Limassol Carnival 2016

The Carnival is a great popular festival which has been celebrated in Limassol and all over Cyprus for more than a hundred years.

The Municipality of Limassol organizes all the events and activities in open and readily accessible areas, with free entry and participation; a fact which brings people together, the young and the old, regardless of financial means or social stratum.

The festivities begin on Shrove Thursday (March 3rd) when the Queen of the Carnival, “Limassol, the diamond of the Mediterranean” will enter the town and culminate with the Grand Parade on the 13th of March.

PROGRAM

Monday - February 29

7.00p.m. Limassol Marina Square
The Limassol Municipality in collaboration with the Limassol Marina incorporate the rhythms of Carnival into the city’s pulse. Enjoy a musical program by the Ariones Choir followed by a Limassol Majorettes’ show. A parade will follow with ending point the Trakasol Cultural Center for the inauguration of the “Limassol Carnival 2015” exhibition.

7.30p.m. Trakasol Cultural Centre
(Limassol Marina)
The Limassol Municipality and the Cyprus Photographic Society – Limassol Branch, co-organise the Pancyprian Photographic Competition and Exhibition on the theme of “Limassol Carnival 2015” as well as a selection of photographs from various Carnival events of 2008 from February 29th to March 2nd.
Carnival costumes will be exhibited.
Opening Hours: 3.00 p.m. – 8.00 p.m.
The event will be held with the kind support of the Trakasol Cultural Centre.

The Mayor Mr. Andreas Christou will inaugurate the exhibition.

Tuesday - March 1

7.00p.m Rialto Theatre
Book presentation: “Limassol Carnival, a magical story”
Stelios Georgiades presents his book: «Limassol Carnival, a magical story”. At the premises of the theatre’s cafeteria, Konstantinos Stefanou’s art exhibition on the Limassol Carnival will be inaugurated.
Free entrance.
The event is organized under the auspices of the Limassol Municipality and the Rialto Theatre, with the kind support of the Limassol Cooperative Savings Bank.

Wednesday - March 2

6.30p.m. Theomaria Art Gallery
(7, Vasilissis Karlottas & Elenis Paleologinas str.)
The Theomaria Art Gallery organizes for the 8th consecutive year the carnival mask exhibition by Vera Efthimiou Parlalidou. Workshops on how to create and decorate ceramic and paper masks will be held from the 2nd to the 12th of March.

7.30p.m. Art Studio 55
(23Α Andrea Drousioti, Heroes’ Square)
The Limassol Municipality and the Ikepana Group co-organise an exhibition titled “A different carnival perspective” from the 2nd to the 10th of March. The Limassol Serenaders will participate.
Opening Hours: 9.30 a.m. – 1.00p.m./ 3.00 p.m. – 7.00 p.m.

The Mayor of Limassol Mr. Andreas Christou will inaugurate the exhibitions.

Thursday - March 3

11.00a.m.
Carnival fiestas in front of the Limassol Cooperative Savings Bank (Gladstonos street), the Hellenic Bank (Gladstonos street) and the Bank of Cyprus (Ayiou Andreou street).

12.00 (noon)
The Limassol Serenaders will be singing at Saripolou Square.

5.30p.m. Town Hall
The Limassol Municipality and the Limassol Union of Self-Educated Painter co-organise an exhibition titled “Carnival 2014”. The Choir of the Kato Polemidia Municipality will participate.

Following the inauguration of the exhibition, the Mayor and the Municipal Council, accompanied by the Limassol Municipality Brass Band and the Limassol Majorettes will parade through the streets up to the Grigoris Afxentiou square.

5.30p.m. Grigori Afxentiou Square
Grigori Agxentiou Square (in front of the District Office) comes alive and lures us into the Carnival rhythms with the Batukinio band, the Brazilian signer Hasley Clouberg and his band.

A 5-member group of the St Petersburg Circus will give a special touch to the whole evening. A clown, a juggler, a unicycle rider and others will amaze you with their skills.

