Christmas is coming and Attica is ready to welcome this magical season, "putting on its festive outfit" and filling every town square, neighbourhood, market, park and numerous surprise-spots with Christmas melodies, colours and flavours, that will thrill children and adults. Once again, New Year's Eve will mark the peak of the festivity period, with stunning audiovisual events and breathtaking fireworks displays that will light up Attica's sky and people's hearts.
From 3 December 2018 until 5 January 2019, Athens transforms into a city of angels, featuring fascinating celebrations and over 230 Christmas events, activities and surprises, in every corner of the city. In many - often unexpected - parts of Athens, angel-like figures created by established Greek artists, will lead Athenians and visitors to the joyous festivities. The lighting of the city and official opening of celebrations took place on Tuesday 11 December at 19.00 in Syntagma Square, with plenty of music and dance.
Christmas at the Acropolis Museum will be pure magic, with imaginative children’s workshops, children's stories, Christmas concert by the Athens State Orchestra and swing New Year's tunes. Throughout Christmas and New Year's, the Emotions Museum will welcome all children, teenagers and adults to play and enjoy the interactive exhibition "In Anger's Palace!" and participate in the museum's Christmas workshops. Visitors of the Goulandris Natural History Museum will enjoy a delightful Christmas program entitled "A Dinosaur Under the Tree", from Saturday 22 December 2018 until Sunday 6 January 2019: theatrical performances, workshops, shadow puppet theatre shows and decorating the Christmas tree alongside dinosaurs! Dinosaurs will be the stars at the festive museum shop, too, guiding visitors through a special array of imaginative presents and toys.
Kifissia and Nea Erythraea lighted up their Christmas trees… melodically. Two great concerts by well-known Greek artists launched this year's Christmas festivities, on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 December respectively. Theatrical performances for children and adults, Christmas bazaar, Greek folk fairy tales, season melodies and Christmas carols played in the streets, by the Kifissia Philarmonic Orchestra.
Piraeus will once again celebrate Christmas with a fascinating program of events for children and adults, that will create a unique festive atmosphere in the centre and in every neighbourhood of the city. The lighting of the Christmas tree will take place at a special event outside the Municipal Theatre of Piraeus, on Friday 7 December, at 19:00, with Christmas melodies and modern live music. Children, the "protagonists" of the Christmas season, will meet with Santa Claus and have their fill of playing at the four Christmas parks, in Marina Zeas and in Kanaris, Pavlos Melas and Dodekanissou squares. Children and adults alike will enjoy the happenings, the theatrical performances, the competitions, concerts and surprises that the city of Piraues has organised for Christmas 2018.
Festivities in Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni began on Sunday 9 December, with the children's play "An elf on the shelf" and the choral concert "Welcome, Christmas", featuring the choirs of Voula, Elliniko and Ilioupoli.
Saronikos welcomes Christmas 2018 with a multitude of festivities and events for all ages, in Anavyssos, Palaia Phocaea, Saronida, Lagonissi, Kalyvia and Kouvaras. Music, games, magicians and face painting for children, an impressive fire show and delicious treats for everyone.
In Markopoulo, December is full of surprises and a multitude of events that will thrill the audience: children's theatre, art actions, music concerts, workshops and local traditions that are revived every Christmas.
A five-day Κid’s Festival with hundreds of actions and interactive games for children, concerts and theatrical performances have been organised in Argyroupoli and Elliniko for Christmas 2018. Festivities began on the 9th of December with the lighting of the Christmas tree at the Town Hall, followed by live music and many presents for all.
A rich program of festive events awaits the audience in Acharnes, featuring children's theatrical performances, creative actions, inflatable toys, handicrafts and artistic constructions workshops, face painting and Christmas concerts. The Mpafi and Flabouri refuges on Mount Parnitha have "put on their festive outfits" and await visitors of all ages to enjoy the snowy landscape, to hike and play in the breathtaking natural environment and spend a memorable Christmas or New Year's Eve in the lush green forest.
The stunning islands of Attica have already created the most wonderful Christmas atmosphere, with elegant decorations and events that showcase their rich traditions. Christmas shadow puppet theatre and other theatrical performances for children mark the beginning of this year's festivities in Hydra, which has decorated its picturesque port with an impressive "postali", a small steamboat that used to connect the smaller islands to the mainland in the interwar period. The original work of art by Greek painter and set designer, Nikos Stefanou, will be this year's highlight of Hydra town decorations, with its impressive lights and the many surprises it holds for all children! On Wednesday 19 December, the audience will enjoy a festive music event at the port of Hydra, accompanied by delicious local traditional flavours, while presents will be given to all children.
The Neighbourhood of Christmas in Poros will be overflowed with music tunes, children's toys and delicious treats for all visitors, from 21 December 2018 until 4 January 2019. Concerts, bazaars, fairground attractions and, of course, Santa Claus will be there, awaiting the audience every day, at the Town Hall square and the Town Market.
In the wineries of Attica, throughout Christmas, you will try the quality wine of the Attica land, along with mouthwatering seasonal flavours especially prepared for visitors these days, you will purchase your favourite wine labels in special prices and will enjoy the Christmas events organised by Attica winemakers, with music and singing in a fantastic Christmas atmosphere.
Once again, hotels in Athens and the whole of Attica have created a dream-like festive ambience, with stunning decorations, grand dinners and extraordinary events of high aesthetic value, exactly as Christmas and New Year period demands.
From Thursday 13 December 2018 until Thursday 3 January 2019, Christmas shopping hours in Attica are 9 am until 9 pm on weekdays, while Saturdays shops will remain open from 9:00 to 18:00. On Sunday 16, 23 and 30 December 2018, shops will be open from 11:00 until 18:00.
