1. The Battle of Lepanto anniversary celebrations, Nafpaktos
On 7 October, Nafpaktos (Lepanto) commemorates the famous eight-day naval battle fought in 1571 with a regatta followed by exhibitions, lectures and cultural events. Local cultural societies take a part in re-enacting the famous battle on 7 October.

2. Rice Fair, Provatas, Serres in Central Macedonia
The two-day festival celebrates rice, a key staple grown in the area. The rice of Provatas is considered the best in Greece and grows in the Strymonas river valley. Talks are held revolving around the grain and savoury and sweet rice dishes are on offer along with songs and dances of Macedonia, Thrace and Pontos performed by local groups.

3. Diomedeia Equestrian Meeting, Argos
The Diomedeia is held in memory of the Homeric Hero, King Diomedes. Horses are the emblem of this two-day festival. On the first day of the festival, horse-drawn carriages take over the centre of Argos. On the second day, a tour on horseback begins in the city to end at the nearby village of Kefalari. At the end of the day riders are presenters are presented with souvenirs of the event.

4. The Green Apple Festival, Arsenio, Skydra, Central Macedonia
The festival celebrating the green apples grown in the region has taken place in the second weekend in October since its launch in 1985. Long tables are set up outdoors with sweet and savoury apple dishes on offer. Needless to say, the regional sweet is the local apple pie. The drink of the area is a n apple liquor in which the apples are pickled for a month in a jar loaded with brandy, vodka, cinnamon sticks and cloves which is then mixed with a cold white syrup.

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5. Walnut Festival, Dimylia, Rhodes, Eastern Aegean
October is the time to harvest walnuts. In Dimylia, a village in the centre of the island, the festival takes place in the second Sunday of October in a local school yard. While musicians play nisiotika songs, visitors can sample the local delicacies made from the walnut including baklava, walnut pies, diples, walnut preserve and walnut liqueurs. The regional pastry (also rich in walnuts) is Takakia.

06 The anniversary of the Liberation of Athens from German Occupation.
The event held on 12 October celebrates the German withdrawal from the capital which took place in 1944. Members of the Evzones presidential guard accompany traditionally dressed members of the Lyceum Club of Greek Women in a procession to the Acropolis. The Greek flag is raised to the sound of the national anthem played by the Athens municipal band. Later in the day, wreaths are laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Syntagma Square.

7. Cheese festival, Theodoraki, Pella, Central Macedonia
Farmers of the region exhibit their products that include woven blankets, the thick-felt teriklia socks, cattle bells and shepherd crooks. The star of the festival are the region’s many cheeses, washed down with local wine and tsipouro. A traditional fete ends the festival on the second day. Groups from the surrounding villages perform song and dances of the region. The local cheese delicacy is the Bantzos Saganaki which is prepared in a batter before frying.

8. Tsipouro Festivals
These festivals which celebrate tsipouro are held throughout most of mainland Greece from mid-October to mid-December. Tsipouro which is the potent, distilled by-product of wine production – has a history dating back to ancient times although the process was improved in the 14th Century thanks to the monks of Mount Athos. Today tsipouro is second only to ouzo in popularity. The residue of the wine press, the pomace, is heated and distilled in large cauldrons (amvikes) and heated in furnaces. The twice-distilled product is clear and fragrant and packs a kick.

9. Tsikoudia/ Raki festivals, Crete
The process of making raki /tsikoudia is similar to tsipouro – the key difference is that raki/tsikoudia is distilled just once. As on the mainland, the period between mid-October and mid-November is the time to process pomace for distilling. The process is called kazanema. The kazenemata (or rakokazana) are either carried out in a family home or in public spaces. Another by-product of the process is rakomelo which is raki infused with honey, cloves and cinnamon. It is useful in fighting of colds and influenza.

10. Battle of Navarino, Pylos, Messenia, Peloponnese
The key naval battle of the Greek War of Independence was fought on 20 October, 1832. The town of Pylos (formerly Navarino), on the south western tip of the Peloponnese, commemorates the battle with a two-day festival starting on 19 October. The event is attended by officials representing the three naval powers (Britain, France and Russia) who fought with the Greeks. The two days are marked by wreath laying, military and school parades as well as the performance of folk dances on Trion Navarchon (Three Admirals’ Square).

* Information for this article was drawn from A Greek Folk Journey, Travel Culture & Gastronomy by Terina Armenakis. There are updates via A Greek Folk Journey Instagram link.