Carnival Festivities Kick Off in Paphos

The Paphiopedilum Carnival celebrations will begin in Paphos on Thursday, February 20, marking the annual Tsiknopempti festivities.

According to the Paphos Municipality, the event will start at 11:00 AM with a traditional gathering at the Pervolas municipal parking lot.

At 5:00 PM, the Carnival King will make his grand entrance, leading a festive parade from Griva Digeni Avenue at the intersection with Byron Street to Kennedy Square, where the celebrations will continue with music, drinks, and traditional delicacies.

This year’s Carnival King is themed "The King of Divers and Afro-Divers."

The parade will feature performances by the Paphos Philharmonic Orchestra, dancers from the Jake Athanasiades Dance School, and cheerleaders from the Konstantina Chatzifitcheou Dance Academy.

A special highlight of this year’s festivities is the grand opening of "Faikis Bakery," now operating under the Paphos Municipality. On its opening day, students from the Culinary Arts Department of the Cyprus University of Technology will be baking and distributing fresh, warm bread to attendees.

Traffic Disruptions Expected

Authorities have announced that on Thursday, February 20, major roads in Paphos and Limassol will be temporarily closed due to Tsiknopempti celebrations and 2025 Carnival events.

What is Tsiknopempti?

Tsiknopempti (Τσικνοπέμπτη) is a beloved Greek tradition celebrated on the Thursday before Lent, often called "Smoky Thursday" or "Meat Thursday" due to the custom of grilling and feasting on meat. It’s a day of festivities, costumes, and indulgence, marking the height of the pre-Lenten Carnival season.

Meanwhile, the Limassol Municipality has announced that all Limassol Carnival events scheduled for Saturday, February 22, have been postponed due to the funeral of a family of five who tragically lost their lives in a fire last weekend.