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Carnival in Nafplio 2019 - The whole city… a stage

The carnival events in Nafplio, with this year's theme "The whole city... a stage", began with the opening of the "Triodio" on Sunday, February 17th 2019. The festivities will be completed this year with the Nafplio Carnival Ending Ceremony, on Sunday, March 10th 2019.
In Nafplio we have identified the Carnival with the "Venetian Nafplio" (a reminder of the Venetian presence), an event that provokes our imagination and takes us to the era of the Republic of Venice's dominance, at a time of great impact for our country, that also marked Nafplio culturally and historically. Halloween events take place mainly in the city of Nafplio and in Tolo. Festivities are taking place in each village, with the care and cooperation of cultural clubs and the hospitality of the residents.
Clean Monday always finds locals and visitors in the countryside for the custom of kite flying, most often in Karathona beach.

Events schedule

Sunday, February 17th 2019

11:30 in Nafplio
At the opening of the "Triodio" custom, the public criers of the Nafplio Carnival visit neighborhoods of the city and proclaim the beginning of the great carnival celebration. They call young and old to masquerade and to get out on the streets dancing and having fun, as the carnival tradition demands.
As every year, opening of the "Triodion" period, the traditional Gaitanaki custom takes place. From the Kapodistrias Square, cultural associations and dance groups holding their colorful maypoles dance in circles, symbolizing the spirit of fellowship, love and unity. They end up in Syntagma Square, to continue the party.
This first Sunday, this year's programme then includes Erofili and Afentoula Razeli to meet the Smyrna orchestra for a fascinating musical performance!
18:00 in Drepanon village
Associations of Parents and guardians welcome Carnival reviving the custom of fire. Traditional food, dance, cheer and sounds of Carnival are the highlights of the evening...

Wednesday, February 20th 2019
10:30 – 11:30 in Nafplio
Theatrical event with stilt walkers and street theater, in the pedestrian road of OSE - Kolokotronis Park, from the Parents' Association of the 5th Primary School of Nafplio.

Friday, February 22nd 2019
18:00 in "Fougaro" cultural place
Carnival party by the Parents and Guardians Association of the 5th Primary School of Nafplio.
18:30 in the public Swimming Pool's Canteen
Narration of a fairy tale "The Harlequin" and play constructions from the "Don Pinello" Nursery Station
20:00 in Iria village
Carnival party in "The briki", in Iria village main square, with dj and animateur for the creative keeping of children, by the Parents and Guardians Association of the Iria' Beach Nursery station.
20:00 in "Alexandros" restaurant, Profitis Ilias village
The Nafplion Choral Workshop carries out its carnival dance, including lottery and many gifts.

Saturday, February 23rd 2019
19:30 in Nea Tiryns
Evening celebration in the central square, the carnival lighting the fire, music, dance, traditional food prepared by the women of the village, by the New Tiryns' Educational and Cultural Association.
20:00 in Kandia beach, "Tzavaras" tavern
Carnival party by the Parents and Guardians Association of Drepanon Primary schools, with dj and animateur and gifts for the children.
20:00 in Pyrgiotika village, "Kioupia" restaurant
Carnival dance of the Anifion Elementary School

Sunday, February 24th 2019
12:00 in Nafplio old town

The "Friends of PLI" dance group participates in the 2019 carnival bringing to life images of carnival celebrations of the past
12:00 in "Alexandros" restaurant, Profitis Ilias village
The annual carnival dance of the Parents - Guardians Association of the 1st Primary School of Nafplio.
16:00 in Nafplio old town
The public criers of the Nafplio Carnival call upon the Spring holding drums, with songs and hugs...
18:30 in Kandia village
The Cultural and Educational Association of Kandia, with the power of fire and a wild carnival atmosphere, with plenty of food and drinks, is performing the Gaitanaki custom,  holding the maypoles and dancing in the courtyard of the Primary school.

Thursday (Grill Day), February 8th 2018
11:00 in Nafplio 1st Primary school
Grill Day ("Tsiknopempti") celebration in the courtyard of the Primary school with music, costumes, gaitanaki and cheers!
11:00 in Drepano village
Grill Day ("Tsiknopempti") celebration in the courtyard of the Primary school with music, costumes, children and parents participating.
17:00 - 20:00, at "Trianon" Nafplio
Three-hour puppet construction workshop, animation and dramatization. Between eating and laughing, let's "dance" with dolls...
19:00 in Agios Andrianos village
Grill Day ("Tsiknopempti") celebration in the central square, eating and dancing...

