Carnival in Thessaloniki: Be part of the celebration!
If you want to experience a carnival ike no other , come to Thessaloniki! The celebration begins on Tsiknopempti. It’s an experience you must live.
The entire city parties under a cloud of smoke from outdoor grills that sprout in every neighborhood. People celebrate with all their heart!
It’s the Thursday of the second week of the Triodion, which this year falls on February 20, 2025.
The origin of this strange custom is lost in the depths of time. However, it seems to be connected to the Bacchic celebrations of the ancient Greeks and Romans, who regarded feasting and partying as a ritual for the good fertility of the earth in spring.
In recent years, this Greek custom has taken incredible proportions in Thessaloniki. Every year, more and more people organize parties in the areas where they work, starting early in the afternoon and continuing until the next dawn.
Don’t be surprised if you see large grills with souvlaki and meze in front of shops in the city center, with wine flowing abundantly and music pushing you to dance even if you don’t know the steps!
In this celebration, every visitor is warmly welcomed.
Like a domino effect, the joy spreads to every neighborhood in the city!
The Carnival Parade returns to Thessaloniki!
Thessaloniki has a tradition of celebrating Carnival… At the beginning of the 20th century, it was the largest event in the Balkans. From Tsiknopempti to Clean Monday, men and women in costumes would parade through the streets, and the city would be flooded with visitors from all over Northern Greece.
After many years, the parade returns to the city center on Sunday, February 23, 2025, and it looks like it will make a mark with the participation of both young and old masqueraders. This year’s main theme is “Disco.”
The clock of time turns back… a few decades, and Thessaloniki returns to the era when no one could resist the dance.
The highlight of the celebration is the carnival concert with Alexandra Sieti - Souled Out and the band “Mania the Abba tribute,” who will get the crowds moving.
Thessaloniki transforms into a colorful festival, with streets filled with music, dancing, and masqueraders.
It’s an opportunity to forget your worries and give in to the magic of the moment.
And after the party… the cleansing
Clean Monday falls on March 3, 2025, and for all Orthodox Christians, it marks the end of Carnival and the beginning of Lent. A period of fasting and spiritual reflection that will lead us to Holy Week and the Resurrection.
On Clean Monday, we are called to leave behind all sinful habits and indulgences, including non-Lenten foods, thus purifying both our soul and body.
The main symbols of this “purification” are the lagana, a type of unleavened bread, and the kite, which symbolizes the flight of the human soul toward the sky and God. In the past, people believed that the higher the kite flew, the more likely God would hear their prayers.
Once again, Thessaloniki residents and visitors will head to Seih Sou or choose the park of Nea Evlavia, the beach of Aretsou, the former Karatasiou camp, the Thermis Dam, or the Thessaloniki beach.
Small and large celebrations around cauldrons of steaming bean soup, plates filled with pickles, olives, tarama, and halva create the scene of Clean Monday, and the skies will be filled with kites.
Carnival in Thessaloniki: Be part of the celebration!
This Carnival, Thessaloniki invites you to a dance of joy and tradition! Give in to the magic of the city, where laughter and music flood every corner. Taste the unique local delicacies, dance until morning, and experience the authentic spirit of the carnival tradition. Come create unforgettable memories together, moments that will forever light up your heart. Thessaloniki awaits you with open arms, ready to give you a Carnival that will remain etched in your memory forever!
