Limassol events

Following are the major annual events that take place in the Limassol district every year.

To find more events in Limassol please use our Advanced Search facility or simply browse our website.

Wine Festival

The wine festival has been one of the featured events in Limassol, Cyprus’s wine capital, since 1961. It takes place at the Municipal Gardens, just across the Olympion promenade, in the beginning of September and lasts for 12 days.

The Limassol Wine Festival was inspired by the ancient festivals dedicated to the God of wine Dionysus and honors the long island’s tradition of winemaking. The giant statue of a Cypriot wine-maker welcomes visitors at the entrance. At the festival, guests, both locals and foreigners, get the chance to try different local wines and traditional Cypriot food.

Although there is a small entrance fee, the wines produced by the island’s wineries are offered free of charge in unlimited quantities.

Another popular feature of the Wine Festival is a traditional wine press. Folkloric dances, songs, theatrical performances from local and international artistic groups are also included in the program of the festival.

For more information please call on 25 745 919

Carnival

Throughout its history Limassol was known as the city of fun and entertainment. One of the brightest annual events is definitely the Carnival. Although many cities and villages organize carnival events, Limassol hosts the largest and most colorful one in Cyprus.

Carnival begins 10 days before the Lent, or 50 days before Orthodox Easter, on the Thursday of Kreatini (Meat Week, as it is the last week for eating meat before the Lent). Festivities start with the Carnival King entering the city, decorated for the occasion. On Sunday the youngest participate in the Children’s Parade and then the Serenaders’ shows become the focus of the event. During the 10-day Carnival period many hotels and clubs organize fancy-dress parties.

The Sunday of the second week of the festivities known as Tyrini (Cheese Week, when cheese and other dairy products may be consumed) is the climax of the Carnival. This is when the Grand Carnival Parade takes place. Colorful floats and groups of fancy-dressed people, singing and dancing, move along the Makariou III Avenue in Limassol.

Most events are free.

Cyprus Rally

Since 1970 Cyprus has been holding a rallying competition, the Cyprus Rally. It is a three-day event that takes place in the middle of May on the streets of Limassol and dangerous mountain roads of Troodos.

From 2000 to 2006 the Cyprus Rally was part of the FIA’s World Rally Championship. In 2007 and 2008 the event was part of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship. The organizers hope that the Cyprus Rally will rejoin the World Rally Championship in 2009.

The event involves drivers piloting their cars around a specially prepared route whilst observing strict time controls. The rally route is divided into different sections; these are known as “road sections” and “special stages”. At the road sections that are parts of public roads drivers must observe all local speed limits and regulations, as well as the strict time controls. Regarding special stages, drivers must complete these parts of the road as quickly as possible.

Lemesia

One of the biggest annual international sporting events in Cyprus – Lemesia – takes place in Limassol in October. Although focusing on professional athleticism, it also aims to promote participation in sports to Limassolians.

During the 10 days of Lemesia athletes from several countries compete in a number of disciplines such as boxing, karate, triathlon, marathon, shooting, rhythmic gymnastics, and cycling. Every year the Municipality of Limassol invites a sports personality as a special guest for the ceremony. There are also events that do not involve active participation in sports, for example, photographic exhibitions depicting Cyprus’ sporting history.

First Lemesia took place in Limassol in 1998. Since then the event experienced growth, with more sport events and international athletes every year.

For more information please call on 25 884 300

Russian-Cypriot Festival

The Russian Embassy in Cyprus, the Limassol Municipality and the Russian newspaper Cyprus Advertiser every year organize the Russian-Cypriot Festival. It aims to promote closer relationships between the two countries on a cultural level.

The two-day long festival takes place in the beginning of June at Molos area in Limassol. The program includes an exhibition where more than 70 companies, Cypriot and Russian ones, present their products. Guests of the festival are also given the opportunity to see Cypriot and Russian dancers, singers and musicians perform.

The second day is solely dedicated to children who show their creative skills at a special concert.

There are plenty of competitions, clowns for children, as well as fireworks and a dance-party at night.

Beer Festival

Along with the wine festival, Limassol hosts an annual Beer Festival. The festival takes place at Molos Waterfront in July, and the entrance is free.

The main feature of the event is, of course, beer. Visitors get a chance to enjoy various local and imported beers including KEO, Heineken, Becks, Amstel, Stella Artois, Budweiser and Hoegaarden. DJs provide live music, and visitors can expect a lot of great entertainment.

