Please note: We’ve translated into English the activities that are accessible to visitors who don’t speak Greek. Pick your favourites and join the fun!

Registration: Visit the Local Hub, Monday–Friday, 09:00–14:00, to reserve your place. Places are limited, so don’t miss out!

27-30 ΑΥΓ 2026| CONTEMPORARY ART EXHIBITION
Expressions of Freedom

18:00-19:30  | TRADITIONAL DANCE WORKSHOP
Traditional Dances, Step by Step

Through dance, we travel through our local traditions and explore different regions of Greece. We learn traditional dances, discover their steps and music, and uncover the stories behind them. This lively, hands-on workshop brings children and adults closer to Greek tradition, keeping our roots alive through movement and rhythm.

• Facilitators: Spyros Paliouras, Michalis Ioannou
• In collaboration with: Cultural Workshop of Messolonghi
• Location: Cultural Workshop of Messolonghi
• View Location on Google map(click here)
• Free admission
• *Registration required

19:00–21:00  | STREET GAMES & CREATIVE WORKSHOPS
The Street Comes Alive! Creative Activities in the Pedestrian Streetsraditional Dances, Step by Step

The pedestrian streets in the heart of Messolonghi are transformed into a vibrant space for play, imagination and creativity. Creative activity centres, associations and organisations working with children will set up interactive stations, inviting children to move freely and experiment with their bodies, colours and imagination.

Through hands on activities, group games and creative mini-workshops, public space comes alive, becoming a place of connection and joy, a celebration of collaboration and creativity dedicated to children and the community.

• In collaboration with:
  ἅλς Creative Lab
  Green House Shop
  Lumine
  Epanalipsi” Bookstore
  The Place” Theatre Workshop
  KDAΠ Mathitoupoli
  En Archi In O Logos” Special Therapies Centre
  Lefteris Karelis
  Maria Tragoulia
  Me Logismo kai m’ Oneiro”
  Bandina – Messolonghi Musical Club “Iosef Rogon”
  Paizo kai Gymnazomai
  Polina Xiradaki
  Hamogelo” Model Special Education Centre
  Logos & Gnosis” Model Study & Special Education Centre
  Paramythenios Kosmos” Model Preschool Education Centre
  Bailarte Dance School
  Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture – Aquarium & Fish Nutrition Laboratory
  Location: Messolonghi Pedestrian Streets (Lord Byron, Charilaou Trikoupi, Makri & Ath. Razikotsika)
  Free admissionCultural Workshop of Messolonghi
• Location: Messolonghi Pedestrian Streets (Lord Byron, Charilaou Trikoupi, Makri & Ath. Razikotsika)

21:30 | LIVE MUSIC
An Evening of Music with Vasiliki Michalopoulou

Vasiliki Michalopoulou and her band open the 8th Messolonghi by Locals Festival with an evening of live music that brings together songs from her personal discography with covers of beloved Greek songwriters and performers.

• Line-up:
  Vocals: Vasiliki Michalopoulou
  Guitar: Tasos Giannoutsos
  Bass: Alexis Nassati
  Winds: Christos Papadopoulos
  Keys: Stelios Fragkous
  Drums: Christos Chliouras
• Location: Pedestrian Street in the centre of Messolonghi
• Ages: Open to all ages
• Free admission

08:30 -11:30 |OUTDOOR ACTIVITY
Cycling Around Kleisova Lagoon

Discover the Kleisova Lagoon on two wheels, following a scenic route alongside the salt pans and the winged inhabitants of the wetland. We stop at the Salt Museum, where we explore the history of the salt pans and salt production, before continuing our ride and taking in the natural beauty of the lagoon.

• In collaboration with: VELOON E-BIKES
• Starting point: Experience Messolonghi by Locals (Ath. Razikotsika Pedestrian Street)
• View on google map (click here)
• Ages: 6+
• Free
• *Registration required

PART A: 10:00–11:00 & PART B: 16:00–18:00 | SCREEN-PRINTING WORKSHOP
Psychogeographic Screen-Printing Workshop

An experiential workshop that combines psychogeography, urban wandering and screen printing, inspired by the practices of the Situationists.

Participants will explore a different way of observing both the world around them and their inner world, discovering how the landscape, streets and hidden corners of the city influence their feelings and thoughts.

Through wandering, we will engage more deeply with the city and landscape of Messolonghi, exploring the impact that place has on our personal and emotional world. This experience will then be transformed into unique screen-printed artworks combining image, words and personal expression.

• Facilitators: Agisilaos Rompolas (Visual Artist), Giannis Rompolas (Visual Artist)
• In collaboration with: ἅλς Creative Lab
• Location: ἅλς Creative Lab
• View location on map (click here)
• Ages: 8+
• Cost: €10
• *Registration required

 

10:00-11:30 & 12:00-13:30 | CERAMICS WORKSHOP

From Clay to Creation

A hands-on clay workshop where participants experiment with materials and forms, creating their own handmade objects. We will learn basic techniques such as pinching and coiling, and create unique, personal pieces.

