Local customs, seasonal celebrations and traditions that shape the cultural life of Pieria.
Fire, Cedar & Memory The Tsagkala Carnival ritual in Skotina, Pieria — where fire, community and older layers of memory meet. 22 February 2026 · Skotina, Pieria The cedar fire of Tsagkala in Skotina, Pieria. © Experience Pieria In the village of Skotina, beneath the slopes of Mount Olympus, fire still has the power to […]
Every January, something unusual rises above the streets of Litochoro. Tall masts carrying crosses and colourful banners appear as part of the town’s Epiphany celebrations — a distinctive local tradition known as the Sichna, or Sichnoforia. Under Mount Olympus, faith, community and local memory come together in a tradition that has been carried through generations […]
European Heritage Days in Greece | Free Museums & Archaeological Sites Culture & Heritage · European Heritage Days 2025 Inside the Archaeological Museum of Dion in Pieria. Every September, European Heritage Days turn the spotlight towards Europe’s shared cultural heritage, giving visitors opportunities to discover historic buildings, museums, archaeological sites and monuments through special programmes […]
Olympus Gastronomy Festival | Local Food, Dion & Cultural Traditions Food & Culture · Dion, Pieria · Olympus What happens when food, history and local traditions meet at the foot of Mount Olympus? In Dion, Pieria, gastronomy becomes part of the cultural landscape. The Olympus Gastronomy Festival brought together traditional dishes, local cultural associations, music […]
Prometheia Festival at Mount Olympus | Ancient Greek Culture & Litochoro At the foot of Mount Olympus, one of the most powerful landscapes in Greek mythology becomes the setting for a cultural gathering inspired by ancient Greek philosophy, mythology, history and traditions. The Prometheia Festival brings together participants from Greece and abroad in and around […]
Greek Easter in Dion-Olympus | Traditions, Processions & Local Celebrations Easter in Dion-Olympus, Pieria is experienced through churches, processions, village squares, traditional food, music and gatherings that bring communities together beneath Mount Olympus. From the solemn atmosphere of Holy Week to the celebrations that continue around Easter Sunday and Saint George’s Day, the period offers […]
Greek Easter in Pieria, Greece | Traditions, Food & Spring in Olympus Greek Easter in Pieria brings together some of the things that make spring in northern Greece special: Orthodox traditions, village life, family gatherings, local food and the landscapes surrounding Mount Olympus. Greek Easter in Pieria at a Glance Season: Spring What to experience: […]
Carnival in Dion-Olympus, Pieria | Apokries, Traditions & Local Celebrations Carnival in the Municipality of Dion-Olympus is not one single celebration. It unfolds across towns and villages, bringing together Apokries traditions, parades, music, dancing, food, bonfires and local customs beneath Mount Olympus. Carnival in Dion-Olympus at a Glance Region: Pieria, Greece Municipality: Dion-Olympus Season: Apokries […]
Clean Monday in Pieria, Greece | Koulouma, Kite Flying & Local Traditions Clean Monday (Kathara Deftera) marks the beginning of Great Lent in Greece and the end of the Carnival season. In Pieria, the day is closely connected with Koulouma, kite flying, traditional Lenten food, outdoor gatherings and the arrival of spring. Clean Monday Koulouma […]
Tsiknopempti is an extraordinary pre-Lenten celebration all over Greece on the Thursday of the second week of the Triodion. This celebration is a time to indulge in a large quantity of grilled meat, marking the final feast before the fasting period of Lent begins. Pieria region is the most incredible region where Tsiknopempti is celebrated […]
Tsigaridas Festival in Lofos, Pieria | Pork, Local Food & Greek Tradition In the mountain village of Lofos, Pieria, winter has its own flavours. One of them is tsigarida — a traditional pork preparation connected with rural life, seasonal food and the way local families preserved and used meat through the colder months. Tsigaridas Festival […]
Olympus Festival 2023 | Culture, Music & Theatre in Pieria The Olympus Festival returned to Pieria in 2023 with a summer programme of theatre, music, dance, cinema and cultural events held across some of the region’s most distinctive historic and cultural locations. From the Ancient Theatre of Dion and Platamon Castle to cultural spaces in […]