The Christmas decorations on Nicosia’s revamped Makarios avenue will be lit in a ceremony on Saturday, Nicosia municipality has announced.

The much-anticipated project which has narrowed roads and widened pavements was handed over earlier this week, with mayor Constantinos Yiorkadjis inviting the public to experience it for themselves this festive season, taking advantage of its temporary pedestrianisation.

Due to delays in the decision on whether to allow private cars to drive through it, Makarios Avenue will be pedestrian and bicycle only throughout the Christmas season, until January 15.

This Saturday, lights will go on at 5pm, kicking off a small event outside City Plaza shopping centre, which will play host to the Nicosia Pop Up Festival.

Independent traders will take over the shopping centre’s vacant shops, while events will be held at Theatro Polis-OPAP until the end of December, the run of the festival.

The municipality said the main objective of the festival is to support the local community by gathering in the commercial centre of Nicosia “all things innovative, inventive and creative in the fields of entrepreneurship, entertainment, culture and education”.

For more information on the festival and tickets, visit this link.