The pedestrian streets
Street Party
The street party it all started from: one decoration scheme, one soundtrack and ten DJs across Georgaki Olympiou, Solomou and Agias Lavras.
Find out moreMASQUERINI 2027 27 Feb — 15 Mar 2027
Masquerini! The magic era of Katerini
Until Carnival Sunday · Sunday 14 March
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The carnival of Katerini
A city behind the mask
MASQUERINI is the name for the whole carnival season of Katerini, in northern Greece. It takes in the pre-season parties, Tsiknopempti, the Family Party on Eleftherias Square, the Passarella parade and the big Street Party that brings the pedestrian streets of Georgaki Olympiou, Solomou and Agias Lavras to life. It began in 2024 with 1,500 visitors; in 2026 it drew more than 10,000. Every year has its own theme and identity, so the tradition renews itself without losing its character.
Calendar
Save the dates
The days of the 2027 season. Exact times and detailed programmes will be announced shortly.
- February
Pre-season Parties
In the bars and restaurants across town.
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Opening ceremony
Eleftherias Square.
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Tsiknopempti
“Smoky Thursday” — the day carnival opens.
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Street Party & Family Party
The first day of both.
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Hot Sunday
The peak: the grand parade and the main Street Party, with morning activities on Eleftherias Square. Burning of the fanos on Makedonias Square.
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Clean Monday
Koulouma — flatbread, Lenten food and music by the sea.
Times to be announced
The events
The city’s big nights out
What comes back every year, and what the city now waits for.
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Eleftherias Square
Family Party
Eleftherias Square becomes a stage for children and families: a children’s workshop, face painting, dance performances, animateurs, drum bands and DJs.
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The grand parade
Masquerini Passarella
Katerini’s carnival parade, open to everyone. It sets off from the entrance of the Park of Colours and finishes on Agias Lavras, right inside the Street Party.
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The close of carnival
Burning of the Fanos & traditional Gaitanaki
With the gaitanaki, which stands for the circle of life, the burning of the Fanos, which burns away evil, and the customary “synchoremena” — asking one another’s forgiveness — we mark the start of Lent and the end of Katerini’s carnival weekend.
Find out more -
Before the curtain goes up
Pre-season Parties
All through February, the city’s bars and restaurants warm up the carnival with themed parties of their own.
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The day carnival opens
Tsiknopempti
Eleven days before Clean Monday, the tavernas of the old centre open the carnival season with grilled meat, music and the first confetti.
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Clean Monday
Koulouma
Koulouma is the open-air celebration of Clean Monday, out in the countryside or in town squares, which marks the official start of Great Lent.
Find out more -
The curtain rises
Opening Ceremony
Masquerini 2027 officially opens on Eleftherias Square, with the first opening ceremony in the event’s history.
Find out more
Take part
Will you walk the Passarella?
The Passarella is open to everyone. You need a group of at least 25 people, a costume theme of your own and a name.
Archive
How Masquerini has grown
Each year with its theme, its programme, its photographs and its after movie.
2026 Pirates
A full three-day programme from the Municipality of Katerini, with the grand Passarella and Katerina Stikoudi live on stage.
2025 80s 90s Disco
The year Masquerini gained a Family Party — and became the city’s event, not only the street’s.
2024 Ancient Greece & Greek Mythology
The first edition. Thirty bars and restaurants decorated the pedestrian streets together and built a carnival village inside the city.
Announcements
Latest news
The Masquerini 2026 programme
Three days of events from the Municipality of Katerini: a Family Party on Eleftherias Square, a Street Party on a Pirates theme, the grand Passarella and Katerina Stikoudi live on stage.
Enter a group in the Passarella 2026
Katerini’s carnival parade returns on Sunday 22 February. Entries for organised groups are now open.
Katerini’s first carnival parade
MASQUERINI 2025 brings the city its first carnival parade: Sunday 2 March, 12:00, from the Park of Colours to Eleftherias Square.
Follow
Masquerini on social
Announcements, backstage and the full material from every edition.