The long weekend is almost here and along with it comes a plethora of events. Halloween shenanigans, comedy shows (in English), neighbourhood festivals and music concerts are on the agenda for the last weekend of October. Here’s what not to miss this Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Tonight, a unique event is taking place in a secret location in Nicosia, full of mystery, suspense, surprises and playfulness. The Yasemin Collective hosts the Mystery Pop-Up Experience Vol. 1, guiding adults into an evening full of interactive games and fun activities. Very little is shared about the event (not even the location, it will be told only to those participating) as organisers want to keep the mystery element alive. Just arrive wearing a mask and ready to play.
Also happening tonight in Nicosia is a piano recital by the celebrated artist Yevgeny Sudbin. The Pharos Arts Foundation welcomes back the pianist to The Shoe Factory after six years for a unique concert. In an intimate setting, he will perform works by Liszt, Scriabin, Scarlatti, Chopin, Debussy and Saint-Saens.
A must-see show this weekend in Nicosia is Katerina Vrana’s comedy show at Pantheon Theatre on Friday and Saturday. Hailed as one of Greece’s top comedians, Katerina arrives in Cyprus for two nights only to present her successful and hilarious show Staying Alive (I Nearly Died, You Know), in English.
Throughout the weekend, old Nicosia will be a meeting point for art, science and tech projects and events that come to life through the WIP Work in Progress Festival, now in its fourth edition. The festival has been on since last week and culminates this Sunday with exhibitions hosted at the festival’s five locations downtown – CYENS AGORA, STOA (Thinker Maker Space), TMS Wood & Metal Workshop, Dimarchou Lellou Demetriadi Square and Theatro Polis (the studio).
In Limassol, an old neighbourhood is coming to life this weekend with the first edition of The Neighbourhood of Cine Volos Festival. This Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the MITOS Centre for Performing Arts will bring artists, historians, residents, visitors and performers together to revive this old neighbourhood and document its stories. Throughout the festival, there will be architectural walks, open-air film screenings, discussions with professors over coffee, open mic nights, games of bingo, performances, installations and a public community Sunday lunch.
Of course, it could not be an end-of-October weekend without some Halloween fun. From Saturday to Monday (a public holiday), CyHerbia Botanical Park & Labyrinth in Avgorou will host its annual Halloween Family Festival welcoming old and young to its pumpkin patches, spooky fields and spider corners. During all three days of the festival, visitors will be able to enjoy magic shows, take photos at the pumpkin field and the Witch Cottage, and attend tarot readings, candle-making and pumpkin-carving workshops. Broomstick races, a spiderweb challenge and manifestation spells will fill the weekend, adding to the exciting Halloween atmosphere.
Piano recital. October 24. The Shoe Factory, Nicosia. 8.30pm. €20. www.pharosartsfoundation.org. Tel: 22-663871
Mystery Pop-Up Experiences
Interactive secret event by Yasemin Collective. October 24. Secret location in Nicosia. 7.30pm. €27 including food and drinks. In English or Greek. Tickets at www.yasemincollective.com/reservations
Halloween Family Festival
Annual Halloween 3-day festival with games, workshops and activities for all. October 26-28. CyHerbia Botanical Park & Labyrinth, Avgorou. €16 for adults, €11 for ages 5 to 12. https://www.cyherbia.com/
WIP Work in Progress Festival
4th edition of festival connecting art, science and technology. Until October 27. Throughout old Nicosia. https://2024wip.cyens.org.cy/
Staying Alive (I Nearly Died, You Know)
Stand-up comedy show by Katerina Vrana. October 25-26. Pantheon Theatre, Nicosia. 8.30pm. In English. www.soldoutticketbox.com
The Neighbourhood of Cine Volos Festival
3-day festival by MITOS Centre for Performing Arts. October 25-27. Cine Volos area, Limassol. Free. Facebook event: I Geitonia tou Sine Volos. Tel: 99-962686
