Patras Carnival

The Patras Carnival

History of Patras Carnival

The opening ceremony of the Patras Carnival is planned every year for the first Saturday after Agios Antonios on the 17th of January. The closing ceremony is on the evening of the Sunday before Clean Monday, 50days before orthodox Easter Sunday. It is the largest and oldest carnival event in Greece, with the first carnival dance being recorded in 1829 at the house of the merchant from Patras, Moretis. A mix of traditional customs, influences from Italy and the Ionian Islands and cultural elements added afterwards, compose a set of events with dances, parades, theatrical plays, musicals and dances, parties, exhibitions, games, hidden treasure hunts flood the city in throughout this festive season. Thousands of visitors, friends and carnival participants from Patras participate in events organized by the municipality and other cultural or artistic organizations and at the same time become creators in improvised and spontaneous events.

The parades

The event reaches the top performance during the last two days of the season where two parades take place, on Saturday afternoon and on Sunday late morning, while on the same night the cremation ceremony of the King Carnival takes place at the Pier of Agiou Nikolaou st. with impressive fireworks, a big concert and a long lasting night party. The core of the parades are the carnival crews or groups that participate with carnival costumes inspired by current events and every day life influenced by artistic satire and comedy. Also impressive are the chariots of the Municipality that lead the parade on Sunday dominated by the King Carnival but also many groups where with their own responsibility and expenses create constructions and chariots of high aesthetics.

Children Carnival

Equally impressive is the participation of the people in the Carnival of the little ones, one week before Sunday of the main events with a large parade of children with their companions from kindergartens, schools, organizations, etc.

Game of Hidden Treasure

The Hidden Treasure is a game-activity that keeps alive the pulse and the interest of the groups throughout the period from the day of the start until the Sunday of the Children Parade. A set of games with puzzles, constructions, runs, control, mind games etc which take place throughout the city, always taking care to cause excitement and convey the atmosphere and mood of the carnival to participants, spectators and passers-by.

Tsiknopempti

Tsiknopempti is officially part of the Carnival. As in all of Greece, it is the penultimate Thursday before the Carnival Weekend where due to religious custom it is the last day of meat-eating. The barbecues are lit from 11.00 in the morning and the whole city eats, drinks and moves in festive rhythms until early in the afternoon. During the day planeed Carnivan actions take place which entice participants until late at night to dance and have fun in squares, street, bars, cafes etc.

Bourboulia

Bourboulia is a unique event without an exact past start date. It is a dance where women have free entry as long they wear the well-known “domino” a wide black loose dress and mask that will hide her identity with the ultimate goal of having the free choice of knight. Music, dance, drink and mystery are the characteristics of this dance / custom with many years of presence in the events of Patras Carnival.

Communication

The events of the Patras Carnival are organized by the Public Benefit Enterprise of the Municipality of Patras Carnival of Patras together with all the participants with a private initiative and collective participation.