You will not have to look far to find something fun to do this weekend and as the summer months draw closer, more and more events will be added to the calendar. This Friday, Saturday and Sunday, food markets, neighbourhood festivals, theatre performances in castles, car boot sales and cacti bazaars will be on.
In the cities
Plenty is happening in the cities, Nicosia in particular – though fear not, events outside the capital city are here too. To witness emerging conductors lead professional musicians head to Pallas Theatre on Friday as the Cyprophonia 4 – Young Conductors Gala takes place. Three young conductors who completed the International Conducting Masterclass with maestro Charles Olivieri-Munroe will lead the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra through a programme by Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Rossini and Prokofiev.
Meanwhile, at the Nicosia Municipal Gardens, the second Fork Food Market of the season will treat foodies to a variety of street food choices, beats and drinks. New and long-standing vendors will take part as soon as the event opens its doors on Friday at 6pm.
In Ayioi Omologites, a dance Neighbourhood Festival will take place on Saturday with traditional dancing, music performances, workshops, exhibitions, street games for children and activities happening all over the old neighbourhood. Leading it is the neighbourhood’s Cultural Workshop. The festivities begin at 5.30pm and will last until late.
Also happening in Nicosia is the 16th Annual Exhibition of Cacti and Other Succulents which will fill the Caves Hall of Acropolis Park with different and award-winning cacti and succulents. Head over on Sunday from 10am to browse cacti that thrive in our Mediterranean climate and meet the plant growers behind them.
Other Nicosia events include an inter-generational creative theatrical workshop for women of all ages at the Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia on Sunday at 11am, and not one but two car boot sales. The first will be at St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral between 10am and 1pm on Saturday while on Sunday, Misfit Union in Engomi will host one between 11am and 6pm.
In Larnaca, the Women’s Narratives event series will present theatrical performances around the town. First up is the theatre comedy Ekines on Friday at The Passage bar in Zouchouri Square at 9.30pm. On Saturday and Sunday the theatre reading DIDO/ELISSA or a wandering tale by Magdalena Zira from the SEZON Women group, will be presented at the Medieval Castle at 8.30pm. The event series focuses on women’s narratives, from the age of myth to the present day, and celebrates Europe Day.
Technopolis 20 in Paphos will celebrate this Mother’s Day weekend with two creative workshops on Sunday. At 10am a Mamma Mia-themed workshop will get mothers and children singing and dancing to tunes from the beloved musical, while at 11am a creative workshop with paints, colours and art supplies will guide families through creative expression.
In the villages
Mountainous Cyprus has several exciting events happening in its villages this weekend too. The annual, fragrant Agros Rose Festival begins on Saturday as the village’s renowned pink roses are in full bloom. On the weekends of May 10-11 and 18-19, a series of activities, events, shop visits, markets and performances will be on to entertain guests.
In Platres, Maria Loizidou will present a brand-new exhibition taking over Minerva Hotel. Newcomers opens on Saturday and will run until mid-September. Throughout the weekend, another Limassol village, Lania will host its annual spring event Lanes & Courtyards with a series of workshops, talks on Cypriot traditional products, live music and studio visits. Organised by the Women of Lania group, events begin at 11am on both Saturday and Sunday.
In the suburbs
Want more? In Oroklini the Handmade and Homemade market will take place at Restolake Restaurant, running on Sunday from 10am to 2pm. If it is fresh music from the island’s young and rising musicians you are after, then be sure to check out Fengaros High. Following a five-month process which included an open call, live auditions and mentoring sessions, Fengaros High selected the final six artists that will get to present their original music live on Saturday at Dali Amphitheatre.
Selected to perform are Fond Motion, Kanapes, liayrio, Sofia Bella, The Nats and Theodora. Opening night will be Della with an electrifying performance while at the end of the evening, the up-and-coming young rockers BUZZ will close the night. But this is not just any concert, it is a competition. The most-voted act will get to perform at Fengaros Festival this summer and record their music for free at Studio eleven63. Exciting events, new artists and happenings all over the island are about to fill this weekend. Enjoy!
Cyprophonia 4 – Young Conductors Gala
CYSO concert with three young conductors who completed the International Conducting Masterclass with maestro Charles Olivieri-Munroe. Repertoire by Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Rossini and Prokofiev. May 9. Pallas Theatre, Nicosia. 8.30pm. www.cyso.org.cy
Fork Food Market
Street food, DJs and cocktails. May 9. Nicosia Municipal Gardens, Nicosia. 6pm. www.forkfoodmarket.com
Dance-Dance: a Neighbourhood Festival
Traditional dance, music performances, photography exhibition, children’s games and street events in the neighbourhood. May 10. Agioi Omologites, Nicosia. 5.30pm-11.30pm. Free
St Paul’s Car Boot Sale
Third monthly car boot sale. May 10. St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, Nicosia. 10am-1pm. Tel: 99-848473
Women’s Narratives
Musical theatrical performance ‘Ekines’. May 9. The Passage Bar, Zouchouri Square, Larnaca. 9.30pm. Staged reading of ‘DIDO/ELISSA or a wandering tale’. May 10-11. Medieval Castle Larnaca. 8.30pm. €12. www.soldoutticketbox.com. More information: [email protected]
Agros Rose Festival
Annual festival all about rose production. Workshops, tours, activities and live entertainment. May 10-11, 18-19. Agros village, Limassol district. www.rosefest.agros.org.cy
Fengaros High
Six young music acts perform and compete for a spot to perform at Fengaros Festival and a record studio deal. May 10. Dali Amphitheatre, Nicosia. 6pm. www.fengaros.com/high
Newcomers
Exhibition by Maria Loizidou. May 10-September 14. Minerva Hotel, Platres. Opening: 6pm-9pm. Saturday – Sunday 11am-6pm or by appointment. www.marialoizidou.com
Lanes & Courtyards
Activity weekend with music, dancing, talks and artist studio visits. May 10-11. Lania village, Limassol district. 11am until late. Free. www.womenoflania.com
Pop-up market with handmade items. May 11. Restolake Restaurant, Oroklini, Larnaca district. 10am-2pm
Misfit Union Car Boot Sale
Vendors, food, drinks and music. May 11. Misfit Union, Nicosia. 11am-6pm. Tel: 99-338577
16th Annual Exhibition of Cacti and Other Succulents
Cacti and succulents exhibition, plants and pots market and workshops. May 11. Caves, Acropolis Park, Nicosia. 10am. €1. Tel: 97-777457, [email protected], www.facebook.com/CyprusCactusandSucculentSociety
Through Clothes: Women’s Stories from Nicosia
Inter-generational creative, theatrical workshop for women of all ages. Led by actress and educator Natalia Panagiotou. May 11. Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia. 11am – 12.30pm. In Greek. Free. Reservations required. Tel: 22-661475. [email protected]
Two creative workshops for mothers and children, using art and musicals. May 11. Technopolis 20, Paphos. 10am-11.30am and 11am-1pm. www.technopolis20.com. Tel: 7000-2420
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