Limassol’s Carnival – Let the games begin!

The city of Limassol is transformed into a massive party zone, where colourful floats, lots of dancing and laughter and funny masquerades fill the streets of the city once a year! You got it right…the Carnival is back in town!

Limassol Carnival has been celebrated for more than a hundred years. The Carnival is celebrated for two main reasons. Besides being a fun-filled event for both adults and children, the carnival symbolises the beginning of spring, where enthusiasts gather to celebrate rebirth and general optimism for the year that follows. However, the Carnival is also linked to religion. In Greek, Apokria (carnival) signifies the start of the Christian 50-day fasting period before Easter. During the ten-day long carnival, people celebrate the commencement of the fasting period by going beyond social norms, following their passions and becoming whoever they want to be through their disguises! Anything is acceptable during the carnival!

Every year, the Carnival festivities commence on Shrove Thursday. The festivities begin once the King of the Carnival enters the city inviting all to join in the festivities. The carnival celebrations last for ten days. During these festive days a variety of mini-events are organised such as the Children’s Parade and the Serenades Show, where carnival enthusiasts put on a gold dress and grab a guitar or mandolin to wander round the city singing under balconies.

The most popular Carnival event takes place on the last Sunday of the festivities. The final parade is called the Grand Carnival Parade where extravagantly decorated floats overtake the city while disguised groups of people accompany while dancing and singing to the rhythms of carnival music. The crowds gather to watch the parade and join in the festivities.

Limassol has always been renowned as being the most vibrant and cosmopolitan city of the island. During the Carnival, Limassol attracts locals and tourists from all over the world to join in the fun and dancing! At the end of the parade, diplomas and awards are presented to the best masqueraded. You can also enjoy a great firework display.

Come on guys! Put on your masks and let the dancing begin! The Carnival is in town!