Limassol’s annual carnival is of grand significance for many reasons. Happening 50 days before Greek Orthodox Easter, it indicates the arrival of spring, more holidays and it honours traditions that are decades-old. Plus, it’s a time when you can go completely bonkers and dress up as anything you want!
Sunday’s parade is the show-stopper every year and I’m sure I’m not the only one who grew up travelling to Limassol each year to watch it. In 2018 I decided to be more than an observer and actually be part of the party, so I joined a group with my friends and went for it!
Being in the heart of the carnival fever, or rather being the carnival fever was a fantastic experience and I can’t recommend it enough. Dressing up as a rubric’s cube, getting my face painted and hair drowned in confetti while we danced down the avenue was kind of ecstatic (even though we were one of the last groups and the crowds were basically gone).
Now that I’ve personally experienced it, I want to help others who might be thinking of joining the carnival with a few tips and things to consider. I am by no means an expert on the matter but I’ve done a bit of research, so if you want some first-hand knowledge, keep on reading.
Before the parade
Joining a team
This is the most obvious and crucial part of your carnival experience. Limassol Municipality publishes the list with all of the available groups on their website, some time after the Christmas holidays. This might seem early but popular groups fill up in 48 hours. Generally, it’s advisable to select a team in January to make sure you have a spot. You can go through the list to check out each team and do some further research before selecting.
Look for the teams you’re interested in on social media to get a feeling of their vibe and ask how large the groups are. From what I’ve been told and from what I understood from my participation last year, big groups that exceed 150-200 participants get a sort of penalty and march last in the parade. This means that although you might meet up sometime after noon, you might only set off around 5pm with most of the crowd having left. So, it’s best to go for a medium-sized group.
It might be hard to judge this so if you can find an experience carnival-goer, go with them. My trusted carnival guide is a Limassolian friend who’s been in the parade since her teeny-weeny years, so I trust her tips fully (she helped create this post).
Pick your crowd
It’s needless to say that it’s more fun to go with friends instead of joining a team alone. Sure, the day’s buzzing vibe will get you going, yet nothing beats great company. No matter of the team you join.
Another thing to consider when selecting a team is the costume. Pick out what looks best for you and how comfortable it will be if you’re dancing, drinking and taking bathroom breaks.
Booking accommodation
Do this as early as you can! AirBnB, Booking.com or just about any other hotel in central Limassol fills up very quickly during this season. To avoid being charged sky-high prices, book a place the earliest you can, even right now as you’re reading this. It’s best to select a location in or near the old town to avoid using the car during those days as traffic and parking are horrendous. I’ll explore that point further down, hang tight.
Once you’ve joined a team
Teams work in many ways but usually, they will let you know where to get your costume from. Some shops in your town might collaborate with the team and you’ll be asked to go in and try the size that fits you best so they can order it. At a later date you’ll pick up your costume and pay for participation. The cost can vary from team to team but usually is between 40 euros to 70 euros.
ON THE DAY
Parking
Let’s get this out of the way now. You won’t find parking near to where you want to be. Just accept it. Many roads are closed and millions of people are also heading to where you’re going.
Your best option is to leave your car somewhere and just walk. If you’ve booked a place near the old town, you’ll be relatively close. Chances are you’ll probably drink that day too, so for everyone’s safety don’t take the wheel and just walk or call a taxi.
You’ll also have less chances of forgetting where you parked and walk around in circles for ages. That, uh, may or may not have happened to me…
Meeting your team
Each group has different traditions. Some meet at tavernas before the parade starts to mingle, have a bite and get in the mood. Others simply gather at the meet-up location with the rest of the team where another party is happening. DJs, drinks and confetti are the usual suspects!
Bring water
Okay, this is optional and whether you plan on drinking or not, it’s always a good idea to carry a small water bottle with you. The weather is unpredictable as the carnival happens on different dates each year so it’s unclear whether it will be boiling hot or chilly. Check the weather closer to the date but a bottle of water is good on any occasion.
Timeline
Your team will tell you what time to meet up and where (usually at Enario Parking Lot) depending on their number and start time. Most teams gather between 12 and 2. The parade usually starts at 1 but can go on until 7 or 8pm. The group I was part of last year was one of the last to set off. We began around 5-6pm and until 7pm we were still marching.
But you don’t want that, because most people leave by then, it’s dark and the atmosphere isn’t as fun. That’s why it’s better if your group’s number is smaller. Chances are you won’t know your position until the day of, but the group’s size plays a big role, so ask in advance to have a better idea.
The closing party at the Old Port
This is a must-do, according to my personal carnival guide. When we left the parade, truth is that I was exhausted so we went home for a break. I’m glad though my friend brought out the Limassolian in me (making my grandfather’s Limassol roots proud) because I decided to head to the closing party anyway.
Once there, all fatigue wore off and I was once again dancing and in total festive carnival mood. The Old Port transforms into an open-air club with lights, DJs blasting music and hundreds of dressed-up faces dancing around you. I have to say, dancing next to Rubik’s Cubes, Dali masks and any costume you can possibly think of is pretty hilarious and an awesome experience.
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If you’re want to experience the carnival, go to many of its phases, not just the parade. This is what urged me to head to the closing party, despite my aching muscles.
Book a place for the whole weekend or even longer as the vibe across town is buzzing days before the Sunday parade. Kantadoroi enchant the squares with their songs, children’s choir sing carnival songs, a classic car parade is on and every bar has its own carnival fiesta happening. The streets of Saripolou are oozing festive vibes as dozens of dressed-up friends bar hop. Why not do the same?
If there’s one thing I remember from my experience, is the happy and electrifying energy in the streets. There really is no other place to celebrate in true carnival fashion than Limassol.
If you’re an experienced carnivaleer (yes I just made that word up) and you’ve got any more tips, share them below in the comments!
USEFUL LINKS:
Find teams on this Facebook page and the line up on the Limassol Municipality website
