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Rhodes Festivals and Events
Rhodes festivals and events include those celebrated throughout Greece like Easter and Greek Independence Day, and others that are unique to the island.
Rhodes Festivals and Events
January
January 6 – Epiphany
A service is held in the Cathedral of St John the Evangelist in Rhodes Town. There’s also the blessing of the sea water at Mandraki Harbour, when a priest throws a crucifix into the water and youngsters dive in for the honour of retrieving it.
February/March
Pre-Lenten Carnival
During the weeks before the beginning of Lent, various carnivals are staged on Rhodes. On the Sunday before Lent there are carnival processions and fancy dress in Rhodes Old Town, and also in Archangelos, Appolona, Afantou, Ialyssos, and Kameiros Skala.
The following day is called Kathari Deftera, meaning Clean Monday, and is when families and friends head for the countryside and beaches to picnic and to fly kites.
March 7 - Dodecanese Reunification Day
People all over the Dodecanese celebrate the reunification with Greece in 1947. There’s a parade in Rhodes Town and also theatre performances.
March 25 – Greek Independence Day
Widely celebrated throughout the whole country, of course, and it’s a good day to be in Rhodes Town.
Some Cool Rhodes Souvenirs
I Love Rhodes t-shirt
Rhodes Coffee Mug
Rhodes Coasters
Rhodes Tank Top
Easter (dates variable)
This is the most important festival of the Greek Orthodox Church. Expect explosive firecrackers over Easter weekend. Symi has its own very characteristic celebrations, which you can read about on our page, Easter on Symi. Note that Greek Easter only occasionally coincides with western Easter dates.
Easter is the major festival of the religious year. On Good Friday evening the church ceremonies begin in town and village, both inside the churches and outside as solemn processions move through the streets.
On Holy Saturday night the most powerful ceremony takes place and culminates with great bursts of fireworks in the streets as Christ is declared ‘risen’. People flow from the churches bearing lit candles which they try to keep alight until they reach home.
There are early breakfast feasts on Sunday morning and then general feasting throughout the day. Churches are always packed but people gather outside as well. Remember to dress appropriately if you attend a church service. You can read about a personal experience of being on Rhodes at Easter on our page, Easter on Rhodes.
May
May 1 – May Day
There are country picnics and garlands of flowers are brought back to decorate people’s doorways and balconies.
June
June 24 – The Feast of St John the Baptist
Bonfires and parties take place all over the island.
Our Pick of Greek Islands Guides
July
First week of July – Naval Week
On Rhodes this week there are concerts, fireworks, and boat races.
July 20 – The Feast of Profitis Ilias
Large numbers of people assemble at the mountain of Profitis Ilias to celebrate the feast day of the Prophet Elijah.
July 30
There are lively celebrations at the village of Soroni in honour of St Paul.
August
There are dance festivals at various villages throughout this month.
August 6
A religious festival on the nearby island of Halki sees; traditional mock battles, with the throwing of flour and eggs (so don’t dress smartly!) The ferry from Rhodes to Halki takes about 90 minutes but you may need to stay overnight so make sure you’ve got accommodation booked in advance.
August 15 – Assumption (Dormition) of the Blessed Virgin Mary
This is a very important week-long festival, during which many Greeks return to their native island and village. If planning to visit Greece around this time make sure you have your transport and accommodation booked well ahead.
September
September 8 – The Birth of the Virgin
This is widely celebrated throughout Greece but there is a unique event at Tsampika on Rhodes, when women wishing to conceive make a special pilgrimage to the hilltop monastery church.
October
October 28 – Ochi Day (‘No’ Day)
Patriotic celebration of Greece’s refusal to capitulate to the demands of Mussolini in 1940 that the country should surrender. There are parades, folk dancing, speeches, and general celebrations all over Greece.
November
November 8 – The Feast of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel
There are religious celebrations and festivities at Archangelos on Rhodes, and at the monastery of Panormitis on the neighbouring island of Symi.
