KALOKAIRI STO NOTO PRESENTSCRETE, GREECE / SINCE 2016
SCROLL TO DISCOVER01 / GREECE’S MOST POPULAR ONLINE PROJECT
SMALL VILLAGE.
BIG SCREEN.
SUPER GRANDMAS.
COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE.
It all began with Let’s Do It Harilae in 2016. A grandma, a grandpa and an invitation to live summer a little more freely. At a time when promotional videos often followed a familiar formula, Kalokairi Sto Noto put authentic people, cinematic storytelling and Cretan humour centre stage.
The idea grew with its audience. The grandmas showed how far a local story can travel with memorable characters, singalong music and lines that become part of everyday life. For the creators, the journey opened a new conversation about creative advertising and inspired later concepts featuring people from the Cretan countryside.
From the courtyard to outer space, each film expands the same world. A world created to introduce a radio show that became an entire country’s summer reunion with its most unpredictable grandmas.
DISCOVER THE STORYTHAT’S HOW YOU KNOW
SUMMER
HAS ARRIVED.
Every summer, people across Greece await the next adventure. Just as you await a new episode of your favourite series. The music, characters and cinematic imagery create a brief escape from daily life that lives on in conversations, jokes and shared memories.
A whole journey leads up to that encounter. The Kalokairi Sto Noto team looks for protagonists in Cretan villages, meets people and tries out faces and characters. Then come rehearsals, retakes, demanding shoots and detailed post-production on image and sound by the production’s collaborators.
The result carries the energy of a grand adventure and the intimacy of a summer you have lived yourself. A black headscarf, a familiar phrase, a courtyard transformed into a set. This is the Crete that travels with the grandmas: real, warm and always ready for the next twist.
DOZENS OF TV APPEARANCESPLATSOURISTAS
PLATSOURISTAS
EVERYWHERE.
The stories leave the village and meet television audiences. Interviews, live broadcasts and features from our official channel, from the latest projects back to the earliest. Start with RAKOKAZANO, continue with DOLMADAKIA IN SPACE and travel back to Let’s Do It Harilae.
CRETAN GRANDMAS SET UP RAKOKAZANO ON ERT 🙈🤣
BRINGING BOXES OF DOLMADAKIA TO MEGA
Ant1 Breaking News 🔥: The Cretan Grandmas go to space! 🚀
Nominating FAI SKORDA for Parliament! 😍
GRANDMA PARTY SLOGANS 🔥🔥 ON STAR’S MORNING SHOW!
TAKING OVER ALPHA’S NEWS BULLETIN 😱😱
Papadakis — INTERNET EXPLORER 🤦♂️🤪 — He thinks we really advertise #MELITZANA
⚡ #MELITZANOIOS: SLEEPING LIVE ON ERT! 😴😂
#MELITZANA 🍆 STATE OF MIND on OPEN 😂😂
⚡ #MELITZANOIOS: LIVE INNUENDO 😱 ON SKAI
Spreading #MELITZANOIOS 🍆 on STAR’s morning show 😂😂
SIGN LANGUAGE ROCKS with #MELITZANA APO ALANA 😂💪
#GRANDMAS LET LOOSE 😱😱 ON ERT! 😂😂
WHEN #MELITZANA HITS IN SIGN LANGUAGE 😂😂😂
We got OPEN partying too 😂😜
Manesis, PASOK and raki with vaccinated Cretan zombies 😂
🔥⚡ Raki, season finale and the first RAKIBUSTERS backstage!!
Kambourakis: Greek TV’s Internet Explorer discovers a viral video two years later 😂
Disinfecting Manesis and ALPHA’s news bulletin with RAKI 💪🔥
Spraying MEGA’s morning show with RAKI 😂
Reveals & backstage from RAKIBUSTERS 😲😲
RAKIBUSTERS!! Spraying Ritsa Bizogli with RAKI 😍😂
RAKIBUSTERS sprayed ANT1 with RAKI too!
