Christmas celebrations and Events in Athens 2023
Christmas in Athens is a unique combination of traditional and modern elements, creating an unforgettable experience for residents and visitors. The city turns into a living canvas that reflects the spirit of the holidays, combining the magic of the past with the intensity of the present.
The centre of Athens, with the historic Syntagma Square in the centre, is transformed into a wonderful celebration space. Syntagma Square hosts a large, impressive Christmas tree, which is accompanied by a multitude of bright decorations and impressive lighting.
Walking along Ermou street , the most central shopping street of Athens, visitors enjoy the lively atmosphere of the festivities. Shops and shops are decorated with Christmas windows, while the sounds of carols echo in the air, adding a traditional touch.
In addition to traditional events, Athens offers a number of modern activities. Theme parks such as “Christmas Village” offer fun for all ages with games, theatre performances and workshops for children.
In the area of Thisio and Plaka, picturesque taverns and cafes offer the opportunity to taste traditional Greek flavours, such as melomakarona and kourabiedes, accompanied by warm Greek tsipouro (Rakomelo).
Christmas in Athens is also an opportunity for artistic events. Concerts, performances, and exhibitions flourish in this period, offering rich cultural experiences.
Athens Christmas organised by the Municipality of Athens
Until January 7th, the Municipality of Athens “scatters” Christmas sparkle in every corner of Athens, through special festive events, designed for everyone. For a period of eight days, in 129 neighbourhoods, 10 Christmas villages, more than 30 concerts, operettas, parties and performances full of music, over 100 activities for families and children, theatre performances, book-readings, activities in Museums, create the most festive atmosphere in the city. Athena’s
The impressive Christmas tree in Syntagma Square and the streets in the centre and the neighbourhoods are already lit up, in the spirit of the holidays, while in the next 38 festive days the city will shine even more, through the Christmas events of the Municipality of Athens.
The rich program of this year’s events was edited by the Culture, Sports & Youth Organization of the Municipality of Athens (OPANDA) and the Technopolis of the Municipality of Athens, in collaboration with This is Athens and the radio station of the city of Athens 9.84, while the actions of ” Olympia, Municipal Musical Theatre “Maria Kallas”” as well as the new cultural spaces of the Municipality of Athens, the Municipal Market of Kypseli, the Maria Kallas Museum and the Athens Book Space in the reformed Freedom Park.
The events include – among others – educational programs and workshops for children and families, lots of music in live concerts and parties, musical theatre performances, book launches and readings, events inspired by books and museum exhibitions, as well as ten “Christmas villages” with unique holiday surprises in each one.
The Mayor of Athens emphasized: “The Municipality of Athens is again this year carrying the festive spirit of Christmas from one end of the city to the other: a program full of music, special performances and hundreds of surprises await young and old to celebrate the brightest time of the year. Happy holidays with health and love to everyone!”
Omonoia Christmas Market
The second largest tree of the Municipality of Athens is located in Omonia Square, where a Christmas market with the necessary food and gifts was installed for the first time.
It is a new institution of the Municipality of Athens called Omonoia Christmas Market. In this way, the renovated square is organically added to the Christmas walk of the Center – from the Syntagma, which is the constant protagonist of the events with the stage, through the decorated University and the Stadium.
“Wishing Night” has now become a favorite Christmas Eve tradition! On December 24th, young and old will “light up” Kotzia Square with traditional biodegradable lanterns, which will travel to the sky carrying our wishes. On this magical Christmas night, the atmospheric melodies will come from the van of the ATHINA 9.84 station that will musically “dress up” the event with selections from its radio producers.
Visitors to the square will have the opportunity to try salty and sweet delicacies at the specially designed stands that will be set up, to do their shopping and also to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere in the heart of Athens.
At the same time, on December 29, in one of the most beautiful arcades of the centre, the Moxy arcade, there will be a big Christmas party with lots of music and dancing.
