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Each year the carnival celebrations have adifferent theme; this year the Carnival represents “the Crossroad of Cultures”.

It’s carnival time in Rethymno! If you love parties and the festive atmosphere of a carnival, now it’s the time to visit Rethymno, a town where carnival time is taken to a higher level!

In fact, it is one of the biggest and most popular festivals in Greece, attracting visitors from all over the world; many events taking place in the broader area last for one month before the Grand Carnival Parade.

The city decorated with old floats looks like an open carnival museum. 

Floats, costumes and masks are handmade by the carnival teams using recyclable materials.

 Let’s Get This Party Started!  The celebrations kick off on the 30th of January along the city beach (@Lavyrinthos)with a music concert by the popular singer Stavento and his band.

Getting into Carnival mood

One month before the Grand Parade of the Carnival(1/3/2020), the city ofRethymno along with the villages nearby, celebrate!

Visitors can be part of the preparation for the Carnival by visiting the places where thefloats are built, where the costumes and masks are created, by partying in many bars-clubs of the city, by wandering around the narrow streets of the old town accompanied by the sounds of traditional serenades & by “treasure hunters” of all ages, looking around for clues.

Throughout this eventful month of parades and parties, you, too, will have theopportunity to dress up and attend a masque ball. The whole town becomes one big party; people work together in order to organise all the festivities that take place in Rethymno and the surrounding areas.

But even when you need to relax away from the festivities, you can enjoy strolling around the old city of Rethymno and admire the town’s beautiful and traditional architecture.

The most important events will take place from the 30th of January until the 2nd of March 2020

Opening ceremony                                                    Thursday 30th January 2020

23 rd Children’s Treasure Hunt                                  Saturday 1st - Sunday 2nd February 2020   Organized by Mpoumpounes

5 th Treasure Hunt for Teens                                     Saturday 1 st - Sunday 2 nd February 2020Organized by Mpoumpounes

Party of the 31 st Treasure Hunt Teams                    Friday 14 th February 2020

31st Treasure Hunt                                                     Saturday 15 th -Sunday 16 th February 2020   Organized by Mpoumpounes

Tsiknopempti                                                              Thursday 20 th February 2020

Party of the Carnival Teams                                     Saturday 22nd February 2020

Carnival Run                                                              Sunday 23rd February 2020

Old Greek Serenades                                                Tuesday 25th February 2020

City bike for kids and adults                                     Thursday 27th February 2020

Cretan Traditional Serenades                                   Friday 28th February 2020

Children’s and Night Parade                                    Saturday 29th February 2020

Grand Carnival Parade                                             Sunday 1st March 2020

Shrove Monday                                                        Monday 2nd March 2020

For nature lovers, this is the best opportunity to explore the wild beautyof the inland. Follow the numerous walking paths through wild flowers, lush valleys,ancient sites, watermills and old pathways, get to know the locals, taste the traditional Cretan food and discover the variety of landscapes that Rethymno can offer you!

 You can see all the details about Rethymno's Carnival at  www.rethymnocarnival.gr and fb: carnivalofcrete

Book your place in time and check out the programme with the various Carnival events!

package offers to visitors that will have the opportunity to join the Carnival, have fun, dance, dine, drink and visitRethymno at a very reasonable cost.