The reborn Carnival of Nafplio, starting from its various Venetian events under the strong influence of Commedia Dell' Arte, this year meets with images of everyday life, which it satirizes and expresses joy and optimism, creating pranks and carnival tricks and making us mess with the masked crowd. Through these situations all around the old town, as in the surrounding villages, the organizers bring to the surface the positive emotions of residents and visitors alike.
This year's renewed program is based on a new logic of strengthening all the events, both in Nafplio and in the periphery of the Municipality, with special emphasis on the opening and the last two to three days, with impressive events that are expected to attract the interest of locals and visitors.
The colorful events of the Venetian Carnival of Nafplio begin on Sunday, February 9th 2025 and culminate on the first weekend of March and Clean Monday, with these Venetian events, the great Carnival Parade, the local customs of carnival and the kite competition.
In the Municipality of Nafplio, the city of Nafplion is a natural setting to explore, to get close to other people, to have fun in every alley, to join the dominoes, to play with them and to take part in the carnival parade. But if you want to experience the carnival in a more traditional way, visit not only Nafplio, but also Tolo, where on the last Sunday of the carnival you can also see a parade of floats and have a great time.
But you can also head to one of the villages of Assini, Drepano, Vivari, Iria, especially on the Clean Monday, for the traditional "coulouma" customs, kite flying and feasting. Agia Triada village, Midea, Tiryns, Agios Adrianos and even Arachneo will provide you with the traditional good time you are looking for throughout the Carnival period, by reviving local customs and flavors. You will have a good time and eat even better!....
Sunday, February 9th 2025 - Starting ceremony
On Sunday February 9th 2025, with the opening of the "Triodion" (orthodox), the carnival events in the Municipality of Nafplio begin.
11:00 - Parade starting at the "Pergola"
In the morning, young carnivalists, accompanied by the percussion group of the Municipal Philharmonic Orchestra, will inaugurate the Triodion in Nafplio, starting from the "Pergola" spot. They will then proceed to the Town Hall to hand over the banner of the Nafplio Carnival to the Mayor, Mr. Dimitris Orfanos, which will be placed in the Three Admirals' Square.
11.30 - Party at Syntagma Square
The parade will end at the central Syntagma Square, where the Paso Latino and Tatsis dance schools will invite people to dance with them to Latin, Cha Cha and other rhythms.
Friday, February 14th 2025
Nafplio, at the Fougaro Art Center
17:00-18:30 - Carnival metamorphoses in theatrical games.
Role play, improvisation, music, movement and dance! For children aged 4+.
19:30-20:00 - Halloween book readings!
For children aged 3+ (accompanied by parents) / Reservation required
Saturday, February 15th 2025
Nafplio, at the Fougaro Art Center
11:00-12:30 - Plastic Clay workshop "With color and imagination"
For parents with children aged 1.5 to 5. Reservation required.
Sunday, February 16th 2025
11.00 - Traditional Event at Syntagma Square
The famous "Gaitanaki" event was to take place, but has been postponed due to the continuous rain...
Nafplio, at the Fougaro Art Center
17:00-18:30 - Carnival metamorphoses in theatrical games.
Role play, improvisation, music, movement and dance! For children aged 4+.
19:30-20:00 - Halloween book readings!
For children aged 3+ (accompanied by parents) / Reservation required
Thursday, March 20th 2025 (barbecue Thursday -Tsiknopempti)
12.00 - "KAPI" Center of Old Age in Nafplio
Event for the members and friends of KAPI inside the Center in Nafplio (25th of March str., Pronia district), to celebrate together with fun and good food.
19:00 - Pronoia district of Nafplio, National Assembly Square
Carnival party, by the band of the Lyceum of Agia Triada entitled "Three Greeks in Hades".
17:00 in Tolo
Carnival celebration in the in the courtyard of the "KEP" of Tolo, with live music and barbecue feasting.
17:00 in Nea Tiryns
The Municipality of Nea Tiryns, in collaboration with the Association of Parents and Guardians of the Primary School and Kindergarten of Nea Tiryns, organizes a carnival in the central square of the village.
18:00 in Assini
The Cultural and Folklore Association of Assini organizes a festive evening in Contra - Agios Tryfon, with the carnival lighting of the fire, music, dance, and... hot air balloons!
18:00 in Agia Paraskevi - Tselo
The Cultural Association of Agia Paraskevi - Tselo is organizing a traditional carnival celebration in the village's square, with bonfires, music, dance and lots of fun!
Friday, March 21st 2025
Nafplio, at the Fougaro Art Center
17:00-18:30 - Carnival metamorphoses in theatrical games.
Role play, improvisation, music, movement and dance! For children aged 4+.
19:30-20:00 - Halloween book readings!
For children aged 3+ (accompanied by parents) / Reservation required
19:30 - in the "Vouleftiko" hall of Nafplio
Lecture on: "The World of Commedia dell'Arte in Art", by the Art Historian & Curator of the National Gallery - Alexandros Soutsos Museum, Mrs. Lambrini Karakourtis-Orfanopoulou (National Gallery - Annex of Nafplio)
Saturday, March 22nd 2025
Nafplio, at the Fougaro Art Center
12:00-13:30 - "The Harlequin is me".
Theatre workshop in the Fougaro Library. For children 4+ / Reservation required.
19:00 - Nafplio, Old Town
The ladies of another era, accompanied by a violin, take the historical walk of the city, guided by Mrs. Tina Gkiola.
Sunday, February 23rd 2025
11.00 - Nafplio, Syntagma Square
Event by the Greek Dance Workshop. The children of the Greek Dance Workshop present dances, events and customs related to Carnival.
12:00 - The famous, traditional "Gaitanaki" event
12:30 - "The Madness of Carnival": street theatre themed show, by the "Theatro-Theama" group.
