The Xanthi Carnival is one of the biggest and most colourful in northern Greece, and one of the liveliest in the country — comparable in atmosphere to the carnivals of Patras and Kozani. It takes place over the two weeks before Clean Monday (the start of Greek Orthodox Lent, in February or March depending on the year) and culminates in a grand parade through the city centre on the final Sunday.
The costumes are elaborate and the spirit is genuinely festive. The carnival has deep roots in the region's mixed cultural heritage — Greek Orthodox, Muslim, and Bulgarian traditions all feed into the festival's exuberant character. The old town's squares and cafes are the centre of activity in the evenings. Accommodation books up during the carnival week; if you plan to attend, reserve early.