Once, its narrow streets echoed with the voices of children at play, the laughter of groups of friends and romantic rendezvous. Courtyards were filled with colour and delicious aromas drifted from the houses, revealing what was being prepared for the family table.

Around 700 people once lived in Christos, Ierapetra. Today, only 12 residents remain, most of them elderly.

In 2025, for the first time, the locked doors of the village were opened once again as part of an initiative organised by the Selakano Cultural Association.

This year, the event will return on 1 and 2 August 2026, with the long-term aim of helping the village regain the splendour of its past.

"Let all the locked doors of the village open"

In its invitation, the Association states:

There are villages that are never forgotten. Villages that carry stories, memories, faces and a way of life deeply connected with tradition, nature and the hospitality of the Cretan land.

Christos, Ierapetra, is one of them.

Under the slogan "Let all the locked doors of the village open", the Christos–Selakano Cultural Association is organising, for the second consecutive year, a unique experiential event on 1 and 2 August 2026, dedicated to showcasing local tradition, intangible cultural heritage and the authentic daily life of villages in the Cretan hinterland.

The aim of the event is to revive the historical, social and cultural identity of Christos, a traditional settlement that has experienced demographic decline and abandonment in recent decades, while never losing its identity or its soul.

For two days, the roads, squares and cafés of the village will once again be filled with people, sounds, aromas and images that recall life in earlier times and highlight authentic Cretan daily life.

The programme includes a rich collection of cultural and traditional activities, featuring traditional cafés, elements of Cretan hospitality and gastronomy, music and dance events and activities for all ages.

A special place in the programme is reserved for the Ceramic Arts Workshop, with craftsmen from Thrapsano and potter Vasilis Politakis, who will present one of Crete's most important traditional crafts.

At the same time, live music will fill the streets, squares and cafés of the village, while theatrical performances, tastings of traditional Cretan cuisine, cultural activities and children's events will create a two-day celebration of participation and creativity.

The event is an initiative of the Christos–Selakano Cultural Association, supported by the selfless contribution of volunteers and friends of the Association. It is co-organised by the Region of Crete – Regional Unit of Lasithi, the Municipality of Ierapetra and +Praxis Social Cooperative Enterprise, as part of the tourism promotion programme of the Region of Crete.

An open invitation to everyone

The success of this major celebration depends on the power of participation and collective contribution. For this reason, the Christos–Selakano Cultural Association extends an open invitation to everyone who wishes to become part of this effort.

The organisers invite volunteers who would like to contribute to the preparation and implementation of the activities, musicians and artists who wish to participate in the musical and cultural events, as well as associations, creators, professionals and every active citizen who has an idea, a proposal or simply the desire to contribute.

The aim is not simply to organise another event.

The aim is to create a living meeting place for people, memory and culture.

To bring life back to the narrow streets, to light up the houses once again, to hear laughter, music and stories return, and to prove that the villages of the Cretan hinterland continue to be places of creativity, connection and inspiration.

On 1 and 2 August 2026, in Christos, Ierapetra, together we will open all the locked doors of the village.

Because every door that opens brings life back to the village. And every person who takes part becomes part of its story.