Streets across northern Greece came alive with music, costumes and shared traditions on Sunday as people of all ages took part in carnival celebrations that blend inherited customs with playful satire and end-of-winter festivities.
In the weeks before Lent, towns and cities in the region host masquerades, parades and communal feasts. Local carnival fiestas in northern Greece combine centuries-old rituals with modern festivities, attracting thousands of visitors from across the region and beyond.
In Naousa, Central Macedonia, the carnival season peaked on Sunday with the famous custom of "Genitsaroi and Boules," widely regarded as the city's cultural hallmark. Festivities began early in the morning at the traditional base of the custom, where visitors learned about its history and symbolism. Four groups, called 'bouloukia', followed the traditional route through the town.
A key highlight was Alonia Square, where the emotional "removal of the mask" took place, one of the most poignant moments of Naousa's carnival. Children and their escorts sang traditional "patinades" as the procession moved through the streets, creating a reverent, continuous atmosphere. The celebrations ended with a large outdoor concert and street party, as Naousa hosted one of northern Greece's most distinctive carnival celebrations.
In Servia, a town outside Kozani in Western Macedonia, celebrations culminated in the carnival parade. Floats and numerous walking groups filled the streets in a colourful display of satire, imagination and collective effort. Visitors and locals turned the town centre into a vibrant river of revellers. The event concluded with awards for the best floats and the traditional burning of the 'carnival king', a symbolic farewell to excess before the fasting period of Lent. For Servia, located in a region better known for its mountainous landscapes, the parade is a cultural anchor and a draw for winter tourism.
In Polygyros, the capital of Halkidiki, large crowds gathered in the town centre for a lively Sunday parade featuring five walking groups, four-wheeled formations and five elaborate floats. Themes ranged from "Energy Apocalypse" to "Samurai and Geishas" and "Ancient Greeks", mixing topical satire with historical and global references.
The town's mayor opened the festivities with a countdown, describing the carnival as "a celebration of participation, joy and creativity" and thanking volunteers and local associations for keeping tradition alive. The municipality organised ten days of events, including exhibitions highlighting art, music, photography and local heritage. Celebrations will conclude today, Clean Monday, at the nearby beaches, with 'koulouma' picnics by the sea featuring fasting foods and live music.
