"The Queen Has Awakened!" Sitia Goes into Carnival Mode!
Author Discover Crete
Culture
Culture
The magical Sitia, the Queen of Carnival, officially kicks off the festive season, setting the island ablaze with energy, music, and non-stop revelry.
This city never sleeps—now, it dons its mask and invites you to the wildest carnival celebration in Crete. A true seductress, Sitia is ready to steal the show once again, turning the entire island upside down with its multi-day festivities.
This isn’t just a single event but a series of celebrations that start with the opening of Triodion and climax in a spectacular four-day grand finale from February 28 to March 3, 2025. Get ready for street parties, a night parade, a fashion show, the Grand Carnival Parade, concerts, Clean Monday celebrations, and even a kite-flying competition.
Carnival fever spreads beyond the city to the villages, creating a colorful mosaic that cements Sitia as one of Greece’s top Carnival destinations for 2025.
🎭 Are you ready? Let’s goooooo! 🎭
📅 EVENT SCHEDULE
🔥 Sunday, February 16
- 16th Kids' Treasure Hunt
- Hosted by OBROηSIS & MAZI!
- Organized by: Epitrapaizontes
🎶 Thursday (Tsiknopempti), February 20
- Big Concert with Freaktones – 7:00 PM
- From reggae to Greek folk, from rock to tsifteteli—expect constant musical surprises that keep you dancing.
- Organized by: Municipality of Sitia, Sitia Municipal Community
- "Shall we hit the bouzoukia?" Street Party – 8:30 PM
- DJs take over local bars and restaurants, setting the night on fire with live music, grilled delights, and a bouzoukia-style party.
- Organized by: Municipality of Sitia, Association of Restaurants & Entertainment Venues
🎭 Sunday, February 23
- Treasure Hunt!
- Organized by: Potagonistes
- Concert: Hainides
- A magical night with Hainides, blending music with solidarity.
- Organized by: Vitsentzos Kornaros Foundation, Lasithi Chamber of Commerce, Association of Restaurants & Entertainment Venues, Treasure Hunt Organizing Team
✨ Friday, February 28 – White Carnival Night
- A magical evening with jugglers, stilt walkers, acrobats, and street performers, creating an electrifying atmosphere in the city's commercial district.
- Special treats, grilled delights, and discounts up to 50% in local shops.
- Organized by: Sitia Commercial Association
💃 Saturday, March 1
- Grand Night Parade – 7:30 PM
- Get dressed, get ready, and shine! This night is pure magic—music, dance, and unexpected surprises.
- Host: Marios Mamoutis
- Parade starts from Konstantinos Karamanlis & Poseidonos intersection (seafront).
- Fashion Contest – Hosted by Laki Gavala!
- Sitia embraces Haute Couture with a spectacular fashion contest judged by legendary designer Laki Gavala.
- Grand Prize: €500 for the best design!
- Organized by: Municipality of Sitia, Sitia Municipal Community
- Street Party & Carnival Madness!
- DJs crank up the volume, dancers heat up the streets, and the party goes on all night long!
- Organized by: Association of Restaurants & Entertainment Venues
👑 Sunday, March 2 – Grand Carnival Parade
- The Return of the Kings! – 4:00 PM, Starts at the Archaeological Museum of Sitia
- Carnival Host: Laki Gavala, joined by Marios Mamoutis, the "Prince of the Night"
- We welcome King Karnavalos & his stunning Queen, Vaggelio Fasoulaki, with their loyal subjects!
- Floats, dance, music, schools, clubs, and thousands of revelers take over the city!
- Major Cash Prizes for Best Costumes & Floats!
- 🏆 Best Float – €500
- 🏆 Most Original Costume – €500
- 🏆 Most Impressive Costume – €500
- Double Concert Extravaganza!
- Vaggelio Fasoulaki – Expect a surreal, electrifying performance!
- KINGS – A fusion of pop, dance, and RnB that will keep you moving!
- Organized by: Municipality of Sitia, Sitia Municipal Community
- After-Parade Street Party – The Night Where Everything is Allowed!
- Live DJ set, nonstop dancing, wild happenings, and surprises all night long!
- Organized by: Association of Restaurants & Entertainment Venues, Municipality of Sitia
🎈 Monday (Clean Monday), March 3 – Kite Flying at Kokkina
- Traditional "Koulouma" celebrations in the old town
- Free Lenten dishes, including homemade fasolada (bean soup) cooked in giant cauldrons by local volunteers
- The Mayor of Sitia teaches children how to make traditional kites
- Kite-Flying Contest
- Live music & dancing with local folk bands
- Location: Chlouberakis Grove, 10:00 AM
- Organized by: Municipality of Sitia, Sitia Municipal Community, Friends of Sitia Music Association
🎉 FREE ENTRY to all events!
Sitia’s Carnival 2025 promises an experience you’ll never forget. Are you ready?
