Limassol’s carnival King to tour the streets

Limassol’s Carnival King will be touring the streets of Limassol later this week on his chariot, starting from stinky Thursday in a bid to spread some festive cheer around the town.

Limassol municipality announced months ago there would be no carnival parade in 2021 because of the pandemic but it would organise alternative celebrations such as exhibitions and live performances throughout March.

The municipality said on Tuesday that though Limassol Carnival takes place just before Lent each year, this year it will have a different character, but the same goal as every year “to offer the world joy, fun and optimism for a better tomorrow.”

It was decided that “Limassol Carnival King, the town maharaja” will be touring the streets of the coastal town on his chariot.

The Carnival King’s first outing will take place between 4pm and 6pm on Thursday, known as ‘stinky Thursday’ from the barbecue smoke and smell of meat people grill on that day, a tradition observed each year to mark the beginning of the Carnival festivities but also the beginning of the gradual weaning off meat and dairy in preparation for the 50-day lent period that leads to Easter Sunday.

The chariot will also tour the town on Saturday and on Sunday, March 14 which is the day the big parade would have taken place this year.