Ten Christmas villages with free concerts and activities for children are to open in neighborhoods across Athens on Friday, December 23rd, and remain open until January 6th, when the Greek Christmas period ends with the celebration of the Epiphany.
Santa and his elves will take their stands daily at: Missologhi Square in Pagkrati, Heldreich Square in Neos Kosmos, Jacqueline-de-Romilly Square in Thiseion, Agia Ekaterini Square in Kato Petralona, Athanasiou Diakou Square in Thimarakia, Nathaniel Square in Agios Eleftherios, Agios Andreas Square in Lambrini, Agios Panteleimon Square, Agios Dimitrios Square on Panormou Street in Ampelokipi, and Gika Square in Ellinoroson.
There will be no entrance fee for the Christmas villages, which will be free and open daily from 11:30 am to 2 pm and from 3 pm to 8 pm. On New Year’s Eve, they will be open from 11 pm to 5 pm.
A Christmas band will perform at the official launch event in Gika Square starting at 5:30 pm on Friday.
Following the path through the Athens Christmas villages, visitors will end up at Santa’s house.
Children will be able to enjoy crafts-making, treats, face and body painting, puppet shows, and have fun with stilt walkers, jugglers, Christmas mascots, animators, and magicians. Storytelling and bubble shows will be among the interactive experiences for kids.
New Year’s Eve celebrations in Athens
For New Year’s Eve, the city of Athens will celebrate with a spectacular free concert at Syntagma Square starting at 10:30 pm.
Mario Frangoulis and Giorgos Perris will perform, joined by a ten-member symphonic orchestra and soloists. The concert will open with a performance by the Athens Philharmonic Orchestra.
After midnight, the band Bejeezus will be passed the baton to continue the entertainment performing pop, swing, Latin, and rock and roll hits.
Athenians will later be able to carry on their celebrations at the Central Athens “Varvakios” Markets on Athinas Street, located between Monastiraki and Omonoia Squares, where famous local deejays will keep the New Year party going.
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