events

To browse second-hand items, local produce and arts and crafts, there are three events on this weekend in different locations. Saint Paul’s Anglican Cathedral in Nicosia is hosting a Car Boot Sale this Saturday from 10am to 1pm where all kinds of goodies will be available to purchase.

In Oroklini, the 1st Lakeside Market will be held with local artists selling their creations. The market will take place at Restolake Restaurant between 10am and 2pm.

At The Mills in Linou village, another edition of the Solea Valley Market will happen on Sunday. There you will find local products, music, workshops and a children’s corner.

In Paphos, the ‘Women Who Shaped Our City’ guided walk will take place on Saturday, remembering important women who played in key role in Paphos. The tour is organised by the Paphos Youth Multicentre and will be held in Greek.

One more walk is scheduled for the weekend, though it has a different focus. The Nicosia Climate Walk is a collaboration between AHDR, Climate Pact, Cyprus Energy Agency and Home for Cooperation from where it will set off at 10.30am. This one is in English and focuses on the city’s environment and climate features.

Lastly, the Dierona Mandarin Festival returns this weekend for a two-day occasion. Over Saturday and Sunday, market stalls, live performances and presentations all revolving around the juicy fruit will take over the Limassol district village as it prepares for this annual celebration.

Light from Light

Solo exhibition by Alexandros Yiorkajdis. March 7-27. Centre of Contemporary Art Diatopos, Nicosia. Opening: 7pm. Wednesday-Friday: 4pm-7 pm. Saturday: 11 am-1pm. Tel: 22-766117. www.diatopos.com

Worthy of Respect

Solo exhibition by Christiana Georgiou focusing on the vulva. March 8-16. Garage Multipurpose centre, Nicosia. Opening night: 6.30pm. Monday-Friday: 10am-1pm and 3pm-7pm. Saturday-Sunday :10am-2pm and 4pm-8pm.www.instagram.com/garage_art_space/, https://www.instagram.com/christianagewrgiou/

Female Portraits

Solo exhibition by Giorgos Gerontidis. March 8-17. Morfi Gallery, Limassol. Opening night: 6.30pm. Monday-Friday: 10am-1pm and 4.30pm-6.30pm. Saturday: 10am-1pm. Tel: 99-345474. [email protected]. www.morfi.org

Scent of a Woman

Exhibition by Elena Shiakalli. March 8-23. NYX Hotel, Limassol. Opening: 6pm-9pm

HER

Group exhibition dedicated to important women in history and mythology. March 8-May 8. Lumiere Contemporary Art Gallery, Limassol. Opening: 7pm. Wednesday-Friday: 3.30pm-6.30pm. Saturday: 11am-1pm. www.lumiereartgallery.com. Tel: 25-344141

CySO String Quartet

Chamber music concert performing Bach, Shostakovich and Dvořák. March 7. Pallas Theatre, Nicosia. March 8. Ipsonas Municipal Theatre, Limassol. 8pm. €12 for the Nicosia concert. Free entrance for Limassol concert. www.cyso.org.cy

Sergey Belyavsky

Piano recital by renowned international musician. March 7. The Shoe Factory, Nicosia. 8.30pm. €25. www.pharosartsfoundation.org. Tel: 22-663871

Charlotte Storer Jazz Quartet

Live jazz for Women’s Day. March 8. John’s Restaurant, Trimiklini, Paphos. 8pm. €16. Tel: 97-898997. www.dailydealscy.com/event/storer

Mple and Prospectus

Renowned Greek band Mple joins forces with Cypriot band Prospectus. March 8. DownTown Live, Nicosia. Doors open 10.30pm, live music 11.30pm. www.more.cy. Tel: 99-810011

Women Who Shaped Our City

Tour of Paphos city centre to remember important Paphos women. March 8. Starting point: Paphos Youth Multicentre. 10am-12.30pm. In Greek. Free. Registration required by Wednesday, March 4. Registration form: https://shorturl.at/P09s0. Tel: 26-306419

Nicosia Climate Walk

A collaboration between AHDR, Home for Cooperation, Cyprus Energy Agency and Climate Pact. March 9. Meeting point: Home for Cooperation, Nicosia. 10.30am-12.30pm. In English. Free. www.home4cooperation.info

Dierona Mandarin Festival

Mandarin festival with a market, entertainment and more. March 8-9. Dierona village, Limassol district. Tel: 99-409938

1st Lakeside Market

Local market with artists, food and drink. March 9. Restolake Restaurant, Oroklini. 10am-2pm

Solea Valley Market

Market with local products, music, workshops, kids’ corners and more. March 9. The Mills, Linou village. 11am-5.30pm. www.oimiloisolea.wordpress.com

Saint Paul’s Anglican Cathedral Car Boot Sale

Car boot sale. March 8. Saint Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, Nicosia. 10am-1pm. Tel: 22-445221, 99-848473