If tourists from around the world can relate to one greatest factor about Cyprus, it is partying. Cypriots love to party and invite the whole world to their backyard to join them. This is pretty much evident by the number of festivals held here, which run all year long one after the other. If you want to catch them all, you really need to drop your anchor by a Cypriot port and simply forget about lifting it.
Spring Festivals
The Carnival
The Limassol Carnival is one of the most celebrated festivals of the culture. The 11 day long festival is held in late February and early March. Deep rooted in ancient pagan traditions, marked by the Grand Carnival Parade, which honors the Carnival King the first day, and masquerade as a part of the celebrations, probably reflective of the Venetian rule of the city.
Lent Monday
Green Monday or the Kathara Deftara immediately follows the Carnival and involves large and lavish family feasts. The Lent celebrations last for 50 days, till the midnight before the Easter Day. The festival is marked by countryside picnics and kite flying competitions.
Musical Sundays
Musical Sundays are held on Sundays from January all the way to April. These events feature contemporary and classical music and dance and are held in various venues such as Larnaca Seafront Stage, Limassol, Onisilos Seaside Theater and Paphos Archeological Park entrance.
Cyprus Film Days
Film festivals featuring Indie films are held in various venues such as Nicosia & Cine Studio in Nicosia and Rialto Theater in Limassol.
Cyprus Fashion Week
Cyprus Fashion Week is held in late March at the Famagusta Gate in Nicosia. The shows often features top designers in the world, including local labels.
Cyprus Rally
Probably the biggest sporting event in Cyprus, the auto rally is held in various locations in mid March.
Easter
Witness the unique Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations in Cyprus featuring Good Friday evening processions and midnight mass on Easter Sunday.
Anthestiria Flower Festival
The flower festival is held in mid to late May in Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos and is marked by elaborate flower exhibitions and flower markets. The festival also features a vivid flower parade.
Summer Festivals
European Dance Festival
A contemporary dance competition featuring troupes from several European countries are held in late May to early June in Rialto Theater, Limassol.
Pharos International Chamber Musical Festival
This festival is held in late May to early June featuring chamber concerts, lectures and recitals. It is held in locations such as Nicosia and Royal Manor House, Koukilia and Paphos.
Pentecost or Katakalysmos
The Greek Orthodox festival of Katakalysmos or the Flood Festival is celebrated in June throughout the country in the most vivid fashion marked by waterfights, boating and swimming competitions.
June Shakespeare Festival
The theater festival is held in Kourion Amphitheater in mid June. The theater features classic theater performances for charity organized by the Performing Arts for Cyprus Charities.
Feast of St. Paul
The city of Paphos holds the procession for the feast of St. Paul on June 28 to June 29. The procession prominently features the icon symbolizing St. Paul.
Morphou or Guzelyurt Orange Festival
The town of Morphou or Guzelyurt in Northern Cyprus is known for its orange harvest festival. The festival is held in late June to early July and is marked by musical concerts, dancing and fairs.
Larnaca Summer Festival
Larnaca summer festival of dance, music and theater is held in early July in Larnaca. The Larnaca Fort and the Pattichion Amphitheater are particularly the center of activities in the festival that mainly showcases musicals
Limassol Beer Festival
The beer festival is held in the Molos district of the old town of Limassol in July. The three day festival is marked by the variety of beer available from all over the world, live music and festivities.
International Festival of Ancient Greek Drama
Theatrical performances based on ancient Greek epics are held in the Ancient Kourion Amphitheater in Limassol, apart from other venues such as Makarios III Amphitheater in Lekosia and Paphos. The festival is held in mid July to August.
Commandaria Festival
The festival of the local dessert wine Commandaria is celebrated in several villages in late July where wineries are based including Agios Georgios, Doros, Monagri, Laneia and Silikou.
Limassol International Documentary Festival
If you are into documentaries, then this festival is not an event you can afford to miss. Held in late August in Limassol, it showcases various modern and creative documentaries while also holding a workshop.
Village Festivals
Various festivals are held in August in villages such as Lefkara and Omodos where fairs are held displaying the local handicrafts, artwork, embroidery, jewelry and produce.
Fall Festivals
Limassol Wine Festival
In late August and early September, the Limassol Wine Festival enlivens the centuries old Dionysian traditions of the islands, though it only started in 1961. Lasting for 12 days, it is a rich amalgamation of food, wine, theater, music and other festivities.
Paphos Aphrodite Festival
Being the birthplace of Aphrodite, this spectacular open-air opera festival is held for three days in the honor of the goddess in Paphos. It is held in late August and early September.
Zeytinlik Olive Festival
This festival celebrates the local olive harvest and is held in September. The festival held in the village of Zeytinlik which is located at a distance of 1 km from the city of Kyrenia in Northern Cyprus.
Kypria
Kypria festival promotes local arts and culture established by the Ministry of Culture in 1991 and is held throughout the country. The festival is held in late September to early October.
Agia Napa Cultural Winter
With some relevance to the perpetual festive air at Agia Napa, the cultural winter events starting from November involve dance and music every Thursday and Friday and last till March.
Greek Orthodox Christmas
Christmas is celebrated on December 25, but the celebrations are not half as commercialized as they are in Western Europe and America.
Musical Sundays
Musical Sundays are held on Sundays from January all the way to April. These events feature contemporary and classical music and dance and are held in various venues such as Larnaca Seafront Stage, Limassol, Onisilos Seaside Theater and Paphos Archeological Park entrance.
Epiphany
Greek Orthodox Epiphany celebrations are held on January 6 throughout the country marking the baptism of Christ. It involves water blessings to ward off evil spirits and Blessing of the Sea in which a cross is hurled into the sea and men dive to recover it.
