Limassol’s Municipal Gardens light up on Friday to welcome visitors to the 57th Wine Festival, to taste Cyprus’ wines and meet the wine makers.
The annual Festival, watched over by the statue of the ‘Vrakas’, the man dressed in the traditional vraka, will be open until September 9, offering ten days of continuous celebration for locals and tourists alike.
At a press conference in Limassol on Wednesday evening, Mayor Nicos Nicolaides said this year’s Festival opens with a few new additions, including a special area for children, where they will be able to watch plays and magic shows, and engage in various activities, such as crafts and pottery.
Another addition is the new wine glass, which was crafted to offer a better winetasting experience.
Furthermore, the statue of the Vrakas has been moved further back to allow for the entertainment stage to be expanded and host larger performances.
The Municipal Garden’s theatre will be hosting an array of performances, including concerts, while in the tennis court the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment will be setting up its pavilion, where visitors can enjoy gastronomical delights and wine-based cocktails.
There will also be competitions in recognising wines by smell alone, and demonstrations on the proper way to serve wine.
Photograph, cartoon and caricature exhibitions will add to the festive atmosphere.
Apart from the Cypriot delicacies, this year, for the first time, visitors will be able to accompany their wine with a variety of cheeses, while the commandaria-producing communities will have their own stall, in preparation for the Commandaria Festival from September 7 to 15.
There will also be a free bus service from all cities of Cyprus for visitors, with the sole precondition of booking a seat.
According to the Mayor, Friday’s opening ceremony will begin with a short folklore musical and theatrical performance, followed by the opening by Minister of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Yiorgos Lakkotrypis.
