Get ready for what will possibly be the busiest weekend of the year! Christmas week is about to begin and the island gets ready to enjoy the season’s holidays making the event’s agenda livelier than ever. Ballet performances, Christmas concerts, music parties and, of course, markets are on this Friday, Saturday and Sunday spreading festive vibes!
The events start in Paphos as the Christmas Magic Festival opens at Mouttalos Square on Friday morning. As soon as its doors open, music and cheer will sound with live choir performances at 11am and visits from Santa and the Grinch. All day long Christmas activities, crafts and performances will take place in a beautifully decorated space.
On Saturday, more fun will follow with puppet theatre, ballet shows, live music and Santa photo shoots. Throughout the two-day event, a market will also be set up selling handmade items, mulled wine, food and drinks.
For Christmas music with a European flair, head to the Kanthos Arts Centre in Nicosia on Saturday for the Magic of the Holy Night concert. The Austrian Embassy and the Telemachos Kanthos Foundation host this special concert dedicated to traditional Austrian music. An ensemble of local musicians will perform – sopranos Marialena Anastasiadou, Savvia Iakovou and Elli Koutsouli, bass-baritone Demetris Spanos, pianist Ayis Ioannides and guitarist Eugenia Kanthou. The concert is free to attend yet reservation via email is still required ([email protected]).
Nicosia has plenty more happening this weekend. At the Nicosia Municipal Theatre, the Lefkosia Youth Ballet will present its annual December show this Saturday and Sunday. This year, it will be a ‘double bill’ ballet performance with excerpts from Paquita, a classical ballet, and an original neoclassical piece choreographed by Valentino Zucchetti.
Another ‘double’ performance will take place in Nicosia as the Cyprus Horn Sound ensemble joins forces with the Papageorgio String Quartet for a Cyprus Symphony Orchestra concert. The musicians will present an exciting repertoire with music from the movies, pop/rock, classical, crossover, as well as some festive arrangements. They will perform at Pallas Theatre on Sunday and also at Markideio Theatre on Saturday.
Τhe Cyprus Symphony Orchestra will present one more festive concert this weekend in two cities. Along with the ΣymhpoΠedia Choir and Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra Choirs, and the actor Petros Georkadjis, it will present the Cyprus premiere of Freakadella, The Witch Who Hated Christmas Carols. The witty Christmas story by Evgenios Trivizas will be brought to life through music and narration in front of Paphos audiences on Thursday night and Limassol audiences on Friday night.

For groovy party vibes, two events are on this weekend in Limassol and Nicosia that will certainly get you up and dancing. The Nostalgia x Time Surfers XMAS Party will feature music from the 70s to 90s, disco, rock ‘n’ roll and more with DJ Claudio on the decks and the local band Time Surfers performing live on stage. First, they will entertain Limassol crowds on Friday at Kiklos Musiki before a Saturday party at Antonakis Music Hall in Nicosia.
Finally, there are many, many Christmas markets on, including the Christmas Kolla X Cyberness market in Limassol, a massive affair not to be missed. The Old City Xmas Fest is in the heart of the old town at Stoa Lanitis. A Christmas Sustainable Bazaar at New Division this Saturday and another Nicosia market at Prozak from Friday to Sunday. What a weekend!
Magic of the Holy Night
Traditional Austrian music for Christmas with members of the Studio Maria Callas. December 21. Kanthos Arts Centre, Nicosia. 7pm. Free. Reservations at [email protected]
Christmas Magic Festival
Two-day event with performances, a market, Santa visits and more. December 20-21. Mouttalos Square, Paphos. 11am-5pm
Double Bill Paquita and Interplay
Performance by the Lefkosia Youth Ballet. December 21-22. Nicosia Municipal Theatre, Nicosia. 8pm. www.ticketmaster.cy
Crossover Double
Concert by The Cyprus Horn Sound and the Papageorgio String Quartet. December 21. Markideio Municipal Theatre, Paphos. 8pm. December 22. Pallas Theatre, Nicosia. 8pm. €12. Tel: 22-463144, www.cyso.org.cy
Freakadella, The Witch Who Hated Christmas Carols
Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, ΣymhpoΠedia and Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra Choirs bring to life a Christmas tale. With live narration. December 19. Markideio Municipal Theatre, Paphos. December 20. Pattihio Municipal Theatre, Limassol. 6pm. €15. Tel: 22-463144, www.cyso.org.cy
Nostalgia x Time Surfers XMAS Party
8th annual Nicosia Christmas party. With DJ Claudio and the Time Surfers Party Band. December 20. Kiklos Music, Limassol. 9pm. December 21. Antonakis Music Hall, Nicosia. 8.30pm. €10. Reservation required before purchasing ticket. Tel: 22-664697 (Nicosia), 25-107230 (Limassol)
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