An epic slip of the tongue from Gogo Verigou (Alpha — Natalia Germanou — It Doesn’t Get Any Better)
Cretan Casa De Papel with Fai Skorda! (ANT1 — To Proino)
Cretan Casa De Papel with Nikos Manesis (Alpha TV — Weekend with Manesis)
Cretan Casa De Papel with Sissy Christidou (OPEN TV — Ela Hamogela)
Going live after a few rakis | Cretan Casa De Papel (Alpha TV — Natalia Germanou)
Cretan Casa De Papel (STAR News)
Ant1 — Summer Together at 10:00 — Kalokairi Sto Noto
SKAI News — Live with Kalokairi Sto Noto
Happy Day Alpha — Just Beers
Weekend with Manesis — Just Beers
Eleni Menegaki — Just Beers
STAR News — Just Beers
Let’s Do It Harilae — Fotis & Maria Live
Let’s Do It Harilae | Eleni | Alpha TV
02 / HUNDREDS OF PRINT & ONLINE FEATURES
A story by Kalokairi Sto Noto
EVERY SUMMER.
ANOTHER
THRILLING STORY.
From RAKOKAZANO back to the first Harilae.
11 stories through the eyes of the press—from today back to the beginning.
PROTO THEMA
Crete’s viral grandmas return with a new song and declare war on sushi
RAKOKAZANO / 2026
ERT NEWS
From dakos to sushi: Crete’s viral grandmas deliver their message with humour
RAKOKAZANO / 2026
ELLADA24
Crete’s grandmas return with a new song and a new beef: dakos versus sushi (video)
RAKOKAZANO / 2026
LiFO
Crete’s grandmas go to space: Dolmadakia in Space
DOLMADAKIA IN SPACE / 2025
SKAI
Dolmadakia in Space: The Cretan Grandmas went to space; their creators spoke on SKAI
DOLMADAKIA IN SPACE / 2025
ANT1
Dolmadakia in Space — The Cretan Grandmas go to space (photos)
DOLMADAKIA IN SPACE / 2025
PROTO THEMA
Crete: Grandpas start a feud with the viral grandmas, with help from Mamalakis—watch the video
STAKA ME TA AVGA / 2024
SKAI
Staka me ta avga: Cretan grandpas VS viral grandmas
STAKA ME TA AVGA / 2024
ATHENS VOICE
Cretan grandpas start a feud with the viral grandmas—guest star Mamalakis
STAKA ME TA AVGA / 2024
ERT NEWS
The “grandmas of Crete” run for election—the viral video’s creators speak on ERT
G.K.RI.NT.S / 2023
SKAI
Laugh until you cry: The Cretan Grandmas form a party—their new video takes over
G.K.RI.NT.S / 2023
ATHENS VOICE
Crete’s grandmas form a political party and troll the party leaders (video)
G.K.RI.NT.S / 2023
ERT NEWS
Melitzana apo Alana: Crete’s super grandmas return in their most gangsta incarnation
MELITZANA APO ALANA / 2022
NEA KRITI
Viral: Cretan Grandmas challenge the trappers (photos, video)
MELITZANA APO ALANA / 2022
CRETALIVE
An epic season for Kalokairi Sto Noto
MELITZANA APO ALANA / 2022
LiFO
Kalokairi Sto Noto: The new viral clip by two producers from Crete — “Like a photograph of our childhood”
The Cretan Thriller / 2021
e-MESARA
The new Cretan Thriller is here
The Cretan Thriller / 2021
CRETALIVE
Kalokairi Sto Noto: Taking over and making history!
The Cretan Thriller / 2021
HUFFPOST
Rakibusters save the world: Crete found the coronavirus cure—HuffPost Greece
RAKIBUSTERS / 2020
ENIKOS
Rakibusters: Cretans found the coronavirus “cure”—viral video
RAKIBUSTERS / 2020
PROTO THEMA
Video: Crete’s grandmas return with the perfect adulteration
Cretan CASA DE PAPEL / 2019
CNN GREECE
The perfect adulteration in Crete: A hilarious video inspired by La Casa de Papel
Cretan CASA DE PAPEL / 2019
PROTO THEMA
Video: Just Beers gets Crete moving
Just Beers / 2018
NEWSBOMB
Crete: The grandmas strike again, drinking Just Beers by the sea (video)
Just Beers / 2018
NAFTEMPORIKI
YouTube: The most popular videos in Greece and worldwide in 2017
Cretan Survivor / 2017
eKRITI
Cretan Survivor among the top videos of 2017! (video)
Cretan Survivor / 2017
NEWSBEAST
The grandma who went viral online
LET’S DO IT HARILAE / 2016
FLASHNEWS
Let’s Do It Harilae! Meet the most YOLO Cretan Grandma!
