Lakes and Rivers FestivalΦεστιβάλ Λιμνών και Ποταμών

The Lakes and Rivers Festival is a summertime music festival organized by the Region of Thessaly, held across the scenic lakes and rivers of Karditsa. It “creates a musical route” linking sites like Lake Plastiras, Lake Smokovo, and the rivers Pamisos and Enipeas 1 2. The festival showcases live concerts under the open sky in rural settings, featuring major Greek singers and bands. The 2025 program included concerts by Maria Farantouri & Vasilis Lekkas at Lake Plastira, Kostas Makedonas at Lake Stefanias, and others 3. Attendees experience high-quality musical performances against natural backdrops; admission is typically free outdoors. The festival highlights Thessaly’s natural beauty and local communities, offering an authentic cultural atmosphere that links music with heritage landscapes 2 4.

This festival was launched in 2024 (formerly known as the Lakes Festival of Karditsa) and expanded in 2025 to include rivers, reflecting the area’s water-rich terrain 1 2. It is an initiative of the regional government to promote rural tourism and local arts. The concerts often occur in villages and small towns (e.g. Mouzaki, Mouzaki, Itéa, etc.) and are supported by local cultural associations. The music lineup usually focuses on Greek folk and rock artists, drawing revellers from across Thessaly. By pairing concerts with the region’s lakes/rivers, the festival emphasizes Thessaly’s identity as a land of mountains and waters.