12:00-13:30 - Nafplio, at the Fougaro Art Center
Halloween mask making workshop, with traditional patterns from other countries.
For children 6+years / Reservation required
Friday, February 28th 2025
Honoring the memory of the victims of the Tempi accident, the Municipality of Nafplion cancels the events of February 28th (with the Nafplion Choir Workshop, under the direction of Yannis Nikolopoulos in the streets and squares of the old town, as well as events in the old Nafplio, under the direction of the conductor Theodossis Antoniadis, with the Mixed Polyphonic Ensemble of the Municipal Choir of Nafplio, the Youth Municipal Choir of Nafplio and the "Tamperamento" Children's Choir of Nafplio).
The events at Fougaro Artcenter: Carnival metamorphoses in theatrical games, role play, improvisation, music, movement and dance and the Halloween book readings will take place on Saturday 1 March 2025 at the same hours.
Saturday, March 1st 2025
11.00 - Nafplio, Syntagma Square
Hidden Treasure Hunt
Solve the puzzles and discover the hidden treasure through teamwork, cooperation and observation!
Nafplio, at the Fougaro Art Center
11:00-11:30 - We will make "Martakia" macramé, in our hands and in the trees!
13:00 - Revival of the custom of "Argolic Candrilles", by the "Methexis" Cultural Association of Argolis. For adults and children. Booking required.
17:00-18:30 - Carnival metamorphoses in theatrical games.
Role play, improvisation, music, movement and dance! For children aged 4+.
19:30-20:00 - Halloween book readings!
For children aged 3+ (accompanied by parents) / Reservation required
19:00 - VENETIAN NAFPLIO
Carnival with a Renaissance color and Venetian aroma, adding finesse and romance of another era to the Carnival of Nafplio!
The "Venetian Carnival" is an institution, closely associated with the city of Nafplio, established in 1998, referring to the passage of the Venetians and the imprint they left on the city, in the field of arts, as well as architecture. Magical and mysterious, it evokes a world of fantasy and fairy tales.
Starting from the Square of the Three Admirals and following a route to Syntagma Square, we will witness the protagonists of the Commedia dell' Arte in a walking performance, transported through time from the Venetian era to modern Nafplio. In an improvised comedy, characters from 16th-century Italy, such as the Dominos and Harlequin, take center stage, touching the Greek audience and dancing to the rhythms of the tarantella. A journey through time, art and culture!
Street theatre with impressive figures on stilts, renaissance music, comic situations, acts with fire that will impress you...
Tarantella on the balconies of the mansions of Syntagma Square, by the "Manakin" group.
Live with the Passepartout Band.
Sunday, March 2nd 2025
11:00 - Tolo, Main carnival festivities
The Municipality of Nafplio, the Municipal Community of Tolo, in collaboration with the Cultural Association of Tolo, the Parents' Association of Tolo Primary School, and the Tolo Professionals Association, organize the "Tolian Carnival", with animation, music, and carnival parade!
11:00 - Nafplio, Syntagma Square
A walking event on the harbor of Nafplio featuring ladies from another era...
The spacetime brought the ladies of the 17th century to this city. They do not know the language, the world, the surrounding space, so they seek some elements, that will help them understand the reason for their presence here. The wandering begins. The escorts, soldiers of the era, discover the elements, that help them understand where they are. The first element, that catches their attention on their walk, is the fountain on Staikopoulou Street. Then, in the central square of the city, they recognize the grand mosque, which -as it was a proper Muslim mosque in operation- was majestic and beautiful in their time. Their time ends when they recognize their own arsenal-weaponry-museum. They feel familiar. They want to stay, but something draws them towards the sea; they head there and suddenly, they come across the Bourtzi. Their joy is indescribable...
12:00 - Nafplio, Syntagma Square
Concert by the Nafplio Philharmonic, featuring a repertoire in carnival rhythms! From Latin, Italian canzonettes, and the Greek music scene of the interwar period, to our immortal traditional dance music...! (Teaching-Directing: Maestro-Music Director Theodosios Antoniadis)
Immediately after, the "Chorokinessis" Association of Nafplio, along with the Dance School of Kostas Tatsis, lifts the crowd with carnival traditional dances from all over Greece!
17:30-19:30 Nafplio - The Big Carnival parade!
The city of Nafplio will enjoy a colorful and joyful "wave" of excitement, with plenty of cheerful spirits from carnival revelers. Enthusiasts of carnival costumes, dances and events will offer fun and joy, not only to the residents, but also to the visitors.
The giant puppets of the "Art25" group, dressed as superheroes, participate in the special carnival of Nafplio. Giant puppets wearing carnival costumes inspired by famous childhood superheroes such as Batman, Superman, Cat Woman, Wonder Woman, Tick, Storm, She Halk, Riddler, Spiderman, etc., make their appearance to communicate, entertain, dance with both young and old and create a super heroic carnival!
The "X-Saltibagos" street theater group will captivate us with its appearance in carnival rhythms, dance games, and... in a unique carnival parade! In Sunday's grand parade, the fun reaches a fever pitch!
Program:
17:00 - Gathering of groups on 25th Martiou Street (in front of the old Fire Department of Nafplio).
17:30 - Start of the carnival parade (Pili Xiras). Carnival parade route: Pili Xiras, Syngrou Street, Amalias Avenue, Kolleti Street, Nafplio port ("P" location).
19:00 - Burning of the carnival effigy. Colorful fireworks fill the sky of Nafplio and... the celebration continues with the Live concert of Giorgos Sambanis, at Philhellenon Square!
Did you know that?
Musicians and other artists, as well as residents, offer their services to the city for free!
All activities are free of charge.
