Larnaca, Cyprus » Entertainment » Festivals

In July (annual)

Every summer Cypriots celebrate a festival of music and performing arts. This annual festival provides outdoor, indoor concerts and a feast of entertainment at various town venues throughout the festival days in July. The festival serves up the performances of dance, theatre and music, film screenings and poetry by national and international talent.

In May (annual)

The Anthestiria festival is a celebration for the coming of spring and nature's rebirth in connection with Ancient Greece. The festival is commenced by a parade of floats and people carrying beautiful, fresh flowers to the seafront. During this period, a visit to Troödos Mountains is an awesome experience as the hillsides gets overflowing with beautiful plants and flowers.

In April (annual)

This festival takes place eight days before the Greek Orthodox celebration of Easter. The feast day of the patron saint, St Lazarus is celebrated with a lively procession by Cypriots. The icon of Saint Lazarus that is normally kept in the Church of St Lazarus is taken in procession through the streets.

The flood festival takes place every year in June. Also known as Kataklysmos, this festival is celebrated 50 days after the Orthodox Easter on the day that is known as the day of the Holy Spirit. The traditions have biblical roots with references to the great flood and link to Greek mythology. Celebrations are connected with the ancient ceremonies organized in honor of Aphrodite and Adonis.

As the name suggests, water is the main focus of the festival. During the festival period, the people of Cyprus gather at the coast to mark the Christian feast of the Pentecost with religious ceremonies, concerts, boat races, swimming competitions and water-throwing activities to symbolize the purification of the body and soul.

In January (annual)

This festival is one of the major Greek Orthodox religious celebrations of the year. Also famous as the feast of light, it is celebrated in seaside towns of Cyprus. During this period, people gather at the Cathedral and a religious procession takes place down towards the sea, leading to a ceremonial baptism of the Holy Cross.

In August (annual)

During the whole August month, most of the villages in Cyprus celebrate their own summer festival with live music, traditional dancing and plenty of food and wine. This month is the best time to visit southern part of Cyprus.

In March (annual)

The carnival takes place before the 50 days of Easter and celebrated throughout the country with impressive parades, fancy dress parties and a main focus on food. This two-week period of celebrations includes the first week with plenty of Meat (famous as Kreatini) and the second with plenty of cheese (popular as Tyrini).

In March (annual)

The beginning of Lent is marked by the festival, Green Monday. It is celebrated in all towns and villages of Cyprus with plenty of music, dancing and delicious vegetarian food. On this day, Cypriots gather for an outdoor vegetarian meal of bread, vegetables and olives at the start of this Orthodox festival of fasting and contemplation.