FESTIVAL
NAOUSSA
Carnival in Naoussa
The Municipality of Naoussa is organising the events "Naoussa Carnival 2025" from 20 February until 2 March, 2025.
The rich programme of this year's events focuses on musical tradition, feasts with patinades (traditional songs) and xinomavro wine (is a variety of wine, produced by red grapes cultivated in Naoussa).
The carnival festivities kick off on Thursday 20 February at 20:30 on Karatasou Square with a music concert performed by the band «WALKMAN THE BAND».
The musical events continue on Sunday 2 March (14:00, Karatasou Square) with a traditional music band.
Naoussa's carnival activities revolve around the unique event of "Genitsari and Boules", which only takes place in this town during the carnival period, distinguishing Naoussa from other towns that also organise carnival activities. In this way, the tradition, the culture and the people who support, preserve and perpetuate it through the faithful observance of the custom are highlighted. The custom takes place on 23, 24 February and 2 March starting from the traditional building of the "Genitsari and Bules" group (the event starts at 10:00). This carnival custom is a dance event. It has its roots in antiquity and is probably related to racial initiation ceremonies such as the coming of age ceremony.
On Clean Monday there is a free parade in the city and the custom "Koulouma", which is a top cultural, tourist and social event. The local professionals and the cultural associations and institutions that take part in the events contribute to the promotion of tourism, but also to the protection of folk traditions, highlighting the social dimension of the life of the inhabitants, their customs and traditions.