The king of Greek carnivals, the Patras Carnival, has opened its doors on January 17 and will run through February 22. This year, the apogee of the festival, the great parade and closing ceremony will take place on March 2.

Each year, carnival contestants in the great parade reach more than 35.000 people and events include balls, parades, a Treasure Hunt (with approximately seventy carnival groups participating), a Children’s Carnival (that attracts approximately 12,000 children), street theatre, and much more.

Greece’s Carnival season, known as "Apokries," is a period which traditionally begins ten weeks before Greek Orthodox Easter and culminates on the weekend before "Clean Monday," (Ash Monday) the first day of Lent, which is on March 3 this year.