Ochi Day in Larnaca: Parade, Closures and a Plan for the Day

What Ochi Day commemorates

Early on 28 October 1940, Italy delivered an ultimatum to Greece demanding that Axis troops be allowed to enter Greek territory. Prime Minister Ioannis Metaxas refused. That refusal, remembered in one word, Ochi ("No"), brought Greece into the Second World War. It is commemorated every year on 28 October in Greece, Cyprus and Greek communities abroad.

In Cyprus the official name is the National Anniversary of 28 October 1940. Larnaca Municipality uses the Greek title Εθνική Επέτειος 28ης Οκτωβρίου 1940. In English you will see "Ochi Day", "Ohi Day", "Oxi Day" or "Anniversary of the No".

Not Independence Day

Some listings call 28 October "Independence Day", which is wrong. Cyprus Independence Day falls on 1 October, earlier this month. Ochi Day comes weeks later. They are separate public holidays and they commemorate different things, so do not mix them up if you are booking leave or checking a calendar.

How Larnaca marks the day

Ochi Day is a holiday of flags, wreaths and marching. In Larnaca the main events are a church service and a parade, both open to the public.

The doxology

The day opens with a formal thanksgiving service, the Πανηγυρική Δοξολογία. Larnaca Municipality's anniversary page describes this service at Agia Paraskevi church in the Livadia area, attended by local officials. The venue and time for 2026 are not yet confirmed. Ceremonies like this usually include speeches and a wreath-laying.

The parade

The parade is the event most visitors come to see. Schoolchildren march in uniform alongside veterans and other groups, often carrying Greek and Cypriot flags. Larnaca and the other towns each hold their own parade.

The route has varied between years, and the 2026 route has not been announced, so check the municipality's notice before choosing a spot. Spectators usually line the pavements along the route, so arrive early if you want a spot near the front.

The municipality has published traffic arrangements ahead of past parades, including in 2022. Expect some road closures around the route on the morning, and check the municipality's notice for details. Plan to walk in, or park well back from the centre.

A few courtesies

• This is a commemoration, not a carnival. Applause for the marching groups is welcome, but stand quietly during the national anthem and the wreath-laying.
• Many families come to watch a child march. Leave room at the barriers for parents with cameras.
• Bring a hat and water. Late-October mornings on the seafront can still be warm and sunny.

What closes on 28 October

Ochi Day is expected to be a public holiday across Cyprus, and the town should run on a holiday footing:

• Usually closed: schools, government offices and banks.
• Mostly closed: most businesses and offices, and many shops.
• Likely open: cafés, restaurants and kiosks along Finikoudes and in the centre, which tend to do good trade on parade morning.

Opening hours for supermarkets, malls, pharmacies, buses and attractions are not confirmed for 2026. Do your banking and any paperwork before the holiday, and stock up on essentials on Tuesday 27 October if your plans depend on a particular shop. If you need medicine, look up which pharmacies are on holiday duty that day.

A plan for the day

In 2026, 28 October falls on a Wednesday, so it is a midweek holiday rather than a long weekend. If you want five days off in a row, you would need to book Thursday 29 and Friday 30 October as leave yourself. Nothing official extends the holiday.

A single free day still works well in Larnaca, because the parade and the town's best walks are all close together.

Morning: parade and coffee on the front

Find a spot along the parade route once it is announced. Once the last group has passed and the road reopens, take a table at one of the seafront cafés. Order a Cypriot coffee or a frappé and watch the families drift off in their best clothes.

Midday: the marina and the old town

Walk north along the front to Larnaca Marina, which opened to the public on Ochi Day in 2022, for a look at the boats. Then turn inland to the Church of Agios Lazaros, the stone church at the heart of the old town. The streets around it are good for a slow lunch of meze or souvlaki.

Afternoon: the Salt Lake or the beach

For something quieter, head to the Larnaca Salt Lake and walk the path to Hala Sultan Tekke, the mosque on the lake's western shore. Flamingos start returning to the lake in autumn, though numbers vary from year to year.

If you would rather swim, the sea is usually still warm enough in late October. Mackenzie Beach, south of the centre near the airport, is a relaxed place to spend the afternoon.

Evening

Finish with dinner back in town or at Mackenzie. Restaurants that open on holidays fill up fast, especially with local families, so book ahead.

Before you go

As of today, Larnaca has not published its 2026 parade route, start time, doxology time or road closures. These details normally appear on the Larnaca Municipality website and in local news a few days beforehand. Opening hours for shops, attractions and buses on the day are not confirmed either. Check before you go.