No previous experience is required just a willingness to experiment, explore aesthetics and create.

• Facilitator: Maria Gourgari (Ceramic Artist)
• In collaboration with: “Apo Choma kai Nero” Art Gallery
• Location: “Apo Choma kai Nero” Art Gallery
• View location on the map(click here)
  
• Ages: 6+
• Cost: €10
• *Registration required

10:00-12:00 | WOODTURNING WORKSHOP

Creating with a Woodturning Lathe

A hands on workshop where wood comes to life in the hands of the participants. We learn basic woodturning techniques and create useful everyday objects, while discovering the beauty and joy of woodworking. No previous experience is required, just a willingness to create and experiment.

• Facilitator: Lefteris Karelis (Woodturner)
• Location: Experience Messolonghi by Locals (Ath. Razikotsika Pedestrian Street)
• View location on the map (click here)
  
• Ages: 8+
• Fee: €10
• *Registration required

10:00-13:00|WEAVING WORKSHOP
Weaving Our Own Creation

Discover and experience the art of weaving as we learn the basic stages involved in creating a woven piece. Through a short introduction, we will explore the journey from raw materials to yarn and then create our own woven artwork, which each participant will take home at the end of the workshop.

• Facilitators: Olga Dritsa (Weaver), Evita Theocharis (Folklorist & Educator)
• In collaboration with: KOIN.S.EP. To Pokari – The Pokari Project, Friends of the Lagoon
• Location: Friends of the Lagoon Cultural Centre, 5 Prime Ministers Square
• View location on the map(click here)
  
• Ages: 12+
• Fee: €10
• *Registration required

10:00-11:30 & 12:00-13:30  | PRINTMAKING WORKSHOP
Printmaking Inspired by Place

Using ink, tools and creative imagination, participants will discover the world of printmaking with visual artist and printmaker Michalis Kotsaris. We will learn the basic techniques of the art form and create original images inspired by our surroundings and the place we call home, producing unique artworks to take home as keepsakes.

The workshop will take place in the courtyard of the traditional Malavetas Café, bringing together art and the atmosphere of this historic setting.

• Facilitator: Michalis Kotsaris (Visual Artist & Printmaker)
• Location: Courtyard of Malavetas Traditional Café
• View Location on map (click here)
  
• Ages: 8+
• Fee: €10
• *Registration required

16:00-19:00|DANCE WORKSHOP
Beyond the Mask

An experiential dance and movement workshop exploring the human journey between instinct and social identity. Through improvisation and collective creation, participants will develop an original movement performance inspired by the ongoing tension between the “mask” we present to the world and our authentic inner selves.

The final work will be filmed at the Ancient Theatre of Pleuron, where the castle becomes a symbol of protection, memory and reconciliation.

• Facilitator: Niki Paxinou (Dance Teacher)
• In collaboration with: Bailarte
• Location: Bailarte
• View location on the map (click here)
  
• Ages: 12+
• Fee: €5
• *Registration required

18:00-20:00|NATURAL BUILDING WORKSHOP
Building a Traditional Reed Fish Trap in the Lagoon

In this hands on workshop, we will revive the traditional technique of constructing a kalamoti, a reed structure once used by fishermen to create fish barriers in the ivaria of the Messolonghi–Aetoliko lagoon. The divari (or ivari) is a traditional fishing structure designed to control the movement of fish and is deeply connected to the history and everyday life of the lagoon communities.

The workshop will be led by Boulouki, a collective that researches and reactivates traditional building techniques as living and sustainable forms of knowledge. Through a hands on approach, participants will become familiar with natural materials such as reeds and rushes, experiment with traditional weaving techniques, and create their own model of a reed fish barrier.

The workshop has been developed through interviews with experienced local fishermen, who have shared their stories and techniques, as well as field visits to collect and process natural materials. In this way, participants will gain a deeper connection to the traditional crafts and way of life of the lagoon.

• Facilitators: Georgia Kanellopoulou (Environmental Engineer, Boulouki collaborator), Grigoris Koutropoulos (Architect & Founding Member of Boulouki)
• In collaboration with: Boulouki
• Location: Pelada of the “Anagennisi” Fishing Cooperative (7th Kamara)
• View location on the map (click here)
  
• Ages: 8+
• Cost: €10
• *Registration required

21:00|FOOD TASTING
A Taste of Local Recipes: Tasting, Remembering, Sharing

An evening celebrating the flavours of Messolonghi, featuring handmade pies, cured lagoon fish, bottarga and local products that keep the culinary heritage of the region alive.

Local associations from the wider Messolonghi area will join the experience, bringing authentic recipes and stories passed down from mouth to mouth and from generation to generation.