Friday, March 1st 2019
18:30 in Pantazis Royal
Carnival dance in the "Pantazis Royal" hall in Dalamanara village. The program includes zumba for kids and face painting and an interactive show lasting 30 minutes, which will take us to the traditions of Carnival around the world.
19:00 in Panariti village
Carnival party around the big fire, with "souvlaki", dancing and plenty of wine in the village square.
20:30 in Tolo, "Zorbas" club
Annual carnival party of the Nafplio Elders Home.
21:00 in Tolo, "Gorilla" Disco club
Carnival party of the pupils of the Drepanon High School.

Saturday, March 2nd 2019
11:00 in Nafplio, Syntagma square
Children paint kites. The Children's Workshop of Art of the National Gallery and the "Alexandros Soutsos" Museum creates an open-air art kite workshop. The workshop is targeted at children up to 12 years old. The children will have the opportunity to express themselves creatively by painting imaginative kites and decorating them with colorful "tails", that will bring to the sky messages of love, joy and optimism, that the children will have written on them. At the end of the workshop, the painted kites will be given to the children to fly them on Clean Monday, flooding the sky with beauty and positive messages, to all the city residents and visitors. Workshop leader: the artist Mrs. Magda Mara.
19:00 in Nafplio, Syntagma square
The Greek Dance Workshop presents events, songs and dances inspired by folk tradition.
20:30 in Nafplio old town
The group of street theater artists, the famous Hellix Action Theater, walk in the streets of the old town, accompanying the ladies with carnival costumes, enlivening the Venetian atmosphere for the residents and visitors.
20:30 in Pyrgiotika village, "Kioupia" restaurant
The Educational and Cultural Association of New Tiryns organizes the annual carnival dance with live music.
17:00 in Assini village
The Assini "gaitanaki" custom will take place (maypole dancing under music and songs from the old Greek tradition).
19:00 in Poulakida village
Carnival celebration in the central square.
18:00 in Pantazis Royal
Carnival dance in the "Pantazis Royal" hall in Dalamanara village (2nd Primary school).
20:00 in "Pantazis" Kefalari village
Carnival dance in the "Pantazis" hall in Kefalari village.

Sunday, March 3rd 2019
11:00 in Argoliko village
The Cultural and Educational Club of Argoliko village organizes a carnival event with masquerades, teasing, fires, souvlaki, music, plenty of wine and a lot of dancing in the courtyard of the Holy Temple of the Assumption of Virgin Mary.
18:00 in Aria of Nafplio
Traditional Carnival festivities in the square with music, dancing, plenty of wine and "meze".
18:30 in Iria village
The Cultural Center of Iria organizes in the central square a big carnival feast with food, wine and lots of fun!
19:00 in Nafplio
The Choral Workshop Nafplio, under the direction of Mr. Yannis Nikolopoulos, singing serenades and carnival songs in the streets of the city.

Monday, March 4th 2019
18:00 in "Dimiourgo" (I create) hall
(10, Alicarnassou str., Nafplio)
Customs. Narrated traditions from various regions of Greece. The children participate in the preparation of the traditional "galatopita" (cream pie)!

Thursday, March 7th 2019
19:00 in Assini village
Carnival dance at the Assini Primary School.

Friday, March 8th 2019
11:00 in Agia Triada village
Carnival event in the Agia Triada village's High School
11:00 in Anyfi village
Carnival celebration, in the courtyard of the 1st Primary School
11:00 in New Tiryns village
Carnival celebration, in the courtyard of the Primary School
18:30 in Pyrgiotika village
The Cultural and Educational Association of Pyrgiotika invites us to the burning of the King of Carnival, expelling the bad spirits, burning the human passions. Women in the village will offer "gkogkes", the traditional local food of the Carnival.
19:30 in "Fotonio" Events & More
Carnival celebration, in the "Fotonio" hall by the 3rd Primary School of Nafplio.
20:00 in Nafplio old town
The Municipal Joint Polyphonic Choir, the Municipal Youth Choir "Choirobics" and the Children's Choir of Nafplio "Tamperamento" with instruments accompaniment, offer fun and joy with their songs in the old town of Nafplio and unite with locals and visitors, to celebrate Carnival. Teaching - direction: Mr. Theodossis Antoniadis
21:00 in Nafplio, Syntagma square
The Music School of Argolis organizes its annual carnival dance at the "Kentrikon" cafe in Syntagma Square.
21:00 in Agia Triada village
The Agia Triada Educational Association organizes a carnival dance at the "Agamemnon" restaurant, with the band "Three and One and Their Violin".