LET’S DO IT HARILAE / 2016
THE LATEST / 2026 · 2025 · 2024WATCH THE
WATCH THE
LATEST VIDEOS.
RAKOKAZANO
Dakos vs sushi. Our most entertaining video yet—and the one you danced to the most.
Read more +Less −
Penelope and Tyler return from America and open a sushi spot in the village. The grandmas see a new rival challenging their own cuisine. Dakos, mizithra cheese and fried potatoes spring into action. RAKOKAZANO brings two culinary worlds into the same square and makes the menu a personal matter.
DOLMADAKIA IN SPACE
From Crete to outer space. Kalokairi Sto Noto’s first short film, on a grand production scale.
Read more +Less −
Kalokairi Sto Noto’s first short film, as its creators describe it, sends the crew far beyond Crete. Two villages, a dolma festival and a plan that defies gravity. Stalitsa competes with Stalida for attention, while four grandmas, a priest and a shepherd with MIT know-how launch a space mission. In 2025, the feud reaches its furthest destination; in 2026, the film wins GOLD at the Indie Awards in Best in Film / Video – Online.
STAKA ME TA AVGA
The grandpas strike back. Will they have the last word?
Read more +Less −
The grandmas have conquered the spotlight. In 2024, the grandpas respond with staka, eggs and Ilias Mamalakis by their side. STAKA ME TA AVGA brings Cretan music, relationships and contemporary pop culture together in a story where the kitchen becomes contested territory and the village café gains cinematic intensity. A special appearance by Ilias Mamalakis connects gastronomy with the most unpredictable Cretan feud.
A WHOLE UNIVERSE OF CRETAN HUMOUR.DISCOVER THE OTHER STORIES
The Platsouristas have the floor
@MySeiVa23
@nikoletakalitsou8120
@stayrosalive8736
@SamVasGR
@arduinomaster7334
@alfaholicsgreece
@niktos77
@johnstart9728
@LoudandClearChastity
@PlaySingFun
@flavios0101
@StockholmianZ
@ACBakalis
@John_Antonakakis
@lena.7040
03 / SINCE 2016
A story by Kalokairi Sto Noto
IT ALL BEGAN
WITH “HARILAE”.
20162016 — 2026 / THE COMPLETE JOURNEY
11 years. 13 stories.
- 2016LET’S DO IT HARILAEA lace doily even on David Guetta’s photograph?
- 2017Cretan SurvivorThe epic Cretan showdown that made history.
- 2018Just BeersSummer finds its rhythm. An anthem heard everywhere.PLUS / 2019JUST BEERS — ATHENS VERSIONSummer finds its rhythm, this time in Athens.
- 2019Cretan CASA DE PAPELKalokairi Sto Noto’s multi-award-winning video: a blockbuster discussed like no other.PLUS / 2021GLENTZES APO KOUNIANikos Gonianakis × FAISTOS Super Market. Another Cretan musical adventure.
- 2020RAKIBUSTERSRaki saves the world. An international co-production that became a blockbuster.
- 2021The Cretan ThrillerThe real revolution: 200 years since the Greek Revolution, with coronavirus changing the rules.
- 2022MELITZANA APO ALANAGrandmas vs trappers. The most popular Greek entertainment video ever released online.
- 2023G.K.RI.NT.SThe grandmas form a party, go more viral than ever on TikTok and deliver their own messages.
- 2024STAKA ME TA AVGAThe grandpas strike back. Will they have the last word?
- 2025DOLMADAKIA IN SPACEFrom Crete to outer space. Kalokairi Sto Noto’s first short film, on a grand production scale.
- 2026RAKOKAZANODakos vs sushi. Our most entertaining video yet—and the one you danced to the most.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE IDEAONE
A story by
Kalokairi Sto NotoBE A
PLATSOURISTA.
