All events in Leros
Panigiria on Leros
On Leros August 15 goes up to the castle: the island's great feast is held in the fortress above Platanos, where the church of the Panagia stands on the western side.
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May – September
Panigiria run from May to September, and the season peaks at Dekapentavgoustos - the Dormition, on 15 August - when most villages hold their feast. Each programme is set close to its own saint's day, so the list fills late and empties out of season.
Panigiria in other cities
Panigiria on Leros
Panagia tou Kastrou is the island's place of pilgrimage and August 15 is its day. The feast is held within the castle walls, with a view taking in both bays - and the climb, on foot or by the road that runs to the top, is part of the celebration. The rest of the year is spread across the villages: Platanos, the old capital below the castle, Alinda, Lakki with its Italian rationalist architecture, and the smaller chapels that keep their own saint's day with tables in the courtyard.
The music is Dodecanesian, the same family as on Kalymnos, Kos and Rhodes: violin and laouto hold the tune, and the dance that opens the circle is the sousta, fast and danced in pairs. The feast here remains the community's business - no ticket, tables set out in the courtyard, and the food coming out of the village kitchens. Leros is a small island of a few thousand residents, so the panigiri is not one event among many: it is the day the whole island is in the same place, together with everyone who has come back for the summer.
Common questions
What is the biggest panigiri on Leros?+
The August 15 feast at the castle of Leros, where the church of the Panagia stands on the western side of the fortress. It is the island's pilgrimage and its great celebration.
Where else are there panigiria on Leros?+
At Platanos below the castle, at Alinda, at Lakki and at the island's smaller chapels, which keep their own saint's day with tables in the courtyard. See the current calendar on Mood.