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Greece’s largest carnival opens on St Anthony’s Day and builds for weeks — balls, a city-wide treasure hunt, a night parade — to a Sunday procession of satirical floats and tens of thousands of costumed revellers, ending with the burning of the Carnival King in the harbour.
A town-wide game
The Patras Carnival, first held in 1829, is the largest event of its kind in Greece; in 2019 there were about 750,000 participants. It is not a single event but a season of balls, parades, a treasure hunt and a children’s carnival, and its spirit is one of spontaneity, improvisation and volunteering.
On 17 January a town crier — in recent years a float with music — announces the opening with a satirical message, and in the evening the mayor declares the carnival open from the balcony of the Apollon Theatre, with pantomime, dance, music and fireworks. Carnival groups of friends, colleagues or neighbours, from fifty to several hundred people each with its own name and costume theme, then compete in the treasure hunt: questions on history, philosophy and maths, clues hidden around the city, painting and theatre contests.
The last weekend
On Saturday evening comes the night parade on foot. The Grand Parade begins around noon on Sunday: satirical floats built by the municipality, followed by an endless stream of groups — 35,000 to 40,000 people in recent years — watched from the streets, balconies and stands and on national television. That night the carnival ends at the port with the burning of the Carnival King’s float, concerts and fireworks.
Quando acontece
The carnival opens on 17 January, St Anthony’s Day, whatever the date of Easter. It reaches its climax on the last weekend before Clean Monday, which follows Orthodox Easter, so the Grand Parade falls between mid-February and late March.
- 17 de janeiro de 2027Opening, St Anthony’s DayCalculada
- 14 de março de 2027Grand Parade and closing ceremonyCalculada
- 17 de janeiro de 2028Opening, St Anthony’s DayCalculada
- 27 de fevereiro de 2028Grand Parade and closing ceremonyCalculada
- 17 de janeiro de 2029Opening, St Anthony’s DayCalculada
- 18 de fevereiro de 2029Grand Parade and closing ceremonyCalculada
- 17 de janeiro de 2030Opening, St Anthony’s DayCalculada
- 10 de março de 2030Grand Parade and closing ceremonyCalculada
Visitar com respeito
Segurança
- Crowds are huge on the final weekend. Keep valuables secure.
- Greek police arrest people for rowdy or indecent behaviour, especially when heavy drinking is involved, and some fancy-dress costumes may be considered offensive under decency laws.
Fontes
Esta entrada foi escrita a partir das fontes seguintes.
- Patras CarnivalWikipedia · consultado em 17 de setembro de 2026
- List of dates for EasterWikipedia · consultado em 17 de setembro de 2026
- Greece travel advice: safety and securityUK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office · consultado em 17 de setembro de 2026
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