Another year, another festival! The dates this year are 7-9 October, and the event is organized by the Municipality of Kalymnos. The phenomenal climbers Angy Eiter, Roger Schaeli and Urko Carmona Barandiaran will be attending as special guests. Other events, according to the official schedule, include an open marathon, deep water solo, slackline, something called “Marasi climbing” (a children’s event), parties, and presentations by Urko and Angy on Friday and Saturday, respectively. For the last few in a row, the festival “basecamp” will be at Elena Village hotel, the event’s main sponsor.
 
According to the official site, the festival will benefit the island by “…Exploiting the competitive advantage of Kalymnos and branding the island as an ideal destination for climbing holidays…Development of other forms of alternative tourism like trekking, diving and caving.. Extension of the tourist period…Active participation of local population (personnel/volunteers, local businesses, local authorities etc)…A large number of passive participants (spectators like visitors, local population etc)…Know-how in managing and promoting the tourist product…Reinforcement of relations with other countries”. While it’s not immediately clear how a festival in October, when Kalymnos is already bursting at the seams, will lead to an “extension of the tourist period”, we do hope the island reaps some benefits.
 
See you there, perhaps, and if you are worried about the crags being too crowded in October, fret not: with nearly 3000 sport routes and a remarkable variety in grades, there is still something for everyone on our beloved island. Not to mention that after last year’s large-scale route maintenance project, Kalymnos is in better shape than ever.
 
For more info about the festival, please visit the official Kalymnos Climbing Festival page.