Festivals In Corfu

Like the rest of Greece, the Island of Corfu has a great number of religious festivals and celebrations throughout the year, and especially during summer months. To help you plan your visit to the island listed below are some of the religious and non religious festivals and events that take place here:

Corfu is famous for its Carnival that usually takes place in late February or early March. It takes its roots from the traditional 17th century Venetian Carnival with people dressed in historic costumes, bands, singing and the parade takes place along the paved street of Liston.

At the end of the parade there is the burning of the Carnival King on large bonfire as he is said to carry the sins of the locals.

There is also a cheese eating festival around this time which is usually held on a Sunday in mid February in the centre of Corfu town.

The Greek Orthodox celebrations at Easter are always well worth attending on Corfu, with marching bands and bright red decorations. Celebrations go on for the whole of Holy Week and include a litany of Saint Spyridon (patron saint of the island), the gatherings of Epitaphios in Liston on Good Friday and the custom of kanatia on Easter Saturday morning. This includes throwing ceramic vases (kanatia in Greek) filled with water from the windows in Spianada square, with the noise they make when they break symbolising the power of Christ raised over Death.

The Anniversary of the Union takes place on 21st May every year when the
inhabitants of the island celebrate the day of the union of Corfu with the new Greek State. This takes place in Corfu Town and is celebrated with dancing, processions and banquets.

Most of the villages on the island including Gimari, Lafki, Pantokratoros and Strinilas, usually hold a Panigiria local festival during the year, where the whole community comes together to party eating traditional food and dancing.

During the summer months there is a philharmonic band at Corfu Town giving regular free weekend concerts at the Spianada Green gazebo.

July is the islands cricket season. This is a traditional event which originates from the British domination where cricket matches have been held on the Esplanade Square in Corfu Town for almost 200 years. It is a huge cricket ground and English and Greek teams compete.
Another famous festival in Corfu is the Varkarola that takes place on August 10th to commemorate their victory over the Turkish siege in 1716. This festival includes boats carrying choirs singing cantades (romantic songs from the 20s) across the bay of Garitsa and fireworks.
The Festival of Garouna and Ano Gerakiana is a three day festival which takes place in these villages during the first weekend after August 15th. It consists of various cultural events organised by the villagers.
If you like sardines then there is a sardine festival held in Benitses held every year in mid August.
If you are in Loustri (near to Agni Bay) on September 1st you can sample the Pie Festival when tavernas bake a huge number of local pies (pitas).
On December 12th there is a celebration of the name day of Saint Spyridon who is the patron saint of Corfu. Holy masses are held in all the churches and the relics of the saint are open to pilgrimage for three days. Tradition also demands that pilgrims eat doughnuts that day and there are a great number of kiosks selling doughnuts all over Corfu town.