Newsroom
If your group chat has already settled on a Carnival theme, here’s the date to put in the calendar. Limassol Municipality will start taking applications for the 2027 Carnival Grand Parade on Tuesday, Nov. 17, for groups entering a float or joining on foot.
The first day is reserved for entrants who took part in the 2026 parade and followed all the rules. First-time entrants can apply from Wednesday, Nov. 18, along with returning participants who broke the rules last time.
There’s one detail worth sharing before anyone orders matching outfits. The municipality says a pair of gym shorts and a plain top won’t pass as a costume, whether your group is going with a sports theme or something else.
How to sign up
- Where: Fill out the entry form in person at the municipal Cultural Services offices, 253 Agiou Andreou Street, Limassol.
- When: Applications are accepted from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., with an earlier cutoff of 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 18, the final day.
- Questions: Call 25 745919 for details. The municipality accepts applications in person only.
What makes Limassol’s Carnival its own
Carnival celebrations in Cyprus go back to medieval times, but Limassol’s took off in the late 1800s, in the early years of British rule. Over time, the celebrations became part of the city’s identity and a family tradition passed down through generations. Cyprus added the Limassol Carnival to its national list of intangible cultural heritage in 2015.
The Grand Parade may draw the crowds, but some of the most distinctive traditions are simpler. Serenaders sing to guitars and mandolins, satire is part of the fun, and there’s even a name for the improvised disguises known as pellomaskes. The idea is to make people laugh while keeping them guessing who’s behind the costume.
