In 2019, the mountain village of Vamvakou in Laconia was home to just nine permanent residents, a dot on the map slowly fading, like so many rural communities across Greece. Today, the population has grown to 30, including young families determined to build a future here. It all began with the founding of the non-profit organization Vamvakou Revival, aimed at revitalizing the village with support from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. The foundation’s involvement is fitting, given that its founder hailed from Vamvakou, but it also aligned with the vision of people like Eleni Mami, who decided to leave Athens and settle in the village with her family.

“Our goal is to develop all areas of life and activity in the village, including tourism (with a year-round restaurant, guesthouses, and a multi-purpose activity space), new businesses, agri-food production, and of course, culture,” Mami explains. The highlight of these efforts is the Vamvakou Experience Festival, now in its fifth year and taking place June 28-29 with free admission for all.

“This year, we wanted to mix things up,” says Mami, who also helps organize the festival. “We’re blending traditional village elements with unexpected experiences – like a skate park.” The 2024 program reflects that eclectic spirit, with activities ranging from bread baking and natural perfume making to… techno yoga. “Basically, it’s a yoga class followed by a techno party,” Mami laughs. “We want to reconnect people with nature and make them feel like Vamvakou is their village, too.”

Music, of course, is at the heart of the celebration. This year’s lineup includes performances by Panos Vlachos, the Skiadaresses, and Encardia, who will close the festival with an uplifting set. As in previous years, the Greek National Opera Ballet will perform a short piece in the village square, where visitors will also be treated to a live cooking show by beloved chef Akis Petretzikis, who will fuse local ingredients and recipes with modern culinary techniques.

The festival began modestly, attracting around 500-600 visitors in its first year. Last year, that number rose to over 2,500. Would the organizers like to see it grow to the scale of other mountain festivals that welcome crowds of 10,000? Mami is thoughtful. “We’d love to welcome more people, of course, but maybe not that many,” she says. “If the interest grows, we’re open to new ways of hosting and expanding. For now, it’s about quality, community, and connection.”