Events in Cyprus

This two-week festival is often the highlight of the Cyprus calendar and many people look forward to this event. The first week is dedicated to food, with the emphasis being to eat as much meat and food as you can before Easter and the second week being dedicated to eating cheese. The festival also features music, art and performance as well, with the entrance of the King Carnival being a highlight event. Be sure to stick around to watch the Serenader’s Parade as well as the Grand Carnival Parade and all the majestic floats.

A four day festival dedicated to dancing is annually a huge event in Cyprus. There is just one rule: that all participants dance in the Cyprus Salsa Congress that takes place at the Grecian Park Hotel in Ayia Napa. If you are new to this dance style fear not. There are plenty of workshops and demonstrations on hand to make sure that you are not left behind or that you can touch up on your technique if that’s the case. The festival can guarantee that fun will be had by all in this annual dance off!

Normally shunned upon, skateboarding, graffiti and beat boys are the highlight of this event that shows that each are just an expression of art. Streets and surrounding building walls become canvases to showcase some of the best graffiti artists around. The festival aims at both the young and old, with activities catered for everybody. Body painting, musical performances and street chalk art are all on tab for this event, encouraging you to bring out your inner artist.

Each May Cyprus holds the Anthestiria Flower Festival. This festival is a celebration of spring and nature's rebirth. A parade of floats and people holding beautiful fresh flowers walk down the Poseidon Avenue until everyone ends up in the old harbor of Kato Paphos. This event dates back to Greek times, when feasts were held in Athens every four years to honor the god of parties and theater, Dionysus. The word Anthestiria derives from the Greek word anthos, meaning flower.

Basically the Olympic Games for the smaller countries, these games are designed to give the smaller countries their time to shine. Rules dictate that only countries with a population of less than 1 million people and the country must be recognized by the International Olympic Committee. The games follow the rules of the Olympics, just on a smaller scale. Huge crowds are expected each year as well as over 900 athletes competing in traditional Olympic Games.