Ten neighbourhoods of Athens transform into ‘Christmas Villages’
From December 23, 2023 to January 6, 2024, ten “Christmas villages” will be set up in the same number of neighbourhoods, exciting young and old alike with their rich activities. From Acharnon and Lamprini to Pagrati and Kifisia, Santa Claus and his elves “transform” some of the most central neighbourhoods of Athens into “villages” of incredible joy and celebration, and welcome young and old children with constructions, sweets -treats, face painting and many more festive events. The events are accompanied by, among others, stilt walkers, jugglers etc
Christmas Music Events in Athens
Syntagma Square is dancing to the rhythm of Christmas again this year! For seven days, a total of 15 live concerts by local artists, bands and bands will take place on the main Christmas music stage: the George Zervos Trio, the Wedding Singers, Vassilis Kazoulis with the Yellow Bicycles and Alexandra Koniak, the Dimitris Tsakas Quintet, Polkar, Gumbo Ya Ya with Sugahspank! and Emily Mesko, Nefeli Fasouli, the Sub Quartet, Panos Vlachos, Jerome Kaluta, the Mihalis Kalkanis Group, the Christmas Gala with the voices of Maria Katrivesi and Yiannis Housakou, Jaguar Bombs and Tonis Sfinos & The Playmates, they promise to lift our festive mood!
Of course, parties will be set up again this year in the most unexpected places: The mobile party Needless turns Justice Square into a Christmas dancefloor, the radio station Kosmos sets up a “Xmas Party” specially dedicated to the magazine “Shedia” in the Municipal Market of Kypseli, the Cool Crips prove that fun fits everyone with a wild party at the Serafion of the Municipality of Athens, the Stoa Emporon is transformed by Pepper 96.6 into the ultimate fun spot, while on Christmas Day, & Beyond’s “Xmas Extravaganza” fills the Municipal Market of Kypseli with dynamic beats of favorite selectors and DJs.
At the same time, at the “Olympia, Municipal Music Theater “Maria Callas”” the popular operetta of Nikos Hadziapostolos, “The Poor of Athens”, is staged, directed by Vassilis Mavrogeorgiou and musical direction by Cornelios Michaelides, with the Symphony Orchestra and Choir of the Municipality of Athens.
The same venue will host the concert of Thodoris Kotonias and Savveria Margiolas, as well as “Christmas in New York” by the Athens Big Band, while the cultural spaces of OPANDA and the Polychoros “Anna and Maria Kalouta” will be “flooded” for throughout the holidays with Christmas songs, traditional melodies and concerts for children.
Finally, on festive days, the ATHINA 9.84 van will surprise the neighborhoods of Athens with Christmas music and children’s choirs. His stops include the Benaki Museum on Piraeus Street, as for a unique morning he will musically “dress up” the educational activities surrounding the exhibition of Giorgos Hatzimichalis, while on 20-28/12, in the heart of the festivities, he will decorate with the music of the Constitution. Especially for December 20, the city’s radio station joins forces with “Together for the Children” and they invite us to participate in the Christmas radio marathon supporting families and children in need.
The Christmas Factory at The Technopolis of Athens Municipality
The Elves equipped with new Christmas lights and colourful garlands, delicious sweets and candies and of course with their magical antiseptics, cleaned and decorated Santa’s Headquarters, and the bright area of Technopolis.
In the nice courtyard of Technopolis, you will find our dream carousel, the cars, the brightest wheel in Athens, the most beautiful Christmas tree in the city and lots of games for everyone
Santa’s dream is to renew his factory every year and welcome tens of thousands of young and old in a space full of Christmas and this has been happening for 10 years at The Christmas Factory: the source of Christmas in the heart of Athens.
So again this year, 10 years and thousands of visitors later, The Christmas Factory opens its doors on Saturday, November 25, even richer and more festive with hundreds of gifts, countless shows, an amusement park, an ice rink, musical events, dances, fairy tales, face painting, stilts, animators, Christmas stories, sweet and salty corners that will satisfy even the most demanding palates (with burgers, hot dogs, skewers, pizza, sweets, chocolates, candies, waffles), games and activities for young and old and the brand new Christmas theatre performance “The upside down Christmas” by Gerasimos Evagelatos, Giorgos Suleimans and Themis Karamouratides.
A show that encourages children to think differently and appreciate the joy of sharing with others, fostering a sense of community and solidarity. Just say out loud “Nagestouchri!” and get ready to experience the magic of Christmas in the most disruptive and fun way!
This Christmas our favorite elves are taking action with a big game, Santa’s Top 10, to solve the mystery of the birthday!
Santa’s top 10 at The Christmas Factory, is this year’s umbrella that includes all the interactive workshops and will lead to the solution of the riddle! Children and parents are faced with a big challenge: to go through all the workshops and collect the top 10 funniest facts about the life of Santa Claus that will reveal to them how old he really is!
The beloved Christmas factory returns richer, brighter, more complete with many hidden secrets waiting for young and old to discover
Rich educational activities and musical theatre performances for children and families
Christmas is the favourite holiday of children, but also of those who still feel like children! Educational programs, art workshops, creative constructions, musical and theatrical games, a workshop and projection of cartoons, Christmas painting, a magical bubble show, and many more festive activities await young and old in every corner of Athens, from the beginning of December until first days of the new year.