7.00p.m.
The Queen of the Carnival, “Limassol, the diamond of the Mediterranean” will enter the city accompanied by her entourage. The Queen will be surrounded by the Mayor and the members of the Municipal Council, the royal family, groups of Serenaders, the Limassol Municipality Brass Band, the Limassol Majorettes of the Cyprus Girl Guides Association, the Batukinio percussion instruments group and the Limassol Majorettes.

The parade will set off from Grigoris Afxentiou Square (in front of the District Office Building) and will pass through the following streets: Anexartisias, Ayiou Andreou, Karaiskaki (Municipal Library), Stasinou and Andrea Drousioti streets and terminate at the Heroe’s square, where a party will take place to the sounds of the music group Los Carnavalos.

Friday - March 4

8.00p.m. Children’s Choirs - Rialto Theatre
Evening of serenades and carnival songs by the Children and Chamber Choir of Papadakion Municipal School of Music, the Music Workshop and the Piccolo of Epilogi, the “Melodies kai Chromata” Children’s Choir and the Armonia Choir.
Entrance: €5

Saturday - March 5

10.30a.m.
The Municipality’s children’s train (donation of the Limassol Co-operative Savings Bank) will be touring around the city. The first tour will take place at 10.30 a.m. with the Epilogi Piccolo and Workshop Choir singing carnival songs. Other tours will follow.
Starting point: Limassol Co-operative Savings Bank (Gladstonos Street).

In the inner courtyard of the Limassol Cooperative Savings Bank, the Municipality of Limassol will be operating a workshop on confetti eggs made of wax as well as a crazy mask workshop.

11.00a.m. – 2.00p.m. Grigoris Afxentiou Square
(in front of the District Office Building)
The Limassol Municipality and the radio station Choice FM 104.3 co-organize a treasure hunt for the 8th consecutive year (for information and participation please call 25-820820 or at www.choicefm.com.cy).

3.00p.m. The Limassol Cycling Club will cycle in a carnival mood around the city.
Starting and Ending Point: Medieval Castle Square.

6.00p.m. Serenaders’ Event at Hellenic Bank
(52, Gladstonos str.)
The Hellenic Bank and the Limassol Serenaders, co-organize a festivity with old serenades and carnival songs with the participation of the EDON Serenaders, the Moderni Keri Choir, the Ariones Choir and the Limassol Serenaders.
Free drinks will be offered.

7:30 p.m. Studio 8 School of Art & Design
(22, Panou Solomonide str.)
Studio 8 School of Art & Design and the Limassol Municipality invite everyone to join the event “The Carnival Floats Builders and their contribution to the Cultural History of Limassol”. The event will be preceded by Mr. Mimis Sophocleous, Academic and Scientific Director of the Limassol Historical Archive and the Mayor of Limassol, Mr. Andreas Christou, who will commence the opening of the exhibition.

Visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy a photography exhibition of carnival chariots and Studio 8 students’ creations accompanied by carnival serenades. During the event, three distinguished fellow citizens will be honoured for their contribution to the Limassol Carnival.

Sunday - March 6
11.30a.m. Children’s Carnival Parade with the participation of a 5-member group of the St Petersburg Circus.
Starting Point: Sea front road (opposite Citizen Service Centre - close to the old port round about).
Ending: Municipal Garden (south entrance)

6.00p.m. Serenaders’ Event in front of the Perama Music Stage
Songs by the Georgalletos Serenaders. The event is dedicated to the memory of the founder of the group Giorgos Georgalletos.

Monday - March 7
Serenaders at the Limassol neighbourhoods and quarters:

7.30p.m. The Giorgalletos Serenaders will be singing at Ayia Fyla quarter.
7.30p.m. The Cypriot Serenaders will be singing at Kapsalos quarter.

Tuesday - March 8
Serenaders at the Limassol neighbourhoods and quarters:

7.30p.m. The Ariones choir will be singing at Zakaki quarter.
7.30p.m. The Monterni Keri Choir will be singing at the quarters of Apostolos Andreas and Ayios Ioannis.
7.30p.m. The Edon Serenaders will be singing at Ayios Nicolaos quarter.

