The Region of Crete – Rethymno Regional Unity this year joins forces with the Municipality of Rethymno creating a new institution, the “Cretan Diet Festival” to promote local products and Cretan culture.
“The Cretan Diet Festival’ is the result of two successful events organized by the Municipality and Regional Unity of Rethymno, respectively, which took place in recent years in Rethymno. One is known to generations and generations of our citizens as “Wine & Traditional Products Festival” and the second and most recent, the exhibition on primary sector and tourism “Agro – Tourism cooperation.”
By marrying these two successful local events, we attempt to highlight the potential and prospects arising from the exploitation of comparative advantage for Rethymno and the whole of Crete, the “Cretan Diet”.
It is a nutritional model that goes beyond the borders of the island, enjoys international recognition from the medical and scientific community and represents a lifestyle and a culture. The “Cretan Diet” is a growing opportunity for the island and its inhabitants, a driving force for the local economy, the primary sector and tourism.
It is the best representative of our island in Greece and the world and a valuable ally in our effort for openness, competitiveness of the local production and increase of tourist activity.
This week we send this message from Rethymno across Crete and we celebrate the Cretan Diet through an exhibition of local products and a series of cultural and informative events.
We invite you to celebrate with us.

Sunday 01/07
19:00: A warm welcome for our little guests from Aerostato kids club with interactive games based on healthy diet
19:00: The members from the choir of Atsipopoulo Secondary School and Episkopi Secondary and Higher School sing for the Festival.Conducted by Elli Perisoglou.
19:30: The Cultural Association of Zoniana village welcomes the visitors with offering of food and wine and interactive events
19:30-23:00: Exhibition of Local Products
20:00: Inauguration of the Cretan Diet Festival 2012. Greetings from the Rethymno Vice-Governor Mrs. Maria Lioni and the Mayor Mr Giorgis H. Marinakis.
21:00: Cretan traditional music and dances from Lyceum Club of Greek Women and Haris Nikiforos’ band. Participation by the Cultural Association of Zoniana village with the children’s folk dance group “Ori”.
22:00: Concert with Georgia Dagaki & Band. Georgia Dagaki, lyre player and performer originated from Rethymno begins her summer tour from the 1st Cretan Diet Festival 2012. On stage: Stergios Tsirliagos – keyboards / wave drum- orchestration, Ioannis Voutsinas – electric bass, Kostas Kilazoglou – lute, electric guitar, Sound design: Giorgos Filikozis, Light design: Nikos Syrigos
Monday 02/07
19:00: A warm welcome for the little guests from Aerostato kids club. Gogo the Storyteller tells folktales from Crete and then our little friends dramatize the story.
19:30: The cretan traditional bread making procedure, live by Mrs Malamo Milogiannaki
19:00 – 23:00: Exhibition of Local Products)
20:00:The children’s choir of the Hellenic Conservatory «Karderinakia» presents songs of Greek composer Giorgos Zambetas.
21:00: Cretan traditional music and dances from Omilos Vrakoforon of Rethymno and Nikos Sinolakis’ folk band
21:30 - 23:30: Concert with «SCHIMA LOGOU». (The Cretan lyre and the bouzouki are the main instruments to introduce us to great Greek songs from Cretan tradition to quality songs of Socratis Malamas and adaptations of traditional songs and from folk songs of Giorgos Zambetas to the golden decades of Greek cinema!The band: Sakis Sakellaridis (bouzouki – vocals), Lefteris Tzagarakis (lyra – vocals), Giorgos Stavrakis (guitar – vocals), Participating: Stefanos Stagakis (percussions), Yannis Korinthios (bass)
Tuesday 03/07
19:00: A warm welcome for our little guests from Aerostato kids club. The children from Paihnidokamomata kids’ club present the past through myths and colours. Alternative ways to learn and enjoy: puppetry, animation, dramatic play. With Magda Papadopetraki
19:00 – 23:00: Exhibition of Local Products
20:00: The children’s choir of the Municipality of Rethymno sings modern Greek composers, under the direction of conductor Isidora Chalkiadaki.
