The famous mastic villages of Chios are part of the uniqueness of the island. The spotlight is cast on this prized product with the 1st Mastiha (Mastic) Festival that kicks off on July 30 and runs through to August 30.

The goal of the festival is to promote the relationship between Chios famous mastic and the island’s history, tradition, cultural heritage, traditional production and contemporary artistic creation. The festival’s centerpiece is the exhibition of local food and cultural products that will be celebrated through concerts, dance performances, theatrical performances, screenings and children’s workshops.

The events included in the festival’s program include a Mastiha Fair at Olympoi (a mastic village) and two exhibitions; the art exhibition titled “Poetics of Chios” and a photo exhibition featuring images of mastic at various stages of production.

The 1st Mastiha Festival is organized by the North Aegean Region in collaboration with the Chios Gum Mastic Growers Association and the Cultural Foundation of the Piraeus Group.

For more about about festivals taking place on the island of chios visit www.chios.gr (For more info about events taking place around Greece click on our “Things to Do” section.)

PROGRAM OF THE 1st MASTIHA FESTIVAL OF CHIOS
Events take place at the Chios Municipal Garden unless otherwise stated.

July 30
The exhibition of local produce begins at 7.30 p.m. and is open to the public from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily. A concert by the Dimunuita Swing Trio follows.

July 31
A talk by Andreas Michailidis, the President of the Faros (Lighthouse) Educational Association of the Varvasios Library, is titled: “The integration of refugee elements to the work force. The case of employment in mastic production on southern Chios” takes place at 8.30 p.m. The talk is followed by traditional dancing at 9 p.m. and a theater performance of Sotis Triandafyllou’s “Pittsburgh”

August 1
The opening of an exhibition, titled “The Poetry of Chios through the eyes of artists”, kicks off at 7 p.m. and runs through to August 24 (opening times are from 9 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.) Storytelling by Maria Fafaliou at 8.30 p.m. when she tells the tale titled “Mastic Submarine.” This is followed by a screening at 10 p.m. titled “The Tree We Washed” at Cine Kipos.

August 2
A 10 p.m. concert by the Salia Balia Band.

August 3
A workshop for preschool and school-aged children runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and is titled “Pilots on the isle of mastic”. A dance presentation follows at 9 p.m. and is titled “Summertime”. A 10.30 p.m. performance titled “NueVo” features pop, rock and alternative rock.

August 4
The Mastiha Fair at Olympoi takes place at the central square of this Mastic village at 8.30 p.m.

August 8
A photo display featuring Mastic kicks off at 7 p.m. and runs through to August 30. Opening times are on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 6-9.30 p.m. and on Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. Takes place at the Omireio Cultural Center of the Municipality of Chios (5 Iroon Polytechniou St., Chios)