Ermioni celebrated International Museum Day on Saturday 18th May 2024 at an event held at the Ermioni Toy Museum between 7:00 and 9:00 pm.  The Toy Museum, which is housed in the Michael Papavasiliou Cultural Centre, was also celebrating its 11th anniversary when it first opened in 2013.  The evening was dedicated to the museum and its role in education by the Municipality and the Community of Ermioni, with this year's IMD theme being 'Museums - Education and Research'.  Those attending the evening event included the Most Reverend Dimitrios Ampelas (Papa Dimitri), Mr Athanasios Patsios (President of the Ermioni Community) Mr Anastasios Ganossis (Regional Councilor) Mrs Eleni Vlassi-Dimaraki (Deputy Mayor of Education) and Mr Damianos Koutouvalis (Deputy Mayor of Culture).  

International Museum Day has represented a unique moment for the international museum community since 1977.  The objective of International Museum Day (IMD) is to raise awareness about the fact that, “Museums are an important means of cultural exchange, enrichment of cultures and development of mutual understanding, cooperation and peace among peoples.”  Organised annually on 18th May, or around this date, the events and activities planned to celebrate International Museum Day can last a day, a weekend or an entire week.  IMD was celebrated for the first time 40 years ago.  All around the world, more and more museums participate in International Museum Day.  Last year, more than 37,000 museums participated in the event.  On this day, museums across Greece were open with no charge for admittance.  Music was provided by Mr Gasparis Mamma and the Music Association.

The day before, the History & Folklore Museum of Ermioni (ILME) presented an educational programe to students of the Ermioni Primary School on the topic 'From the ancient doll (plangona) to the modern doll'.  These ancient dolls were excavated by Alexandros Philadelphias in 1909, on the northern slope of the Hill of Pronos in Ermioni.   According to Philadelphias, these excavations brought to light 'a multidude of beautiful idols and robed women' which today are displayed in the Archaeological Museum of the Peloponnese in Nafplio.  Presentation was made by Tina Antonopoulou, President of the ILME board of directors.