Nicosia celebrates Christmas this year with exceptional grandeur, overflowing with events and activities that create a magical festive setting. On a mission to make the capital city stand out as the ultimate Christmas destination for both residents and visitors, more festive events are approaching soon through the city centre.

On Friday, the lower level of Eleftheria Square will fill with local artists sharing their festive creations as the Social Christmas Village by the Centre for Social Innovation takes place. From 5pm onwards, a market will be set up selling local goodies while a live music programme entertains guests and an arts and crafts corner keeps children busy.

The annual Magic of Christmas paradewith classic cars and dances will take place this Saturday passing through main Nicosia streets. It will begin from Kyriakou Matsi at 10am and pass by various stops including Makarios Hospital, Aglandjia, European University and the Mall of Engomi before it ends at Eleftheria Square. Apart from vintage vehicles, the parade will include dance performances in glamorous festive costumes by RC Beauty Dolls.

Also on this week is the 3rd Nicosia International Photography Marathon which will take place on Saturday from 8.30am to 7.30pm. Throughout the day, photographers, professionals and amateurs alike, are invited to capture the city’s festive atmosphere in a nine-hour competition.

In Stasikratous, a Christmas Weekend event will be organised this Saturday and Sunday with concerts, choirs, dance performances, bazaars, mascots and surprises filling the street. The same will happen on December 20 to 22 on Makarios Avenue.

Further into the old town, the Hambis Printmaking Museum will host a Christmas event on December 21 with songs, stories, poems, customs and traditional folklore at 6pm.

Towards the end of the month, the annual Santa Run event will take place with runners dressed up in their brightest red and white Santa outfits embarking on a Nicosia run. The route will pass by Makarios Hospital to offer Christmas gifts and wishes to in-patient children and hospital staff and end with a festive cheer on Ledra Street, passing through the Laiki Yitonia Christmas Village. Participants will be able to walk, run, cycle, skate or rollerblade on public streets, led by official guides who will be with the participants throughout the route.

In the lead-up to Christmas week and beyond, more events will fill Nicosia’s cultural agenda. Among them are Christmas concerts, exhibitions by local artists and of course, festive markets!

Christmas events in Nicosia

Parades, markets, performances and more. Throughout December. Nicosia. https://www.nicosia.org.cy