A group of eight people, traveling in four motorhomes, started early in the morning from various neighborhoods of Athens, with the final destination being the Blooming Peach Trees, which span across 150,000 acres of the fertile plains of Imathia and Pella. Every year, they are “dressed” in 8.5 billion flowers, marking the arrival of spring in Greece.

The journey was long but pleasant, and the anticipation for this unique sight, painted with all the hues of pink, grew as the passengers in the motorhomes approached their final destination. “We experienced the magic before we even reached Veria,” says one of the passengers, 62-year-old Georgia Pavlou, describing the emotions that overwhelmed her along the way, when on her left stood the majestic Olympus mountain and to her right, the first blooming peach trees began to appear.

As soon as nature began to unfold its colorful canvas, the walkie-talkies of the group lit up, and exclamations of admiration followed one another, as she explains. “One lady in our group, who had been to the Cherry Blossom Festival in Japan, told us without any hesitation that the blooming peach trees of Northern Greece are far more magnificent and revitalizing than what she had seen in the Land of the Rising Sun,” she says.

Continuing her description, Ms. Pavlou recounts, “While we were focused on the road, suddenly we started turning our heads left and right, and we just couldn’t get enough of the colors and images unfolding before us.” In the end, as she adds, “Everything we’ve seen in photos on the internet and read about, not only is it completely true, but it’s even better,” and “we feel immense satisfaction and joy, and we shared this with our friends who may have turned to other destinations, but will eventually follow us on this journey into the magic of nature.”

In total, eight motorhomes have parked in a spot in Veria, and the whole group will stay in the area until next Sunday to participate in the activities planned by the Veria Tourist Association, whose leader, Ioanna Pilitsidou, as Ms. Pavlou notes, “is by our side for anything we need, which relieves and delights us greatly.”

Veria’s dynamic presence on the tourist map
It’s true that some—both Greek and foreign—start planning their own encounter with the magic up to a year in advance, wondering all this time if they will really find it as others have described. Others, knowing firsthand what it means to see a plain sprinkled with all the shades of pink, can’t wait to return to the area where nature flourishes every year, creating a unique painting that, no matter how much it’s photographed, always surprises. After all, nature’s magic is inexhaustible and almost never disappoints those who trust it and let themselves be immersed in it, as noted in an interview with the president of the Veria Tourist Organization (TOV), Gianna Pilitsidou, speaking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency.

Thus, this year, the “Blooming Peach Trees” events in Veria, organized for the eighth time, are telling a different story, yet still following the same framework, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors from Greece and abroad. After all, Veria has firmly established itself on the map for tourists—both Greek and foreign—with travel agencies including the destination in their programs, as Ms. Pilitsidou explains.

“Since 2017, we have been working to highlight the peach blossom season, which covers a vast area in the plains of Veria, Imathia, and Pella,” she recalls and adds, “When someone stands on the ‘balcony of Veria,’ they are greeted by a sea of pink flowers, the scent fills the air, and they can taste the flavors growing on the trees.”

This year’s visitors from Greece and abroad
Dozens of tourist buses are flocking to the area, with passengers eagerly anticipating the moment they will be among the Blooming Peach Trees, says Ms. Pilitsidou, adding that even individual visitors, such as Greeks from Athens, Volos, and Alexandroupolis, “come to our area to see for themselves what we have been telling them for years, and my joy is immense that they are not disappointed.”

Additionally, Ukrainian cyclists, visitors from Russia, Armenia, and the Balkans have visited the area. In fact, according to Ms. Pilitsidou, “Last weekend, a couple from Bulgaria came with their friends, who visited our area last year for the Blooming Peach Trees,” and “they are the same ones who just informed me, as we have become friends with most of them, that they will be here again today for the long weekend.”

The activities and celebration for the Blooming Peach Trees have been ongoing since last weekend, with the peach tree—the “Tree of Life of the Earthly Paradise” according to Eastern traditions, symbolizing life and joy, and its flowers representing fertility and renewal—being at the center of attention.

Event Schedule
Today, between 3:00 PM and 5:30 PM, a hands-on self-improvement workshop with psychotherapist and author Dionysia Giannopoulou will be held at the “Memory Garden” of the Veria Archaeological Museum, titled “Blooming,” based on her book of the same name, published by Key Books.

Tomorrow, with a meeting time at 10:00 AM at Sarantovryses Alexandros Estate, interested parties will be able to take a walk or a bike ride among the Blooming Peach Trees, promising that whatever you choose, the beauty of nature will reward you! At the same time, the TOV team and the Consortium of Producers’ Groups of Imathia have prepared a unique setting with a beautiful and impressive hot air balloon for you to pose with among the blooming fields!

On Sunday, March 23, 2025, at 2:00 PM, AN.IMA S.A. will highlight local gastronomy through the region’s products, as part of the “Eat Locally” action of the “LOCAL TOUR” Interregional Scheme. As every year, TOV will offer compotes made from juicy peaches from the Imathia plain by Venus Growers, paired with Rosé wine (dry, Xinomavro, and Mantilaria) from Thymiopoulos Vineyards!

On Friday, March 28th, at 9:30 PM, the Veria Tourist Organization invites you to a special Pink Wine Party for the second year, where local rosé wine meets the magic of pink flowers! Come and enjoy fine wines, a wonderful spring atmosphere, and dance to the unique music of Balsam Blue! A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the “Children of Spring” association. The wine sponsors for the event are: Argyrakis Estate | Marandidis Winery | Eustratia Tazoglou | Tarala Estate.

On Sunday, March 30th, at 10:00 AM, a Mountain Bike adventure is scheduled for an exciting mountain bike ride through a magical spring landscape, where the pink blossoms of the peach trees create the most impressive scenery!

Additionally, a program for young students, supported by the Primary Education Directorate of Imathia, titled “Veria is Blooming… Become Its Advertiser!” will take place. So, if you like taking videos and want to show the world how magical Veria is in spring, the Veria Tourist Organization, supported by the Primary Education Directorate of Imathia, invites you on an incredible mission!

“The Blooming Peach Trees look like a huge pink cloud embracing our city! We are looking for you to become Veria’s little ambassador and create a commercial that will spread the beauty of our town around the world! What do you need to do? Write a script with your class. Now, take your phone or your parents’ or teacher’s camera, and shoot a short video of the blooming peach trees!” says TOV, asking: “Tell us – in Greek and English – why someone should visit Veria in spring! Use your imagination – it can be funny, sweet, impressive, or fairytale-like! All videos will become part of the TOV’s tourism campaign and will be featured on TOV’s Social Media!”

Meanwhile, the 8th photography competition is ongoing, in collaboration with the Central Macedonia Photographers’ Association, with the theme “Blooming Peach Trees and Animals.” Through this competition, the message of environmental protection is promoted, reminding us that every action we take affects the planet and the prosperity of future generations.

Also, the Veria Tourist Organization has invited artists from all artistic fields to participate in the artistic call to create visual works with the theme of the unique phenomenon of our plains, while a competition for the best-decorated storefronts of commercial stores with the theme of the Blooming Peach Trees is also running.