Cyprus Film Days

The Cyprus Film Days is an annual festival that shouldn’t be left unnoticed by film-lovers. The event is organized by the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture together with the Rialto Theater of Limassol.

The aim of the festival is to present a more complete and characteristic depiction of the international film scene. The movies shown at the festival are mostly from Europe and Asia.

The movies are screened at Rialto Theater in Limassol as well as at Pantheon Art Cinema and Cine Studio in Nicosia.

European Dance Festival

The European Dance Festival, an annual highlight on the European arts and culture scene, takes place in Limassol in May. Dance groups from many European countries come to Cyprus to compete with the Cypriot dance troupes.

Each of the groups presents performance representative of their country’s contemporary dance trends, and is required to show something special, for example, unique choreography or an innovative stage set.

The event is organized by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Rialto Theater, with the cooperation of the embassies of participating countries. Performances take place at the Rialto Theater. Apart from dance performances, there are also inspiring workshops.

Amathusia Festival

Each summer Agios Tychonas Community Board holds the Amathusia Festival. The event takes place in a spectacular location amongst the ancient Greek ruins of Amathous in Limassol.

The program includes cultural events that introduce visitors and locals to traditional dance and music typical to the region as well as performances by Cypriot contemporary dance groups, top string quartets and Greek and Cypriot singers that present songs both in traditional and modern styles.

Entrance is free.

Ballet Festival

For several years the Limassol Municipality is organizing the Ballet Festival. The festival is ranked among the most important events in Cyprus and attracts great numbers of local and foreign visitors.

Some of the past participants include the St. Petersburg Ballet, the Bolshoi Ballet, Kremlin Ballet, the National Ballet Opera of Hungary, Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance and Fuego Spanish Group.

The main sponsors are Cyprus Telecommunications Authority, Cyprus Tourism Organization and the Ministry of Education and Culture.

For more information please call on 25 745 919

Rainbow Festival

The aim of this anti-racism multicultural festival is to bring people of all races together. It is organized by KISA (Action for Equality, Support and Antiracism) and takes place at Molos Waterfront in Limassol. The Rainbow festival joins together various migrant, asylum seeker and refugee community organizations and Cypriot human rights and cultural organizations.

The program of the festival includes music, songs and dances. There are also exhibitions and information kiosks where you can learn about the fight against racism and discrimination on the island. Kids also will find entertainment to their hearts as there is a children’s corner at the festival. . You will also find a bazaar and plenty of stalls where you can try food from different countries.

The Rainbow festival usually takes place in November. Entrance is free. The event takes place also at Eleftheria Square Park in Nicosia.

For more information please call on 22 878 181

Shakespearean Nights

Each June the ancient amphitheater of Kourion is transformed into a stage for performances of the Shakespearean plays. The open-air Kourion theater occupies a dramatic cliff top location and creates a perfect environment for staging the works of the famous English poet and playwright.

The Shakespeare Festival is a charity event annually organized by the Society for Chest Diseases. The performances attract large numbers of visitors from Cyprus and abroad.

Berengaria Festival

The Berengaria International Music Festival is dedicated to the presentation of both chamber and solo music performed by high caliber musicians from all over the world.

The Berengaria Festival takes place in March at the Rialto Theater in Limassol. It is organized by the Municipality of Kato Polemidia and the Rialto Theater within the framework of the musical and aesthetic education of pupils in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Since its creation in 2003 artists from Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Israel, Romania, Russia, Switzerland and Taiwan have been guests of the festival.

One of the aims of the festival is to introduce new audience, especially young people, to the classical music. For this reason Berengaria offers every year two morning concerts played by young talented musicians.

For more information please call on 25 343 900

Annual Contemporary Dance Platform

In the middle of March the Annual Contemporary Dance Platform takes place at the Rialto Theater in Limassol. This is a well established dance festival that has been taking place in Cyprus for the last 8 years.

The 3-day platform offers a great opportunity to see how contemporary dance in Cyprus is developing. Every year local choreographers and dancers show their works. Each performance has its own individuality and brings contemporary experience and emotional impact that are not to be missed. Every year the festival organizers add a new feature.

For more information please call on 25 343 900

Koumandaria Festival

July is the month for celebrations in honor of the famous Cypriot wine Koumandaria. The villages of the Kourris Valley, which is one of the main wine producing regions of Cyprus, hold the annual Koumandaria Festival.

Alassa, Agios Georgios, Doros, Laneia, Monagri and Silikou are the main participating villages.

Koumandaria is a sweet dessert wine that was first produced during the Crusades and is now a popular drink among both locals and visitors.