It’s carnival time in Limassol

King Carnival enters Limassol on Thursday night, marking a ten-day long celebration that will culminate with the grand parade on Sunday, March 13.

Carnival Festivities take place 50 days before Greek Christian Orthodox Easter and it means the beginning of Lent, a period of fasting before Easter.

Tradition has the biggest carnival festivities taking place in Limassol, while parades and festivals are held in other towns as well.

One of the biggest events hosted in Limassol, in addition to the annual Wine Festival in September, the carnival starts with King Carnival’s entrance at 7pm, accompanied by the ‘Kantadoroi’ serenaders and the Girl Guides’ majorettes.

Choirs and other musical groups take to the streets on Friday, March 4, along most of the pedestrian roads and the town’s main squares, with a carnival fiesta taking place at Ayios Athanasios on Saturday night (March 5). Other festivities take place almost every night, including the Medieaval Castle on Tuesday night.

The Children’s Parade takes place on Sunday, March 6, starting from Pentadromos and leading up to Anexartisias Street. Prizes will be awarded for best groups, couples and individuals.

Limassol Municipality has issued a leaflet with all the details, otherwise call the Cultural Service at the town hall on 2534 2153 or 2574 5919.

Don’t bother checking out the website which only carries the static information, municipal announcements and a Greek version of the monthly culture guide. Reproducing the Carnival leaflet on-line would have been the easiest thing for everyone. Perhaps next year…