Silk Festivity

Description

The Silk Festivity started 15 years ago and has become an institution. It is organized by the Association Chrysallida and many other associations are participating, under the auspices of the Municipality of Soufli as well as the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

Key message

The main scope is to honour and revive the local silkworm rearing tradition, the spread of sericulture, while promoting silk products and also the town of Soufli.

Key activity

The event includes a lot of different activities every year, such as competitions, photo exhibitions related to silk, exhibitions of silk clothes and items, cycling tours, road races, music events, dance and theatre performance, theatrical workshops, screening of documentaries and films, presentation of books, meeting and presentations related to silk, interactive reenactment of the past with the use of modern technological means and artistic installations, representation of the life cycle of the silkworm with the help of technological means, workshops for dyeing clothes using the method of tie dye, silk workshop for adults and children regarding cocoon creations, painting techniques on silk, spinning and dyeing silk fabrics, batik technique seminars, educational workshops for children and families (creations with threads using the quipu technique), interactive activities for children and reenactment of traditional wedding custom.

Experiential and interactive activities

There are experiential / interactive activities, as mentioned above, concerning representations of the traditional works related to the breeding of silkworms and silk with modern projection means and interactive technology, workshops for spinning and dyeing silk fabrics, workshops in which adults and children can dye their clothes using the method of tie dye and learn to make creations with silk and threads, batik technique seminars and also interactive activities for children.

Innovative elements

Important activities, such as reenactments of the traditional works related to the breeding of silkworms and silk and representation of the life cycle of the silkworm with the help of technological means, have taken place with the use of modern electronic equipment of virtual reality as well as through interaction with image and sound.

Main features and services that attract public

The main attraction is the uniqueness of the object in Greece but also the fact that this process is rare all over the world nowadays.

Key partners and supporters

Key partners and supporters / sponsors are private companies, the Municipality of Soufli and the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

Local media serve as communication sponsors. ERT (Hellenic Radio Television, the public broadcaster of Greece) has also been a communication sponsor.

Also, several events are organized in collaboration with various local associations as well as the museums in which the activities take place (including the Piraeus Group Cultural Foundation).

Participants, local community and customer segment

Participants are mainly residents of the town of Soufli and of the surrounding area. Efforts have been made to promote the events through travel agencies in a nationwide scope with the aim of attracting visitors from all over Greece. In recent years, there has been an influx of tourists, mainly Greeks, with great prospects to attract people from the surrounding countries.

Communication and dissemination channels

Mainly through local media radio, television (including national television channels such as ERT), social networks, internet and travel agencies.

Specific elements and features

Managerial and organizational specifics

The organizational model is determined every year. Each year there is a key theme which also specifies the format of the events.

Accessibility

The different venues are located in the town of Soufli. Our goal is to connect the venues with other historic buildings and monuments of the town as well as with Associations and Museums.

The town of Soufli is accessible by bus and train. Unfortunately, there are not any bile paths but there are parking spaces.

Liaison with other activities and events of the Black Sea Basin region

All the above mentioned countries were part of the Silk Road. Some of them continue to this day to have small productions and some activities, while others are still trying to find their roots and identity. Clearly there could be correlations and similar events could be organized.

Image Sources: Courtesy of ‘Cryssalida’ Silk Friends Association