• In collaboration with: Local associations from the wider Messolonghi area
• Location: Ath. Razikotsika Square (formerly Kennedy Square)
• View location on the map( click here)
  
• Ages: Open to all ages
• Free admission

21:00|LIVE MUSIC
Traditional Greek Feast: Melodies from Across Greece

A celebration that brings us together. Through traditional dances and songs, we journey through the traditions of Greece and reconnect with our roots, one step at a time. We form circles that bring us closer, sharing moments and experiences.

The city becomes a stage for celebration, while the rhythm fills the streets. An evening where music connects and inspires us, inviting everyone to join in, dance, share and celebrate.

• Line-up:
  Vocals: Zoi Keselopoulou
  Clarinet: Alexandros Papageorgopoulos
  Violin: Charitini Kotti
  Gaida, kaval, vocals: Nikos Papadimitriou
  Lute: Theodoros Miskas
  Percussion: Alexandros Rizopoulos
• Location: Ath. Razikotsika Square (formerly Kennedy Square)
• View location on the map (click here)
  
• Ages: Open to all ages
• Free admission

 

10:00 HIKING & TRAIL RUNNING, 12:00 PICNIC IN ELLINIKA SQUARE | OUTDOOR ACTIVITY
Arakynthos: Hiking – Trail Running – Picnic & Musical Gathering in Ellinika

A morning dedicated to the lush landscapes of Mount Arakynthos and to a place deeply connected to the cultural identity of our region.

Starting from and meeting at Ellinika Square, participants will set off for a hiking route and a trail running experience. The trail run will take place in collaboration with the Advendure team.

After the activities, we will return to Ellinika Square to enjoy local flavours prepared by chef Erasmia Balaska together with the residents of the village of Ellinika.

At the same time, the square will come alive with a musical gathering, where musicians, amateurs and professionals alike will share their music and fill the day with their melodies.

• In collaboration with: Advendure, Platanos Café, Erasmia Balaska (Chef), Association of Ellinikiotes of Messolonghi
• Location: Ellinika Square
• View location on the map (click here)
  
• Ages: Open to all ages
• Free admission
• *Registration required for hiking & trail running

• IMPORTANT INFORMATION – EQUIPMENT

  Hiking: Closed athletic or hiking shoes, comfortable clothing, hat, sunscreen and water.

  Trail running: Trail-running shoes, athletic clothing, hat, sunscreen and personal water supply

   

18:30-21:00 |DANCE & MOVEMENT WORKSHOP
One City – One Body – Five Senses

Through an experiential workshop, Antamosi Project invites us to let the body become our compass and allow our senses to lead the way.

We wander through the city of Messolonghi, following the rhythm of the landscape and discovering its small, hidden treasures through sight, sound, touch, smell and taste. Paths, sounds, textures and scents become spaces for movement, play and improvisation.

This 2.5-hour guided embodied journey aims to foster a deeper connection with ourselves and with the group. A shared experience and a living game of interaction, where the body explores new ways of existing in different places and of engaging with its surroundings.

The stimuli of the environment and our senses set us in motion, while our movement, in turn, leaves its own trace on the landscape. Through the different stops along the route, the body connects with the city in new ways and remembers how to play, to feel and to be present.

Let your senses lead the way.

The workshop is open to anyone willing to move, express themselves with complete freedom, discover, play and connect with others in a safe environment.

• Facilitators: Anna Kokkinaki (Dance Teacher & Psychologist), Andriani Vlastari (Dance Teacher & Psychologist)
• In collaboration with: Antamosi Project
• Meeting point / Start: Trikoupis Museum
• View location on the map (click here)
  
• Ages: 12+
• Important information: Participants should bring sunglasses, a hat and water, and wear comfortable clothing and shoes.
• Cost: €5
• *Registration required

19:00-20:00 |YOGA
Sunset Yoga at Tourlida Beach

Meet us at Tourlida Beach for an evening yoga session. A peaceful experience combining movement, breath and the beauty of the lagoon landscape as the sun sets.

• Instructor: Alkiviadis Karavasilis (Yoga Instructor & Physical Education Teacher)
• In collaboration with: GYMNACION FITNESS CLUB
• Location: Tourlida Beach
• View location on the map (click here)
  
• Ages: 12+
• Fee: €5
• *Registration required

19:00-01:00|BEACH PARTY
DJ Set & Sunset Party at Tourlida Beach

The lagoon becomes the backdrop and the sunset sets the stage for the festival’s final musical gathering. At Tourlida Beach, the sound fills the air as daylight fades and the night takes over.

The Messolonghi by Locals Festival comes to a close with an open-air party by the water. From the early evening onwards, local DJs and guest artists take turns behind the decks, creating an atmosphere of celebration, connection and freedom.

• Line-up:
  Maria Tsimeka
  UTU
  Giannis Lytras
  Michalis Dimitriou
• In collaboration with: Tourlida Seaside
• Location: Tourlida Beach
• View location on the map (click here)
  
• Ages: 12+
• Free admission