This year’s session of Patras Carnival kicked off on January 19 in the city's St. George Square with a street party that lasted late into the night. "Patras sends a message of joy, optimism and hope in search of the antidote to the crisis", the city’s mayor Yannis Dimaras said, inaugurating the events of Greece's first and longest-running Carnival.

With two music stages at the city’s main pedestrian street, street theatre, activities for children and the traditional "chocolate war," the port city promises two months of joy and surprises, until March 17, when the Carnival will culminate with the grand parade of floats.

Greek News Agenda: Patras-The King of Greek Carnivals