Autumn in Arcadia means chestnut season, pumpkin pies, and world-class climbing – five events across October and November, spread from the mountain villages of Parnon to the red rocks above Leonidio. Whether you pick one or string them together into a proper autumn road trip, this is the Peloponnese at its most local, most festive and most delicious.
🌰 42nd Kastanitsa Chestnut Festival
Dates: Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 October 2026, 10:00–20:00
Location: Kastanitsa village, Arcadia#
The Board of the Association and the Community of Kastanitsa invite you to the 42nd Chestnut Festival, held throughout their charming mountain village from one end to the other. This is a walking festival: expect guided tours, flavours, tradition and celebration winding through the cobbled lanes and autumn landscape.
Food & drink: Mountain tea, hot xinotrachanas soup, boiled chestnuts; the Association’s taverna serving boiled goat, pork with chestnuts, chickpea stew, greens pies, souvlaki, tiganopsomo, wine, oinomelo and tsipouro.
The Chestnut Road: A circular walking route through the village visiting the Byzantine Tower, the church with its carved iconostasis, the Museum of Traditional Crafts, the Environmental Information Centre and the Cultural Centre.
For the little ones: Children’s workshop and the “Storyteller’s Corner”. There will also be a special stand dedicated to the Tsakonian dialect and its history. In the main square: music, dancing and a traditional glendi with dance groups performing regional dances.
Good to know: Kastanitsa is a mountain village with uphill and downhill routes – not suitable for those with serious mobility difficulties. Weather can be unpredictable; come dressed for the mountains. Contact: 693 757 0471 / 697 855 9494 / 697 718 9533.
🎃 3rd Pumpkin Pie Festival – Varvitsa, Laconia
Date: Sunday 25 October 2026
Location: Varvitsa, Laconia
Varvitsa invites locals and visitors to a festive autumn gathering, with the pumpkin taking centre stage! The village celebrates on the eve of the feast of Agios Dimitrios, bringing together faith, flavours, music and local tradition. The celebration includes a procession of the holy icon of Agios Dimitrios.
On the programme: Pumpkin pie competition (bring your own family recipe, taste every other version) • Bazaar • Live music • Traditional pies and other pumpkin creations.
Organised by the Beautification and Cultural Association of Varvitsa “To Meterizi tou Parnona”. Come and enjoy the autumn colours of Parnon, the aromas from the ovens and the good company of a mountain village in full celebration!
🌰 5th Chestnut Festival – Kosmas, Arcadia
Dates: Saturday 31 October & Sunday 1 November 2026
Location: Kosmas, South Kynouria, Mount Parnon (1,150 m)
For the fifth year running, Kosmas celebrates the chestnut and this time the festival coincides with the feast of the village’s patron saints, the Agioi Anargyroi. Two full days of music, dancing, walks and autumn flavours high up on Parnon, organised by the Enotikos Filoproodos Association of Kosmas and the Municipality of South Kynouria.
Food & drink: Roasted chestnuts and wine, free for everyone! At the stalls: chestnut sweets, chestnut pies, savoury cheese pies, souvlaki, pitaroudes and loukoumades. Festival hoodies, jackets and T-shirts also available.
Saturday 31 October: 10:00 Walk to Profitis Ilias – 11:00–13:00 Guided tour of the Folklore Museum – 11:00 “The Hidden Treasure Hunt” – 12:00 Traditional glendi with the band Kath’odon
Sunday 1 November: 10:00 Walk through the chestnut forest – 11:00–13:00 Guided tour of the Folklore Museum – 11:00 Activities and games for children – 12:00 Traditional glendi with the band Grammes. Dancing with the Kosmas dance group, the Geraki dance group, the Municipality of South Kynouria dance group and the Levidi Dance Club “I Arkadiani”.
Feast of Agioi Anargyroi: 1 November is also the day of the patron saints. At the church there will be a pilgrimage, a festive celebration and a procession of the holy icon.
Make a weekend of it: The 12th Leonidio Climbing Festival runs on exactly the same dates (30 October – 1 November), with Chris Sharma as special guest. Leonidio is about 45 minutes’ drive down the mountain. Red rock and climbing by the sea, chestnuts and glendi up on Parnon. See details below.
🧗 12th Leonidio Climbing Festival
Dates: 30 October – 1 November 2026
Location: Leonidio, Peloponnese
The Leonidio Climbing Festival returns for three days in one of the world’s most remarkable climbing destinations – thousands of routes, breathtaking red-rock walls and a community of climbers from all over the globe. Routes from 5a to 9a; beginners to elite, everyone is welcome.
Special guest: Chris Sharma. One of the most influential climbers of all time, a pioneer of modern sport climbing across three decades. Three ways to see him: film screening + Q&A on Friday 30 Oct at 19:00 (free); live discussion Saturday 31 Oct at 18:00 (free); climbing at Twin Caves Saturday 31 Oct at 10:00 (€30 or included in Festival Pass).
Workshops & activities: First Steps on the Rock (€20) • Falling & Catching Falls Safely (€20) • Climb Smarter sport climbing clinic (free) • Aerial Silks (€20) • Slackline with Hugo Thomas (€10) • Yoga Flow & Alignment (free) • Herbal workshop (free) • Local walk beyond the crags (free) • Sound therapy (free) • Traditional Greek dancing lessons (free). All workshops have limited places; registration required.
Festival Pass: €40 early bird until 5 October (€50 after). Includes all free and paid workshops, official T-shirt, priority access to the Chris Sharma demonstration with photo opportunity, and festival wristband.
Every euro raised goes towards bolting and maintaining climbing routes in Leonidio.
Register at climbinleonidio.com →
🌰 22nd Chestnut Festival – Ano Doliana
Date: Saturday 7 November 2026
Location: Ano Doliana, Arcadia
Time: from 11:00
When Mount Parnon puts on the golden colours of autumn, the plane trees whisper in the wind and the chestnuts roast on the fire, Ano Doliana puts on its finest! The Cultural Association of Doliana invites you to the 22nd Chestnut Festival for an unforgettable day of flavours, aromas, music, dancing, tradition and genuine village hospitality.
Food & drink: Freshly roasted chestnuts • Hot traditional fasolada (bean soup) • Souvlaki from the Cultural Association • Wine and tsipouro. The women of the village will prepare a rich buffet of savoury and sweet chestnut creations: pies, desserts, wild boar with chestnuts and traditional treats straight from the recipes of Arcadia.
Music: Live music, dancing, singing and a proper glendi for all ages.
Folklore Museum: “To Tabouri tou Nikitara” will be open throughout the day. Come and discover the history, tradition and roots of Ano Doliana.
Practical: Coaches planning to visit should book in advance: 697 160 1635. Stallholders contact: 698 147 9268. Organised parking guidance at key points around the village.
Ano Doliana is an authentic mountain village with narrow streets, one kafeneio and one taverna. The Association will also be selling souvlaki during the festival. Come with good humour, a little patience and respect for the place, and you’ll have a warm and wonderful day.
🧘Our next (Self-) Exploration Retreat in being planned for Q2 2027, most probably to Thailand/Cambodia. Our first retreat in Thailand was a great success. Read about it here →