Since 2000, the Cultural Association of Apollona, “NEW HORIZONS,” has been organizing the “Cultural Evenings,” during the first 15 days of September, as part of the festivities honoring the Parish Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Apollona. Over the past 26 years, these events—which have now become a major institution in the cultural life of the island of Rhodes—have featured exhibitions of painting and photography, music, dance, and theater performances, film screenings, shadow theater, and more, while also hosting associations from all over Greece and abroad. As part of these same events, traditional festivities are organized featuring well-known musicians from the Rhodian music scene, culminating in the Feast of the Holy Cross, always held on September 13, the eve of the feast day.
The “Cultural Evenings” series has hosted a number of concerts, featuring beloved representatives of Greek music such as: Babis Tsertos, Pantelis Thalassinos, Grigoris Daravanoglou, Nektaria Karantzi, Miltos Paschalidis, Yiannis Xylouris, Yiannis Haroulis, Vasilis Kazoulis, Melina Kana, Eleni Tsaligopoulou, Orpheas Peridis, Areti Ketime, Charalambos Garganourakis, Ludovikos of Anogia, Trifono, Kaiti Koullia, Sofia Papazoglou, Giota Nega, Violeta Ikari, and others.
“Cultural Evenings 2026” kicks off this year on Saturday, September 5, with a unique concert! Thodoris Kotoniás, Saveria Margiola, Vasilis Dramountanis, and Ifigeneia Ioannou, along with their band, will perform together for the first time in Rhodes at the amphitheater of the Apollon Elementary School at 9:00 p.m. Joining them will be “our very own” Giannis Fiolas.
A special evening is in store on Saturday, September 12, when the POAR theater workshop makes its return after many years NEW HORIZONS, with the timely Apollonian comedy “The Last Census.”
All events will take place in the amphitheater and courtyard of the Apollona Elementary School.
🎭 Main Events Schedule
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Saturday, September 5 (9:00 p.m.) | Grand Opening Concert:
Featuring: Thodoris Kotoniás, Saveria Margiola, Vasilis Dramountanis, Ifigeneia Ioannou, and Yiannis Fiolas in a unique musical collaboration.
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Friday, September 11 (8:30 p.m.) | Music of the Eastern Mediterranean
We’ll meet at Apollona for an evening filled with music, good company, and beautiful moments—a truly special musical performance!
Vasilis Kokkalakis on the lyra, Nikos Simitsakos on the kanun, and Christos Koutsaías on the lute join their music and voices in a program that ranges from art music to traditional songs, with an emphasis on the music of the Eastern Mediterranean.
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Saturday, September 12 (8:30 p.m.) | Theater Performance “The Last Census”:
The Cultural Association of Apollona “New Horizons,” after many years, presents its Theater Workshop and invites you to a unique theatrical performance. “The Last Census,” an original comedy born from memories, life experiences, and love for our village, is here to make us laugh, but also to make us reflect. A village on Rhodes faces its greatest danger: depopulation. The young people are leaving, houses are closing up, the town squares are emptying, and life is slowly fading away… But when the residents realize that their village is in danger of being “wiped off the map,” they decide to take matters into their own hands!
The play is written and directed by a native of Apollonia and performed by actors from Apollonia—people from our village—who have combined their passion, time, and love for the theater with one goal: to laugh from the bottom of our hearts but also to reflect on how our villages deserve a better future!
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Sunday, September 13 | Traditional Festival:
The highlight of the festivities on the eve of the Feast of the Holy Cross, featuring a traditional celebration and local musicians.
Location: Courtyard & Amphitheater of the Apollona Elementary School, Rhodes
Organized by: Cultural Association of Apollona “New Horizons” (Founded in 1979)