Limassol Wine Festival 2012

Cyprus’s wine capital Lemesos lives up to its reputation as a party town with a wine festival that it hosts every year. Held at the Municipal Gardens, just across from the coastal promenade, in September, this event has been a regular fixture since it was first launched in 1961.

The Wine Festival began as a tribute to the island’s long winemaking tradition, growing in size and variety over the years. Inspired by the ancient festivals dedicated to the God of Wine Dionysos and the Goddess of Beauty and Love Aphrodite, it combines fun and merrymaking with ample wine and food and a variety of performances from local and international artistic groups. Addressed to permanent residents as well as foreign guests, the Wine Festival offers an opportunity to sample different local wines from large and small wineries, and traditional Cypriot food.

PROGRAMME

Official Opening of the Wine Festival at the Municipal Garden.
Thursday 30/08/2012
- Limassol Municipal Brass Band.
- Address by the Mayor of Limassol.
- Official opening of the gates of the Wine Festival by the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Mr. Neoklis Sylikiotis.
- Music performance by the «Ariones» choir with new wine songs.

PROGRAMME A
Municipal Garden Theatre, 8.00 p.m.

Friday 31/08/2012
The theatrical group “Elia” of the Municipality of Tseri, presents a comedy of Andreas Koukkides, directed by Christos Zanos.

Saturday 01/09/2012
The Sign Language Department of the Limassol Training Centre, of the Ministry of Education and Culture, presents a theatrical play.

An innovative astonishing magic show presented by the internationally renowned Cypriot magicians Andreas and Nikolas Liotatis.

Sunday 02/09/2012
The theatrical group "Ena" presents a hilarious comedy directed by Christos Zanos.

Monday 03/09/2012
The theatrical group ETHAL presents a comedy of Michalis Pitsillides.

Tuesday 04/09/2012
The theatrical group "Skala" presents a comedy of Alekos Sakellarios directed by Maria Mannaridou Karsera.

Wednesday 05/09/2012
The theatrical group "Satiriko" presents a Cypriot play of Michalis Pashiardis.

Thursday 06/09/2012
The theatrical group "Anatropes" presents a comedy of Andreas Argyrides, directed by Petros Karatzias.

Friday 07/09/2012
The Cyprus Theatre Organization presents a comedy of Andreas Koukkides, directed by Costas Demetriou.

Saturday 08/09/2012
An innovative astonishing magic show presented by the internationally renowned Cypriot magicians Andreas and Nikolas Liotatis.

Sunday 09/09/2012
The "Dionisos" theatrical group presents a comedy.

PROGRAMME B
In front of the "Vraka Man" statue, 9.00 p.m.

Friday 31/08/2012
Traditional wine songs by the "Ariones" choir.

Saturday 01/09/2012
Traditional wine songs by the group of Cypriot Serenaders.

Sunday 02/09/2012
Regaling and popular songs by the "Rembetiki Parea".

Monday 03/09/2012
Traditional wine songs by the "Ariones" choir.

Tuesday 04/09/2012
Traditional wine songs by the group of Cypriot Serenaders.

Wednesday 05/09/2012
Artistic and popular songs by the music band "Avgerinos".

Thursday 06/09/2012
Traditional wine songs by the "Ariones" choir.

Friday 07/09/2012
Traditional wine songs by the group of Cypriot Serenaders.

Saturday 08/09/2012
Traditional wine songs by the "Ariones" choir.

Sunday 09/09/2012, 8.00p.m.
Traditional wine songs by the group of Cypriot Serenaders.

Sunday 09/09/2012, 9.00p.m.
Closing ceremony with music and dancing by the Limassol Cultural and Dancing Association "Dionysos" and the participation of the public.

PROGRAMME C
At the tennis court, 8.00 p.m.

Friday 31/08/2012
An innovative astonishing magic show presented by the internationally renowned Cypriot magicians Andreas and Nikolas Liotatis.

Saturday 01/09/2012
The Cultural Association "NEOI ORIZONTES" presents Greek folk dances.

Sunday 02/09/2012
The Cultural Association "Nostos" from Pissouri village presents an artistic show with folk dances from Crete and the islands of Cyclades.

Monday 03/09/2012
An innovative astonishing magic show presented by the internationally renowned Cypriot magicians Andreas and Nikolas Liotatis.

Tuesday 04/09/2012
The Dancing association of "Agios Athanasios" presents an artistic show with cypriot folk dances.

Wednesday 05/09/2012
Concert with traditional songs from Cyprus, by the music group "Tzippriotes".

Thursday 06/09/2012
A music and dancing show by The "Limassol Folklore Research Association", dedicated to Yiannis Papaioannou.

Friday 07/09/2012
The Traditional Association "Argonauts" of Erimi village presents folk dances from Macedonia, Thrace, and Pontus.

Saturday 08/09/2012
The "Konia Cultural and Folklore Workshop" presents folk dances from Crete and Pontus.

The Traditional Cultural Association "Konta stin Paradosi" presents traditional dances and songs from Cyprus.

CHILD PERFORMANCES
At the Municipal Puppet Show Theatre, 7.30 p.m.

Saturday 01/09/2012
The puppeteer Christodoulos A. Pafios, presents a hilarious comedy.

Sunday 02/09/2012
The "Pafios" shadow theatre presents a hilarious comedy.

Saturday 08/09/2012
The puppeteer Giorgos Idalias presents a hilarious comedy.

Sunday 09/09/2012
Mpananoulis and Pipi along with their friend Gummy Bear at the Wine Festival.

