Patras: Carnival atmosphere and official opening ceremony

Patras is entering carnival rhythms with the official opening ceremony taking place at 9:00 p.m. in Georgiou Square. The events started in the morning with the traditional ceremony of handing over the carnival banner.

The banner arrived from the Agiou Nikolaou Pier, accompanied by sports sailing clubs, and was handed over to the herald of the Patras Carnival, Maria Agouridi. A procession then took place to the City Hall, where the banner was handed over to the Mayor, Kostas Peletidis.

After the handover of the banner, a party followed in Georgiou Square. The opening ceremony is themed 'Get Out of the Screen' and aims to highlight collectivity and human contact.

The ceremony includes music, choirs, theatrical elements and the traditional custom of the chocolate war.

According to the president of KEDIP, Pavlos Skouras, 300 people are participating in the opening ceremony, highlighting the artistic potential of the city.