Folklore festivals across the Larnaka region

 Larnaka is alive with folklore festivals this autumn, offering visitors a glimpse into the regions rich traditions from the coast to the hills. Click here for more info on all:

• Mediterranean Folklore Dance, Choir and Traditional Band Festival – 12-17 September An annual festival with traditional dance and music troupes from around the world participating in national costume. The colourful parades and performances are free to watch and take place on the Seafront Stage of Foinikoudes (Palm Trees) Promenade. Festival of Tradition & Culture – 1 October – Agioi Vavatsinias – The biggest festival in rural Larnaka, attracting thousands of visitors and showcasing the customs of village life. This year it takes place at Agioi Vavatsinias, one of the Rural Larnaka Honey Villages, and will feature folkloric entertainment, live cooking and gastronomy demonstrations, children’s activities and different handicrafts and handmade products.. Kornos Red Clay Festival – 4-6 October – Kornos Village – Known for its red clay and traditional pottery pastime that is included on the UNESCO National Intangible Cultural Heritage list, the village celebrates with a festival where visitors can watch skilled potters at work and enjoy entertainment, traditional street stalls and cooking demonstrations.  Renaissance Fair – 19 October 19 – Pyrga –Transporting visitors on a journey back in time, re-recreating a local fair during the reign of Katerina Cornaro, the last Queen of Cyprus. Costumed performers entertain with period music, dances, games, storytelling and traditional poetry, all reminiscent of the island’s rich medieval era. Street food, drinks and an open-air market with local products and crafts.

 Larnaka takes action to improve accessibility for all visitors  As part of Larnaka Tourism Board’s (LTB) ongoing efforts to welcome all visitors there are several initiatives underway to increase touristic accessibility. Click here for more info:

• Braille Menus in Hotels – LTB is working with ‘Ena Emeis’ to introduce Braille and audio menus at six of the region’s four and five-star hotels; a first for the island. Restaurant menus are currently being adapted for persons with a sensory disability into Braille (English and Greek) for visual disability and audio (via a QR code) for auditory disability. Participating hotels are: Golden Bay Beach Hotel, Sandy Beach, Lordos Beach Hotel & Spa, Radisson Blu Hotel Larnaca, Robinson Club Cyprus, E Hotel Spa & Resort.  Innovative Ablebook App – LTB is working with the founders of the innovative Ablebook app to increase the number of tourism and hospitality establishments that offer facilities for persons with a disability. All information is included on the invaluable app, which is available on the App Store and Google Play. More will be revealed upon its completion by the end of the year. Pioneering Hotel Internship – LTB facilitated an internship at Sandy Beach Hotel for a deaf person to join the Pastry Department for one month. The internship proved to be highly successful, dispelling myths and stereotypes about people with hearing loss and their ability to work within the industry; and paving the way for more opportunities for people with a disability to work in tourism. Free Beach Facilities – Two free sunbeds and an umbrella are available to holders of a European Disability Card, and one accompanying person, in designated front row areas. Sunbeds are usually found by the lifeguard tower where assistance is available, plus there is free use of floating wheelchairs (with the supervision of the lifeguards). 

 Take to the waters in Larnaka with various sailing activities  Larnaka Bay has some of the most favourable conditions for sailing in the Mediterranean, attracting both leisure yachters and professional athletes, and hosts a variety of international races, regattas and training camps throughout the year. Sailing came to Larnaka in 1934 with the construction of the first, small sailing boat, followed by the creation of Larnaca Nautical Club in 1951. The club has since been at the forefront of sailing for the city, also representing Cyprus at several Olympics. As well as sailing, there are facilities for swimming, water polo, canoe/kayak, SUP (stand up and paddle) and artistic swimming teams. Visitors can enjoy these activities, plus sailing lessons, private charters and boat trips. Read more here. Autumn running events 

• Cyprus Ultramarathon 2024 – 10 November  – Taking place at Lefkara Community Stadium, the Ultramarathon consists of races with a limited number of running spots: 12 hour (20 participants), six hour (30 participants) and 10km satellite (40 participants). Radisson Blu Larnaka International Marathon – 17 November – Larnaka city’s marathon attracts thousands of runners from across the world. The coastal route starts from the Foinikoudes (Palm Tree) Promenade, passing the salt lakes and flamingos alongside the palm trees and ancient ruins that Larnaka is known for. The family-friendly event has seven different races, for all ages and abilities. 

Runners of all levels can combine a holiday with taking part in one of the events. More details and register here. For more information, read the autumn newsletter in full, click here. For tourist information from the Larnaka Tourism Board, visit www.larnakaregion.com