8.00p.m. “Pellomaska” Parade
The Limassol Municipality in collaboration with the “Lemesos” newspaper are inviting you to join the “Pellomaska” Parade (crazy costume parade).
Starting Point: Municipal Library
Ending Point: Medieval Castle Square

8.30p.m. Tuesday’s Carnival Fiesta at the Medieval Castle Square
People of all ages are invited by the Limassol Municipality to attend the event disguised and participate in a great carnival spree with music and dancing.
Free-style Carnival Costume Competition – Awards will be given to the best three participants.

Wednesday - March 9

7.30p.m. Limassol’s Tetrafonia
Trakasol Cultural Centre
(Limassol Marina)
Carnival songs and serenades by the Limassol’s Tetrafonia (Four Voice Men’s Choir).
The event is held with the kind support of the Trakasol Cultural Centre.

8.30p.m. University Square (CUT)
The Limassol Municipality in collaboration with the radio stations Klik Fm and Choice Fm co-organize for the 3rd consecutive year the carnival Big Street Party.

Thursday - March 10

7.30p.m. Evening Carnival Parade
Starting Point: Grigori Afxentiou Square (In front of the District Office Building).
Ending Point: Medieval Castle Square
The Limassol Municipality in collaboration with the association “Friends of Limassol’s Carnival” and the “Lemesos” newspaper co-organize an Evening Carnival Parade.

8.30p.m. Carnival Ball at Medieval Castle Square
The Dreams Choir and Elena Solea along with their orchestra invite you to sing and dance to the rhythms of popular carnival songs, followed by a DJ programme.
Free-style Carnival Costume Competition. Awards will be given to the best three participants.

Friday - March 11

7.00p.m. Limassol Marina Square
The Limassol Municipality in collaboration with the Limassol Marina organize a Serenaders’ evening with the participation of the Modernoi Keri Choir, the Limassol Serenaders, the Ariones Choir, the Cypriot Senenaders, the EDON Serenaders, the Choir of the Cultural Association of EAC Employees and the Yialloura Choir.
Route: Irinis street (in front of the Monterni Keri Cultural Group) – Medieval Castle Square – Limassol Marina Square

Saturday - March 12

10.30a.m.
The Municipality’s children’s train (donation of the Limassol Co-operative Savings Bank) will be touring around the city. On the first tour at 10.30a.m. the Epilogi Piccolo and Workshop Choir will be on board the train singing carnival songs. Other tours will follow.
Starting point: Limassol Co-operative Savings Bank (Gladstonos Street).

3.00p.m.
The Limassol Classic Cars Club will drive around the city in a carnival mood.
Starting point: Enaerios Parking Place.
Ending point: Grigori Afxentiou Square (In front of the District Office Building).

6.30p.m. Serenaders’ Parade
Groups of Serenaders will gather at 6.00p.m. in front of the Town Hall. At 6.30p.m. they will start serenading, ending at the Grigori Afxentiou Square (In front of the District Office Building).

From 5.00p.m. onwards the Georgia Protopapa’s Vocal Ensemble, the choir “Mousikes Periplanisis” and the Emmelia Choir will be singing at Grigori Afxentiou Square.
The Limassol Municipality invites you to sing and dance along with the Serenaders.
Free wine will be offered.

Sunday - March 13

Grand Carnival Parade

Archbishop Makarios III Avenue
Starting Point: Ayios Nikolaos Round About
Ending Point: Simillides Traffic Lights

1.00p.m. The parade will begin with the Serenaders, the Limassol Majorettes of the Cyprus Girl Guides Association, the Batukinio percussion instruments group, the Limassol Majorettes, and the Limassol Municipality Brass Band.

1.15p.m. The Parade will be led by the Queen of the Carnival with title “Limassol, the diamond of the Mediterranean”, accompanied by a sea of floats and pedestrians.
During the parade, former carnivalists will be honoured by the Limassol Municipality for their contribution to the Limassol Carnival.

9.00p.m. Farewell Carnival Fiesta – Enaerios Parking Place
The Carnival will end with a Carnival Party at the Enaerios parking place.
Free style Carnival Costume Competition – Awards will be given to the best three participants.

The programme is subject to unexpected changes.
For information: Cultural Services, Limassol Municipality
Tel. 25 342153 or 25 745919