Carnival celebrations get underway

LIMASSOL yesterday entered carnival mode, with music playing all over town and events taking place throughout the day.

The highlight was the entry of King Carnival, accompanied by his entourage and a fireworks show.

The revival of the old tradition of a well-known personality dressing up as King Carnival for the duration of the festival was welcomed by locals. This year the honour was bestowed upon Loullis Katsounotos, who led last night’s procession.

King Carnival’s procession, accompanied by Ariones Choir, the Limassol Cantadoroi Group, the Municipal Philharmonic Orchestra and the girl-scout cheerleaders set off from Limassol Town Hall at 7pm.

King Carnival then passed through Themidos, Anexartisias, Ayiou Andreou, Karaiskaki, Stasinou and Andrea Droussioti streets, ending at Heroes Square. There, the first carnival party, organised by the municipality, took place with music and dance.

Prior to the entry of King Carnival the municipality orgainsed the opening of an art exhibition, themed, ‘Carnival 2008’, at the Town Hall.

The popular tradition among students of celebrating carnival launch with a foam and egg war in the town’s streets once again dominated the daytime celebrations.

In a bid to save local shops from getting plastered with foam, flour and eggs, the municipality, in cooperation with student councils and school administrations, organised a concert at the parking lot opposite the Enaerios strip.