Featured in Greece’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Ikaria festival draws visitors from across Greece and abroad throughout the year. Among the 80 festivals held, the most famous—and the largest in the Aegean—is the one in Lagada on August 15, often referred to as “Panagia the Raver.” Guests savour traditional dishes, enjoy the island’s red wine, and dance the Ikarian syrtos beneath a starlit sky. Equally distinctive is the seaside festival in Gialiskari. On August 30, the feast of Saint Alexander attracts large crowds to the village of Kouniades for its renowned celebration.
Among the 80 festivals held, the most famous—and the largest in the Aegean—is the one in Lagada on August 15, often referred to as “Panagia the Raver.”