Downtown Athens comes alive again with the spirit of the holidays, and locals and visitors alike will gather for the city’s official tree lighting ceremony on December to kick off the “Athens Celebrates” festivities scheduled for December 2012.
You can download a complete calendar of events here, the highlights of the holiday season are below (the complete calendar contains concerts and other activities outside the city center – concerts in parks and estates across the city, the highlights below include only the city center).
It all starts on Tuesday December 11, 2012, at 7:00 PM when the Mayor of Athens, Yiorgos Kaminis, will flip the switch to light up Syntagma Square. Athens Big Band will perform.
Christmas in Athens Program for Central Athens
Tuesday Decembe 11 – 7 PM – Syntagma Square – Illumination and Athens Big Band
Thursday December 13 – 1:00 PM – Kolonaki Square – City of Athens Philharmonic Orchestra musical stroll on Voukourestiou street
Friday December 14 – 12:00 PM – Athens Central Market (Varvakios Market) City of Athens Philharmonic Orchestra
Saturday December 15 – 12:00 PM – Syntagma Square – Ermou str. – Monastiraki Square – City of Athens Philharmonic Orchestra Musical Stroll
Sunday December 16 – 12:00 PM – Kalligas Square – City of Athens Philharmonic Orchestra
Monday December 17 – 11:00 AM – Friendship Club – Koukaki – Athens Mixed Municipal Choir
Tuesday December 18 – 10:30 AM Athens Municipal Radio 9.84 FM Amphitheatre (Technopolis)- “Young Jason” children’s theatre by the City of Athens Symphony Orchestra. Young Jason manages, through the kindness of his heart, to move his arrogant peers and to give them a lesson on humanity during the days of Christmas. A tender and moving story on the power of human communication for all ages.
Wednesday December 19 -10:30 AM Athens Municipal Radio 9.84 FM Amphitheatre (Technopolis) “Young Jason” children’s theatre by the City of Athens
Thursday December 20 -7:00 PM – Klafthmonos Square City of Athens Symphonic Orchestra
Thursday December 20 -1:00 PM – PM – Friendship Club – Metaxourgeio – Athens Mixed Municipal Choir
Thursday December 20 -1:00 PM – Kolonaki Square – Voukourestiou str. – City of Athens Philharmonic Orchestra Musical Stroll
Thursday December 20 -4:30 PM – Friendship Club – Votanikos – City of Athens Greek Folk Music Workshop
Thursday December 20 -6:00 PM – “Technopolis” City of Athens Philharmonic Orchestra
Friday December 21 – 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM – Klafthmonos Square – Voyage Jazz Group
Friday December 21 – 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM – Klafthmonos Square – ROUS One-man Band
Friday December 21 – 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM – Klafthmonos Square – Matoulla Zamani
Friday December 21 – 6:00 PM – “Pallas” Cinema (Pagrati) – City of Athens Philharmonic Orchestra
Saturday December 22 – 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM – Klafthmonos Square – Traditional Christmas carols
Saturday December 22 – 1:30 Pm – 2:30 PM – Klafthmonos Square – Operatic Journey – Tenors of the Opera House
Saturday December 22 – 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM – Klafthmonos Square -Opera Chaotique “The chaotic story of Christmas”
Saturday December 22 – 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM – Klafthmonos Square – European Taxim
Saturday December 22 – 12:30 PM- 1:30 PM – Monastiraki Square – Batuca
Sunday December 23 – 1:30 – 2:30 PM – Klafthmonos Square – City of Athens Big Band
Sunday December 23 – 3:30 – 4:30 PM – Klafthmonos Square –Rahil Tselepidou & Stelios Mac
Sunday December 23 – 5:30 – 6:30 PM – Klafthmonos Square –Manos Pyrovolakis
Sunday December 23 – 12:30 – 1:30 PM – Monastiraki Square – 8tetto Vocal Ensemble
Sunday December 23 -11:30 AM – Syntagma Square – Ermou str. – Ailou str. City of Athens Philharmonic Orchestra Musical Stroll
Monday December 24 – 11:30 AM –Kotzia Square – Ermou str. – Syntagma Square City of Athens Philharmonic Orchestra Musical Stroll
Thursday December 27 – 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Klafthmonos Square – El Duo de Dos
Thursday December 27 – 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM – Klafthmonos Square – YFG in Concert – Yiorgos Fakanas Group
Thursday December 27 – 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM- Klafthmonos Square – Melios Balkana Mama & Aggeliki Toubanaki
Thursday December 27 – 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM Monastiraki Square– – Penny and the Swingin’ Cats
Thursday December 27 – 12:00 PM – Panormou (Metro station exit) – City of Athens Philharmonic Orchestra
Thursday December 27 – 1:00 PM – Friendship Club – Gyzi – City of Athens Greek Folk Music Workshop
Thursday December 27 – 6:00 PM – “Technopolis” City of Athens – City of Athens Big Band
Friday December 28 – 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Klafthmonos Square – encardia
Friday December 28 – 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM – Klafthmonos Square -Happy Dog Project
Friday December 28 – 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM – Klafthmonos Square -Sacha Son
Friday December 28 – 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM – Monastiraki Square – Athens Lindy Hop
Friday December 28 – 12:00 PM – Fokionos Negri – City of Athens Philharmonic Orchestra
Saturday December 29 – 1:30 PM – 2:30PM – Klafthmonos Square – Nalyssa Green
Saturday December 29 – 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM – Klafthmonos Square -Marietta Fafouti & Band
Saturday December 29 – 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM – Klafthmonos Square -Cabin 54
Saturday December 29 – 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM – Monastiraki Square – – SURPRISE!
Saturday December 29 – 2:30PM -3:30PM – Monastiraki Square – – Heptanesian Carols
Saturday December 29 – 6:00 PM – “Anna and Maria Kalouta” Multipurpose Centre – “Young Jason” children’s theatre by the City of Athens Symphony Orchestra
Monday December 31 – 1:00 PM – Voukourestiou Street -Athens Mixed Municipal Choir
New Year’s Eve Celebration
Monday December 31 – 11:00 PM Apostolou Pavlou & Herakleidon pedestrian str. (Thisseio) – New Year’s Eve Celebrations with the Musical Ensemble of the City of Athens, MPLE and Alkiviadis Konstantopoulos
Friday January 4, 2013 – 6:00 PM “Technopolis” City of Athens – City of Athens Philharmonic Orchestra