Christmas Festival – Chairetiana 25th, 26th and 27th December
“Join us with your children in Chairethiana for three days of spectacular entertainment, celebrating the Christmas season with a truly international and local artistic spirit!”
Artistic editing: MARIA MANOUSAKI
Venue: Chairethiana (Χαιρεθιανά( Cultural Center (former Elementary School),
The village hosts an extraordinary three-day Christmas Festival for children and grown-ups, with international and local music, traditional dance, sweet and savoury Christmas treats and drinks!
The festival features a diverse program of talented djs , musicians , artists , singers , choirs and dance groups, with parallel activities and games and many surprises for the children in the cosy interior of the Cultural Center of Chairethiana.!
Exhibitions:
The Association of Antique Car Owners of Crete will be there for the three days, which will exhibit the cars – antiques that marked the memories of our childhood Christmas !
Photography exhibition:
The artist – photographer Stelios Xirouhakis curates and presents the photo exhibition with the theme “PAST CHRISTMAS” , when photographs were black and white and our memories in color !
Global and Local Soundscape
Thursday 25/12/2025 at 17.00
The festival starts on Christmas Day (December 25):
*The DJ George Violakis ( DJ – GEORGE VIOLAKIS) (17:00-17:30) from Kissamos:
kick-off event with lighting up the Christmas tree and the boat !
• Michelle Williams Duo Noir (17:30-18:30):
a dynamic mix of Blues, Soul and Funk music.
*DJ George Violakis (DJ – GEORGE VIOLAKIS) (18:30-19:30) returns to the decks and
raises the rhythms to burn the calories of the Christmas table with dancing !
• The band “ONEREYTES” (19:30-21:00):
A famous Greek music band that will perform favorite Greek music and popular melodies.
The band consists of Stratis Skarakis, Nikos Kousis, Vangelis Pelloponisio, Michalis Avlonitis
and Michalis Sagani.
Friday 26/12/2025 at 12.00
The Second Day of Christmas (December 26) offers a packed afternoon of music and choreography, combining international and local music:
*DJs Themis and George, father and son, (12.00-13.00) compete on the decks, in a “musical Christmas battle” that bridges the generational divide !
• Veteran British musician Phil Harrison comes with his choir –
English Choir (13:00-14:00): classical English Christmas carols and choral works.
* Traditional Cretan music (14.00-15.00) with Yiannis Menegaki (violin and song) and
Yiannis Yakoumakis (lute), accompanied by the members of the Kissamos Dance Club of
Alcestis Xirouhaki!
*DJs Themis and George , father and son , (15.00-16.00) are back on the decks with
rhythmic melodies.
• Giannis Kohler with his Band (16:00-18:30) offers a dynamic composition of Rock and
Art genres.
• Giannis Giannakakis from Chania, Deputy Mayor of Culture, conducts the Kath’Odon
Choir (18:30-19:30), Greek Christmas and traditional songs.
• Maria Manousaki with her band Tetraicho (19:30-21:00):
A unique performance with three violins and a lute, performing music from all over Greece
and the Balkans ( Maria Manousakis, Michalis Loufardakis, Markos Renieris and Kyriakos
Stavrianoudakis.
Saturday 27/12/2025 at 12.00
The final day, December 27, focuses on organic craftsmanship, dance and traditional Cretan heritage:
*DJs Themis and George, father and son, (12.00-13.00) compete on the decks, in a “musical battle” that bridges the gap of generations !
• Patrick Guitarist plus Sax (13:00-14:00):
An interesting orchestral duet performance.
*Our DJs will accompany the FIT FUN FLY aerial acrobatics School (14.00-15.00) of Kelly Nikolakaki from Kissamos, in a spectacle that will impress young and old !
• Cretan music and dance:
Christmas with a dive into the tradition of our place (15.00-16.00) with the
Cretan music band with Perathoraki Christos (lyra-song) Perkolaraki Manolis (lauto-song)
and Bredaki Strato (Lauto song) accompanied by the Dance Club “Oi Pelasgoi” by the choir
teacher Athinas Koutoulakis with our children presenting the dynamic dances of
the island!
* The Adult Choir of Alikianos Parish “St. George the Divolis” (16.00-17.00) will sing
carols and traditional sounds of the days !
*DJs Themis and George, dad and son, (17.00-17.30) return to the decks with even more festive mood…
* Georgina Tsontaki (17.30-18.00), accordion, vocals with her musicians
• Maestro Nikos Margaritakis (18:00) conducts the choir of the Holy Metropolis of
Kisamos and Selino “Osios Nikiforos o Kris” in elaborate and traditional songs and carols
and then performs with the musicians of Choreutakis Yiannis, harmonium, and Nektario
Daskalaki, drums, thus concluding the festival with an unforgettable musical performance
with folk (and not only) songs that will strongly remind us of our family Christmas.
Drinks and soft drinks will be available throughout the musical performances, savoury and sweet Christmas treats as well as many surprises at the various stalls..
Source: Giorgos Paterakis