Saturday, March 9th 2019
11:00 in Nafplio, Syntagma square
For the 29th consecutive year, the "Game of the Hidden Treasure" takes place. Supervisor: Mr. George Alexiou
17:00 at "Trianon" Nafplio
From the Center for Speech Therapy & Creative Activities for Children "Dimiourgo" (I create): Songs and fairy tales were wrapped around a maypole. Children dance with the myths and learn our traditions.
18:00 in Midea village
The Local Community and the New Cultural Association of Midea "Alkmene" invite us to revive the custom of the Arvanitian Wedding. The event will start early in the afternoon, with the customs and the passing of the Arvanitian Wedding through the nearby villages. There will be a traditional feast with fire, boiling traditional soup in the cauldrons and many delicacies.
20:00 - The Venetian Nafplio
The Nafplio Municipal Cultural Organization and the Ladies Group and the "PLI Friends" Association invite us to the "Venetian Nafplio". The theatrical groups, the city's Street Carnivalists, start from the Three Admirals Square (Town Hall Square) the magical journey of the Commedia dell 'Arte... They play with the public, they sometimes "freeze", with their presence announcing the arrival of the great group of Street Theater artists, the famous Hellix Action Theater. Together they end up at Syntagma Square dancing, where the Dominoes with the sounds and the rhythm of the tarantellas drift the public to follow their footsteps!
20:00 in Lefkakia village
The Local Community of Lefkakia village organizes a carnival feast in the main square with mascots, jugglers, fire, dancing and flying balloons, the favorite custom of young and old, which are launched one after another and conquer the sky.
21:00 in Fougaro - Le café
Carnival masque party for adults! Subject: "Africa"!
21:00 in "Alexandros" restaurant, Profitis Ilias village
The cultural and Educational Association of Kandia villge is waiting for us party, dance and have fun in the Association's annual carnival dance.

Sunday, March 10th 2019
10:30 in Tolo, Main carnival festivities
The Nafplio Municipal Cultural Organization in cooperation with the Tolo Cultural Association, the local Schools and the Association of Professionals involved in tourism, organize the Main carnival festivities and a big party for children and everyone feeling alike, in Tolo village center, at Sekeri Street. We celebrate with a big carnival parade, entertainers, many surprises, games for young and old, face painting, masks and kite-making, as well as many wonderful homemade treats.
11:00 in Nafplio old town
A group of ladies with clothes of... another time are walking in the streets of the city and are being photographed with you!
11:30 in Arachneo village
Carnival celebration in the central square of the village with "souvlaki", dancing and plenty of wine!
12:00 in Nafplio, Syntagma square
The Nafplion Philharmonic presents a carnival repertoire with Latin, jazz music and swing tunes, tango, vals, rumba, samba, and traditional Greek folk songs of the Carnival! Teaching - direction: Mr. Theodossis Antoniadis
12:00 in "Fougaro" cultural place
In the "Wooden caravan", masque party for children! Subject: "Africa".
13:00 in Nafplio, Syntagma square
The Tatsis Dance School and the Dance Group of the 4th Primary School of Nafplio will present carnival traditional dances and events from all over Greece.
20:00 in Anyfion village, 5Χ5 Evolution Soccer Club
The Plataniiti Cultural Club organizes its established carnival party at the 5X5 Evolution Soccer Club in Anifion village.

The Big Carnival parade at 17:00
The big Carnival Parade starts at the Kapodistrian University's Department of Theater Studies (Old District's building) and through Bouboulina Street, led by King "Karnavalos" is heading to the port (Place "Π"). Street Carnival dancers from the schools and cultural clubs of Nafplio, as well as participants from different parts of Greece, escorted by decorated chariots, in vivid rhythmic dances and games, accompanied by the Hellix Action Theater, accompany the Carnival King on his journey to... the big fire... with dances and fireworks!
We continue with a live musical performance in the Filellinon Square and with the Paso Latino dancers in Syntagma Square, in rhythms of latin music, salsa, bachata and animation.

Clean Monday, March 11th 2019
"Koulouma" custom the City of Nafplio and in Karathona beach
11:00 in Agia Paraskevi – Tselo village
the Agia Paraskevi cultural club offers a traditional feast in the courtyard of the Holy Monastery of "Metamorfosi" (the Transfiguration of the Savior), accompanied by wine, local delicacies and music.

Αναπλιώτικο καρναβάλι 2019, όλη η πόλη μια σκηνή, Nafplio carnival 2019

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