20:30: Raki distillation from winemaker and raki producer Mr. Petros Zoumberakis. Mr. Fanourakis Stelios and Panagiotakis Michalis from the Chefs Club of Crete prepare dishes based on honey
21:30: Traditional Cretan music and dances from the folk dance group «Arkadi» and the band of Kostas Koutelidakis
22:00:Concert with Pass a Tempo band who play quality Greek songs. Band members: Katerina Christoulaki: accordion – vocals, Dimitris Kaziales: guitar – vocals, Eleni Perpiraki: piano – percussions, Chrissos Kavounis: guitar, Christos Kokkoras: flute
Wednesday 04/07
19:00: A warm welcome for our little guests from Aerostato kids club
19:15: ««Family kneading and cooking». Parents and children make pies, bread and recipes with herbs and spices from Crete with the help of well-known chef Yannis Baxevanis
19:30 – 23:00: Exhibition of Local Products
20:15: Concert with Nychtovates, alternative music band. The music performance comprises songs of Nychtovates and adaptations of famous Greek and English songs. Band members: Antonis Vamvoukas: guitar, vocals, Katerina Tsantila: vocals, percussions, melodica, Manos Nazlis: cajon, drums, percussions, Yannis Korinthios: bass, vocals
21:15: Cretan traditional music and dances from folk dance group «I Rizes tis Kritis» and Yannis Vrettos’ folk band
21:30: Traditional Cretan music and dances from the folk dance group «Arkadi» and the band of Kostas Koutelidakis
21:45: Concert with the musical band of Stelios Bikakis. Stelios Bikakis and his band perform his songs and traditional songs from Crete and the rest of Greece. Stelios Bikakis lyra – vocals, Ilias Katsavidis lute – bouzouki, Timotheos Vrontakis lute, Manolis Piteris clarinet – flute – saxophone, Andreas Bikakis keyboards, Panayotis Hatzimichailidis guitar, Giorgos Troulinos bass, Antonis Zacharakis drums
Thursday 05/07
19:00: A warm welcome for our little guests from Aerostato kids club
19:30: «They took Aesop away from us!» is a play performed by Theatrikos Periplous and directed by Thomas Kantifes. The play text is the result of a drama workshop which took place 3 years ago. Direcion: Kantifes Thomas. Starring: Kantifes Thomas. Karouzos Grigoris, Tzanidaki Anna, Voice cast: Kafkalaki Artemi, Kafkalaki Irini
19:30 – 23:00: Exhibition of Local Products
20:30: Mr Kiriakos Μassalis will help you get acquainted with the plant and its products in an interactive way.
21:30: Cretan traditional music and dances from folk dance group «Delina» with Alexandros Angelakis (Nantis) and his musicians.
22:00: Burger Project. Συντελεστές: Al the X King (main vocals, guitar, ukulele), Cosmic Communist (vocals, keyboards, guitars), General Con Zou (vocals, double bass, el. bass), Mosch Holiday (vocals, drums, sampler). Concert with Burger Project band. Band members: Al the X King (main vocals, guitar, ukulele), Cosmic Communist (vocals, keyboards, guitars), General Con Zou (vocals, double bass, electric bass), Mosch Holiday (vocals, drums, sampler)
Friday 06/07
19:00: A warm welcome for our little guests from Aerostato kids club
19:15: Nikos Pilavios, a well-known Greek storyteller, presents his stories through drama games for kids with the help of his «Magic Pen» and the painter Stefania Tapta
19:30 – 23:00:Exhibition of Local Products
20:30: The Chefs of Rethymno Mr Fanourakis Stelios and Panagiotakis Michalis prepare dishes made with traditional sausages from Vavourakis Farm. Presentation and tasting of bottled wine produced by amateur wine makers of Rethymno
21:30: Cretan traditional music dances from folk dance group «Erofili» with Nikos Sfakianakis (mandolin) and Skoutelis Manolis (lyra)
22:00: Concert with Lakis Papadopoulos and Yannis Giokarinis.The two talented Greek singers and songwriters sing for the summer accompanied by Phase Reverse and Katerina Morena
Saturday 07/07
19:00: A warm welcome for our little guests from Aerostato kids club
19:15: The Museum of Contemporary Art of Crete has organised a pottery workshop for children.
19:30: Rethymno Philharmonic and Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, with members of age 8 – 40 +, sing for the Festival popular songs
19:30 – 23:00: Exhibition of Local Products.
20:15: Discussion about Culinary and Wine Tourism in Crete. Official guests: Giorgos Skouras – winemaker, Niki Mitarea – journalist, writer, Giorgos Pittas – writer, hotel owner, Dimitris Μ.Kalaitzidakis Operation Departement, Grecotel Sales. Coordinator Mrs Katerina Xekalou
21:00: Chorus ’87, the formerly children’s choir of the Hellenic Conservatory sings favourite Greek songs some days after winning the 3rd prize in the 6th International Choir Festival of Nafpaktos. Choral conductor: Giannis Mentzelopoulos, Pianist: Isidora Chalkiadaki
21:30: Cretan traditional music and dances from folk dance group «Krites» with Dimitris Keramianakis and his band
22:00: Concert with Christos Tzifakis and his Flamenco – Jazz Trio. The internationally award-winning guitar virtuoso Christos Tzifakis, Nikos Kapilidis (drums) and Panagiotis Bourazanis (bass) take us to the sounds of modern flamenco jazz scene performing their own compositions and adaptations of Paco de Lucia, Miles Davies, Chick Corea. Aziza etc.)
Tags: γιορτή κρητικής διατροφής, διατροφή, κρητική, Ρέθυμνο
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