ONE
DUO.
A
WHOLE
WORLD.
Giorgos BalothiarisGogo Verigou
A story by Kalokairi Sto NotoBE A
PLATSOURISTA.
INDIE AWARDS / GOLD 2026 ↗
Giorgos Balothiaris and Gogo Verigou created Kalokairi Sto Noto and, with it, a community that could never fit inside a studio. The Platsouristas are one of Greece’s most active radio communities: with hundreds of daily messages, stories, recipes and ideas, they point the producers towards something bigger.
From an idea on Chrissi in 2003 to an award-winning, long-running radio production, that relationship remains the driving force. The show reaches Crete and Greeks abroad, while its films gather millions of views and welcome new audiences into the community.
In 2016, the team wanted to give this world an image. Let’s Do It Harilae was the beginning: radio’s energy became characters, settings and cinematic stories. The Cretan Grandmas emerged from that encounter and return every summer for the next chapter.
THE CREATORS’ STORYAN IDEA THAT TRAVELSSTORIES
STORIES
INSPIRE STORIES.
When we began, we wanted to give our own community an image. Along the way, we met other grandmas in different concepts: advertising stories, sporting events and cinematic ideas that centre authentic people and the energy of their home.
We are delighted to see this creative kinship. To recognise that age does not limit a protagonist and that someone from a village can carry a whole adventure. That is how we understand Kalokairi Sto Noto’s influence: an invitation to look for stories where life remains unpredictable.
Behind each of these stories is a team that believes in its people. Finding the cast, rehearsing and filming build relationships that continue after the lights go out. Local people offer more than a location: they bring their own voices, personalities and the little details that make a scene feel real. That trust is what we want to share every time we begin a new chapter.
MEET THE WORLD BEHIND THE VIDEOSAfter the grandmas first appeared in Kalokairi Sto Noto in 2016, other creators took inspiration from us and wrote stories of their own.
Different worlds, familiar faces. Grandmas from Crete and elsewhere became the stars of new campaigns, sporting events and online videos: with humour, personality and the freedom to overturn our expectations of a leading lady.
The stories of Kalokairi Sto Noto became the starting point for our creative language: authentic people, Cretan dialect, unpredictable humour and cinematic adventure. In the years that followed, we saw more grandmas, both Cretan and from elsewhere, starring in advertisements, sporting events and online productions. For us, this continuation reflects the inspiration our stories offered and forms part of the project’s lasting impact.
This journey brought a different relationship into focus between branding and entertainment. A brand does more than appear at the end of an advert: it gains a world, characters, music and a story audiences want to revisit. Local people become recognisable heroes, while Cretan identity becomes a creative language that travels far beyond its birthplace.
For companies, agencies and professionals who train social media teams, Kalokairi Sto Noto is a case study in authentic storytelling, community building and brand longevity. An example of how a radio production can gain a cinematic presence, build anticipation every summer and invite audiences to participate. The references below introduce other grandmas and creative teams, each with their own story.
Angela goes viral.
Angela Mathioudaki and her friends return to the spotlight in a humorous Crete Half Marathon spot. She speaks on ERT about this special experience.
ERT NEWS / 19.09.2026 ↗
Grandma Marigo does yoga.
Yoga, meditation and handstands: Marigo overturns stereotypes in the Zemytha advert. A MullenLowe Athens campaign, produced by Parasol and directed by Panos Koronis.
MULLENLOWE / 13.11.2017 ↗
Leading ladies in the spotlight.
Residents of the Xanthi care home pose for its 2021 calendar. Kalliopi Nakou becomes one of the faces of a photographic story filled with optimism.
PROTO THEMA / 30.12.2020 ↗
Grandma and the alphabet.
Fotoula and little Giannakis star in a social spot for the care home, centred on communication between a grandma and her grandson.
IEFIMERIDA / 16.12.2021 ↗
Eleni returns.
The familiar grandma returns in a new spot for Xroma Run in Arkalochori.
IN2LIFE / 11.04.2018 ↗KALOKAIRI STO NOTO / OUR BLOG
KSN LATEST NEWS
05 / CONTACT
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IN THE NEXT
STORY.
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