During the Wine Festival the Limassol Municipal Brass Band is performing various melodies at different locations in the garden on the following dates:
Thursday: 30/08/2012, 7.30 p.m.
Sunday: 09/09/2012, 7.30 p.m.

FRINGE EVENTS PRIOR AND DURING THE WINE FESTIVAL

Monday 27/08/2012 and Tuesday 28/08/2012, 9.00 a.m.
Wine tasting room at the ETKO wine factory.

Wine tasting by three members committee. The committee will be leaded by Dr Georgios Soleas, Superior Vice President, of security & quality of the Monopoly of Canada.
Members:
- Iraklis Christoforou, President of Cyprus Sommeliers Association
- Vasos Manoli, Vice-President of the Cyprus Sommeliers Association

Wednesday 29/08/2012, 5.00 p.m., Municipal Cultural Center "Panos Solomonidis.
Colloquium entitled "Wine nowadays, in Cyprus and abroad".

- Dr. Georgios Soleas, "Wine Sweetness Descriptors; Just a matter of taste?"
- Dr. Akis Zampartas, "The contemporary image of the Cyprus wine".
- Iraklis Christoforou, "The role of the sommelier in the development of the Cyprus wine".

Saturday 01/09/2012, 12 noon at the parking place of Enaerios.
A parade of antique cars will take place in the city and the tourist area by the Club of classic cars of Limassol LEPAL.

EVERY EVENING A COMPETITION TAKES PLACE AT THE WINEPRESS

CYPRUS WINE MUSEUM
Live the experience of five thousand five hundred years in Cypriot wine making, while enjoying your glass of wine and getting familiar with the wide variety of wines produced today.
Open daily from 9.00a.m. – 5.00p.m. at Erimi village, bus route 16.
For further information: tel. 25 873808

Buses for the Wine Festival (free of charge)
Friday 30/08/2012, Saturday 01/09/2012, Sunday 02/09/2012
Friday 07/09/2012, Saturday 08/09/2012, Sunday 09/09/2012

Nicosia
06.30 p.m. Departure from the Cyprus Handicraft Centre in Nicosia
08.00 p.m. Arrival at the Wine Festival
11.00 p.m. Departure from the Wine Festival
00.15 Arrival at the Cyprus Handicraft Centre in Nicosia

Larnaka
07.00 p.m. Departure from Vasileos Pavlou Square (CTO Information Office)
08.00 p.m. Arrival at the Wine Festival
11.00 p.m. Departure from the Wine Festival
00.00 Arrival at Vasileos Pavlou Square (CTO Information Office)

Ayia Napa
06.30 p.m. Departure from Ayia Napa Monastery (Parking Place)
08.00 p.m. Arrival at the Wine Festival
11.00 p.m. Departure from the Wine Festival
00.15 Arrival at Ayia Napa Monastery (Parking Place)

Pafos
06.30 p.m. Departure from the Municipal Parking Place (near the mosaics)
08.05 p.m. Arrival at the Wine Festival
11.00 p.m. Departure from the Wine Festival
00.00 Arrival at the Municipal Parking Place (near the mosaics)

For further information please contact the Cyprus Tourism Organization offices during working hours:
Nicosia: 22674264
Larnaka: 24654322
Pafos: 26930521
Ayia Napa: 23721796

EMEL
The Limassol Municipality has made arrangements in collaboration with the Limassol Public Transportation Company (EMEL) to offer FREE go and return TRANSPORT to the Wine Festival visitors.

Dates:
Friday 31/08/2012, Saturday 01/09/2012, Sunday 02/09/2012
Friday 07/09/2012, Saturday 08/09/2012, Sunday 09/09/2012

Place and time of meeting:
Zakaki
Saint Barbara Church – Panicos & Socrates club, opposite Petrolina station, AEZ Zakakiou – Municipal Garden.

Ayia Phyla
Commercial centre, Ayia Phyla housing settlement – Eleias Street – Ayia Phyla Coffehouse – 1st April main road – Kapsalos housing settlement coffeehouse – Kapsalos AMEK – Municipal Garden

Ayios Athanasios
Commercial centre, Ayios Athanasios housing settlement: Esteas Street – 14th Junior School of Mesa Yitoneia – Lordos bus stop before the ARIEL traffic lights – Municipal Garden.

Polemidia
Zedros club – Karmiotissa club – Polemidia Town Hall – Evaggelistria Street – Nicos Pattichis street – Municipal Garden

Yermasoyia
Yermasoyia parking place – Saint Paraskevi, Linopetra coffeehouse – Saint Nicolas OLYMPOS – Municipal Gardern.

Ayios Ioannis Neighbourhood
35th road Coffeehouses –Makarios house settlement coffeehouses – Proodos club – Makarios avenue (opposite Fire Station) – Pizza Hut – Lanitio bus station – Municipal Garden

Buses departure time will be 7:30 p.m. While return is planned at 10:45 p.m.
For further information please contact the Limassol Public Transportation Company (EMEL), tel. 77778121 during working hours.

General Information
Opening hours:
7.00 p.m. – 11.00 p.m.
Friday/Saturday: 7.00 p.m. – 11.30 p.m.

Ticket price:
Adult (above 18 years old) - €6.00 including bottled wine. One FREE bottle by the wine industry of your choice amongst the following: ETKO, KEO, LOEL, and SODAP.
Teenage (from 13 to 18 years old) - €5.00
Child (up to 12 years old) - €4.00

Plastic Wine bottle: €1.50
Wine glass: €1.50
Wine glass with stem: €2.50

Parking
The Municipality of Limassol offers an enormous parking space located on the eastern side of the Municipal garden Theatre.

The programme is subject to unpredictable changes.
For further information please call: 25 344402, 25 344952, 25 745919