December
Christmas
Although it's not as big a feast in Greece as Easter, Christmas is still widely celebrated. You may hear children singing Christmas carols on Christmas Eve, going from house to house and being rewarded with sweets, fruit, or some small change.
Christmas lasts from Christmas Eve to January 6th, the Feast of the Epiphany, and Greeks usually wait till January 1st before exchanging gifts, though some do now do it on Christmas Day.
Other Rhodes pages
Rhodes Food and Drink
The Greece Travel Secrets guide to Rhodes food and drink including the Greek words for meze, meat dishes, and fish dishes, and a guide to the best Rhodes wine.
Where to Stay in Rhodes Town
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to stay in Rhodes Town, including boutique and historic hotels in the Old Town and modern hotels in the New Town.
Easter on Rhodes
During Easter on Rhodes Greece Travel Secrets publisher Mike Gerrard travels from Lindos to Kattavia to visit a monastery and spend Easter with a Greek family.
Where to Eat in Southern Rhodes
Greece Travel Secrets recommends its choice of where to eat in Southern Rhodes, including restaurants and tavernas in Lindos, Gennadi, Pefki and Monolithos.
Lindos
Lindos is one of the main attractions on the Greek island of Rhodes, with its Acropolis, other ancient sites, beaches and historic captain’s houses.
Rhodes
Travel advice, information on Rhodes in the Dodecanese, with ferries from Piraeus for Athens, Symi, Crete, Kos, Patmos, Santorini, and flights from Europe
Rhodes Town Old Jewish Quarter
The Greece Travel Secrets guide to the Old Jewish Quarter, which you’ll see if you visit the Old Town of Rhodes.
Best Beaches on Rhodes
Greece Travel Secrets' choice of the best beaches on Rhodes, an island known for its beautiful sandy beaches.
Mandraki Harbour
Mandraki Harbour is the main harbour of Rhodes Town for travellers and from here you can catch ferries to Piraeus, Symi, Kos, Kalymnos, Patmos, and to Turkey.
Where to Eat in Rhodes Town
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to eat in Rhodes Town with fine-dining restaurants and inexpensive tavernas in the Old Town and the New Town.
Where to Stay in Northern Rhodes
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to stay in Northern Rhodes with hotels and apartments in Faliraki and elsewhere from 5-star luxury to family-friendly.
Ottoman Rhodes
Several mosques in Rhodes Town offer a reminder of Ottoman Rhodes, along with a delightful Muslim cemetery.
What to Do on Rhodes
If you’re wondering what to do on Rhodes then our suggested highlights include Rhodes Old Town, Lindos, Kameiros, and a visit to Symi.
Best Time to Visit Rhodes
Greece Travel Secrets picks the best time to visit Rhodes, with a monthly summary of the weather, plus hotel prices and special events to help plan a visit.
Rhodes Town Museums
Rhodes Town museums include an archaeological museum, Byzantine museum, a museum of decorative arts, and exceptional collections of modern Greek art.
Where to Eat in Northern Rhodes
Greece Travel Secrets recommends where to eat in Northern Rhodes, including fish restaurants and roadside tavernas in Faliraki, Ixia, Kamiros and Charaki.
Best Rhodes Guidebook
The best Rhodes guidebook is undoubtedly the A-Z Travel Guide to Rhodes, including Symi, with a new revised and updated edition for 2022.
A Walk in the Old Town of Rhodes
This walk through the Old Town of Rhodes takes you through this World Heritage Site and along the main streets and past the city walls, palaces and mosques.
Rhodes Weather
Rhodes weather is hot in summer and mild in winter, so read Greece Travel Secrets’ advice on the best time to visit Rhodes and why you should consider Lindos.
Southern Rhodes Drive
This Southern Rhodes drive starts and ends in Lindos and takes in Gennadi, Kattavia, Monolithos and the chance to stop at several good beaches.
Places to See in Southern Rhodes
Greece Travel Secrets’ guide to places to see in Southern Rhodes include Gennadi, Glystra, Pefkoi, Kiotari, Lardos, Moni Thari, Lindos, Kattavia and Prasonisi.
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