OR 89th Thessaloniki International Exhibition (TIF) welcomes for the second consecutive year the Hobby Festivala celebration dedicated to the creative interests and handmade hobbies that contribute substantially to the quality of leisure. At a time when the internet and the demands of everyday life shrink time for personal occupations, the festival aspires to remind the public its importance creative and inspire young and old to reconnect with their interests.

With hundreds of shows and dozens of exhibitors, the Hobby Festival held from September 6 to 14 on the floor of TIF 2 TIF, converts the exhibition center into a space full of Colors, music, crafts, sports events and dance. Visitors are invited to get to know or discover the joy of creative leisure time through themes, workshops and interactive activities. The doors of the festival are open on weekends from 10:00 to 22:00 and daily from 16:00 to 22:00.

Hobby Festival’s philosophy and vision

Alexia Foukidou, Skywalker’s communication and events manager, explains that the combination between work and creative amateur activities was the trigger for the event. As he says the inspiration came “Through the need for an alternative way out and promoting the substance that gives energy to each of us.”. This year, the Hobby Festival is more interactive than ever, with 13 public spaces, 250 demonstrations and 42 exhibitorshighlighting the value of creative employment in everyday life.

The creators and actions in the foreground

The festival hosts artists and schools from a variety of fields. Gogo Schoina, from the improvisation of the Thessaloniki Imprivice, points out that ‘Improvisation is not as widespread as classic theater’pointing to the importance of participating in the TIF as an opportunity to meet the general public with this art. From improvisation to Julia Polisuk’s artistic workshops, participants show that Creation is human needhelping to self -expression, relaxation and socialization.

Mrs Polisuk characterizes creative hobbies ‘As psychotherapy’while she urges: “Slowly, these hobbies will get more fans. It is not important to make a masterpiece, but to understand the quality of time you spend and leave with something beautiful. “.

The audience’s voices and the message of the event

Visitors to the festival discover old and new interests. The 28 -year -old John was impressed by new technologies, stating: “What caught my interest was VR at Hado Arena”while admitting that the festival encouraged him to review his creative hobby. Spyros, 45, visitor to his family, highlights the importance of the passage of love for creation in children, while Dimitra, 34, felt nostalgia and inspiration to resume old hobbies.

The role of technology and the challenges of the season

Technology offers new features, but it undoubtedly affects the time we spend on creative activities. As Mrs Foukidou notes, “The biggest obstacle today is not technology but time”. Despite the challenges, the internet is a valuable tool for promoting hobbies and creating communities, as other participants point out.

The value of hobbies in everyday life

Creative hobbies engagement offers valuable benefits: spiritual development, mental balance, self -awareness and sociality. Mrs Foukidou highlights: “A hobby can evolve your spirit and get you out of depression”. The festival is a safe environment for exchange of ideas and networking, sending the message that Hobbies are for everyone and that A test is enough to find out if a new interest fits us.

With a strong public response, the organizers are planning new innovations – such as “Hobby Days” themes – that will highlight even more aspects of creative occupation.

The Hobby Festival of the 89th TIF proves in practice that creative leisure is not a luxury but a need. Through a living dialogue of creators and visitors, the joy of ingenuity revives and opens the way for a daily life with more inspiration and less time in front of the screens. This year’s message is clear: open to new experiences, open to the joy of creation.

MS