It’s Christmas in Athens again, and once more the city will be awash in lights and celebration. While decorating began in November, along with a favorite Athenian pastime: shopping, the major downtown festivities begin this week. So, whether you currently live in Athens or are visiting Athens anytime in December through early January, here’s a schedule of what you’ll find and where to find it. The city has once again planned lots of activities for young and old alike.
Once again the central square in Athens, Syntagma Square, adjacent to the Parliament Building, will be the centerpiece of the Athenian celebrations. As part of the festivities, an entertainment pavilion will once more serve as a musical oasis. Visitors can expect to hear jazz groups, the Athens Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphonic Orchestra, Big Band and Greek Music Workshop in addition to a variety of performers from around the globe.
The city hasn’t limited its celebrations to Syntagma Square. As the lights turn on in Syntagma, so will they illuminate Kotzia Square (across from City Hall on Athenas), the National Gardens, Kanari Square in Kypseli, and S. Petroula Square in Kononos. In addition, across the city there will be free concerts in squares and on boardwalks, in Pagrati, Thissio, Patissia and Ampelokoipi. Check our Events Calendar for more on these roaming celebrations.
The festivities begin on at 7:30pm pm December 7, 2008 in Syntagma Square, (a week or so earlier than in previous years), the city is planning an entire month of activities! The evenings’ celebration will include performances by the Athens Philharmonic, Children’s Choir of Athens, and the Big Band of Athens with Michali Gioulas. And as the music plays, and the lights are illuminated, fireworks will fill the Athenian skyline.
Schedule of Christmas concerts and performance at Syntagma Square |
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Tree lighting and concert |
December 7 |
19:30 (7:30 pm) |
De Stijl |
December 8 |
19:30 (7:30 pm) |
Imam Baildi |
December 9 |
19:30 (7:30 pm) |
Ηρώ (Iro) |
December 11 |
19:30 (7:30 pm) |
Λαϊκό Εργαστήρι των Μουσικών Συνόλων |
December 12 |
19:30 (7:30 pm) |
Dimitri Tipaldou Children’s Chorus |
December 13 |
13:00 (1:00 pm) |
Chorus of the National Technical University of Metsovo |
December 14 |
19:30 (7:30 pm) |
Mixed Chorus of the City of Athens |
December 17 |
19:30 (7:30 pm) |
Elias Giouroukou Chorus of Traditional Greek Music |
December 19 |
19:30 (7:30 pm) |
Despoina Boudani-Sougioul |
December 20 |
11:30 (11:30 am) |
Παραδοσιακή Χορωδία Εθνικού Ωδείου |
December 20 |
19:30 (7:30 pm) |
Greek Lyceum |
December 21 |
12:00 (noon) |
Childrens Chorus of the National Conservatory |
December 22 |
18:30 (6:30 pm) |
Spiros Lampros Childrens Chorus |
December 23 |
13:30 (1:30 pm) |
Chania Folklore Group with Manolis Kontaro and Μανώλη Κονταρό and his group |
December 24 |
12:00 (noon) |
Athens Philharmonic |
December 24 |
12:00 (noon) |
Balkon Swing |
December 26 |
19:30 (7:30 pm) |
Cultural Association of Neas Mesimvrias |
December 27 |
18:00 (6:00 pm) |
Athens Philharmonic |
December 28 |
18:00 (6:00 pm) |
Athens Philharmonic |
December 31 |
12:00 (noon) |