Revelers take part in traditional “Tskinopempti” (Smoky Thursday) celebrations in the northern port city of Thessaloniki.
CARNIVAL
A man grills meat to be distributed to revellers, in front of city’s main meat market, during the celebrations of Tsiknopempti or “Smoky Thursday,” dedicated to grilling of meat, part of the Greek Carnival season in Athens, Thursday.
The opening ceremony of the Patra Carnival, or Patrino karnavali, which is the largest event of its kind in Greece, takes place this Saturday in the western port city’s central Georgiou Square.
Over 600 revelers had to receive medical treatment in the western port city Patra over the three-day Carnival weekend as a result of excessive alcohol consumption, regional health authorities reported on Tuesday.
Hotels at various popular destinations around Greece are reporting occupancy rates close to 100 percent for Carnival long weekend (February 25-27), particularly in areas with popular street parades such as Patras and Rethymno.
The carnival street parade, the main event of the annual Patra Carnival, which takes place in the runup to Orthodox Lent, will be held for the first time after three years, the local mayor announced.
Funky local music collective the Burger Project injects some Carnival fun into this year’s bleak festive season with a special show for the entire family on Saturday, March 13.
A joint ministerial decision states that those who fail to comply with a government decision to ban Carnival festivities as part of a broader drive to avert the spread of the coronavirus could face a two-year prison sentence. The decision, signed by Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias, Citizens’ Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis and Interior Minister Takis Theodorikakos, was issued after several groups in the western port of Patra, the traditional hub of the country’s Carnival festivities, issued announcements saying they would continue with planned events.
Greece reported two new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to three, and said it would suspend all carnival celebrations in the country.
Carnaval La Land, a special event featuring musical theater, flash mobs, Afro-Brazilian percussion, samba, tango and many more surprises, will be happening in Syntagma Square on Friday, February 28.
The Hellenic Children’s Museum will be hosting a workshop on carnival masks for youngsters aged 3-12 and their families on Wednesday, February 26, in the context of a series of events organized by the City of Athens dedicated to Greek Carnival celebrations.
The Athens Wind Orchestra will be performing a free open-air concert in Monastiraki Square in downtown Athens on Tuesday, February 25, in the context of the city’s Carnival celebrations dedicated to youngsters.
Cafe Aman Istanbul musicians and singers Stelios Berberis and Pelin Suer return to Athens with the famous Baklahorani, the Carnival celebrated by the Greek community in Istanbul with bawdy masked parades that ended up in the famous district of Tatavla.
The City of Athens Philharmonic Orchestra performs outside the Zappeion Megaron building in the National Gardens on Saturday as the capital kicks into Carnival gear. As of last week, Athens is hosting more 60 festive open-air events for everyone, young and old, around the city until March 2 when the Carnival season peaks on Clean Monday. Events include concerts, parades, revivals of traditional Athenian Carnival customs, treasure hunts, and lots of singing and dancing. [Technopolis/ANA-MPA]
Kids aged 3 to 12 are invited to put on their Carnival costumes and join the games, creative activities and educational events that are being organized by the City of Athens at Zappeion.
The Athens district of Mets is holding its fifth annual Carnival party and parade, organized by the Arditros cultural center and the area's elementary school PTA.
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