“Agelasti Politia and the Goblins”, the much-loved fairy tale of Haris and Panos Katsimihas, comes as a musical theater performance for young and old at the Athens Book Space of the Municipality of Athens in Eleftheria Park, while the children’s theatrical performances at the cultural venues in the city’s neighborhoods ” bring to the stage among others puppets, magicians, goblins, the popular “Little Gentlemen – Little Ladies”, up to stories inspired by the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, but also by the works of J. RR Tolkien. The Art Gallery, Museums, Libraries, Arts Center, Melina Cultural Center and Creative Learning Centers have designed programs that cover all ages of children with a wide range of activities.
Finally, OPANDA, in the context of its social work and wanting to offer even more joy to all the children of the city, will present to Special Primary Schools of Athens the play “The Philanthropist” by Moliere from the Athens Theatre Thespis, a Hilarious comedy with a highly educational character.
Athens Book Space
Fairy tales have their due every Christmas, which is why the new cultural space of the Municipality of Athens, the Athens Book Space in Eleftheria Park, invites young and old to “get lost” in the magic of the pages.
Children will enjoy activities that combine reading fairy tales and stories from around the world with comics, music, and even chess in separate and highly original workshops, while adult visitors will have the opportunity to take part in a creative reading workshop at the Reading Club of Classical Literature, as well as to attend discussions and analyzes of poetry collections and novels by authors and journalists.
At the same time, the Municipal Market of Kypseli is also “seduced” by the magic of the book, as it hosts the Christmas book markets of Psychogios Publications and the Booktopia group, while the Children’s and Adolescent Library dedicates an educational program to the life and work of Charles Dickens, well-known and as a “Christmas writer”.
Museum tours and exhibitions with free entry
To celebrate its first Christmas, the city’s new museum, the “Maria Callas Museum”, the first worldwide dedicated to “La Divina”, opens its doors for a double guided tour with free admission (and telephone reservation required). Participants will discover the world of the great diva, opera and lyrical theatre, through a path of experiential experience, enriched by audio-visual media, texts, new technologies, audio and historical evidence. At the same time, the first concert in its premises comes from the Athenian Quintet “Dimitrios Dounis”, where in the two performances “Christmas Visions” it presents a festive program with Christmas suites from the Renaissance to the present day, written by Greek and foreign composers.
At the Arts Center we will find the solo exhibition of Kostas Bassanou entitled “Working Title” which deals with the invisible creative space of artistic production, while at the Athens Municipality Gallery the first retrospective exhibition of the painter Alexis Kyritsopoulos entitled “Parallel”, with works from 1963 to date. The Museum of Folk Art and Tradition “Aggeliki Hatzimichali” presents the exhibition of handmade weavings “The Feathered Weaves of Ossa Thessaloniki”, while on New Year’s Eve it organizes a folkloric holiday tour of the Hatzimichali mansion, and, finally, the Cultural Center “Melina” organizes for visitors over 60 a nostalgic cultural walk through the city’s past that starts with the permanent exhibition “Travel of Old Athens”, continues in the story-filled Thisio and the pedestrian street of Heraklion and ends with the exhibition “Eureka: Science, Art & Technology of the Ancients Greeks” of the Heraklion Museum.
Spectacle of Experience Park
Despite the cold weather due to the nearby sea, The Ellinikon Experience Park keeps its hundreds of visitors, who are happy to see the park bathed in light at night: beyond the decoration, there is a series of light installations that await you during the festive season.
There is, for example, the Magic Christmas Carpet, an installation in which the steps are transformed into a huge projection mapping, as well as the Garden of Reflections which produces a landscape of mirages with a supernatural aesthetic. By the way, to see the vision for the master plan unfolding in Elliniko, stop by the Visitors Centre.
Athens Christmas during the 60’s
Going back in time to Athens more than 60 years ago, one finds that the capital of Greece was brighter, cleaner, more festive than ever! The cameras, with the means that existed in the 60s, has managed to capture how different the atmosphere of the big city was.Athens many decades ago did not need special filters and special lighting to become Christmassy. She had it all by herself!
Athens in the Christmas of the 60’s did not need the big Christmas trees in Syntagma Square, nor the concerts and events that take place today to “smell” Christmas.
Simple snapshots, everyday, like the gifts given to the traffic police on holidays, or the mountains of honey macaroons and kourabies cookies outside the shops, were enough.!!!
