Athens’ Neighborhoods to Transform into Christmas Villages

Photo source: Municipality of Athens.

Ten Athenian neighborhoods will transform into Christmas villages that will host a series of festive events and activities, according to the Municipality of Athens.

Launching on December 23 and running to January 6, 10 Athenian squares will host Santa Claus and his elves who will be on call daily to welcome children and grownups with crafts, treats, face painting, stilt walkers, jugglers, Christmas mascots, animators, puppets and magicians, and many more interactive experiences.

The “Christmas Villages” program will take place in the following squares: Messolonghi in Pagrati, Heldreich in Neos Kosmos, Jacqueline-de-Romilly in Thiseion, Agia Ekaterini in Kato Petralona, Athanasiou Diakou in Thimarakia, Nathaniel in Agios Eleftherios, Agios Andreas in Lambrini, Agios Panteleimon, Agios Dimitrios on Panormou Street in Ampelokipi, and Gika in Ellinoroson.

Photo source: Municipality of Athens.

“We can enjoy Christmas this year with our children and families, in Athens’ neighborhoods, streets and squares thanks to our municipality’s program of events,” said Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyiannis, adding that the program was designed with care and in close collaboration with the city’s cultural organizations.

Bakoyannis will inaugurate the “Christmas Villages” program during an event held at Gika Square on December 23, accompanied by a concert by Petros Kourtis and his “Tin Soldiers” band and happenings specially designed for all children at heart.

“Christmas Villages” program

Young visitors at a Christmas village in Athens, will be able to follow a map and discover Santa Claus’ home where they can participate in a series of activities and events like puppet shows, the BubbleShow, storytelling and elf games.

Photo source: Municipality of Athens.

Puppet shows

Two interactive puppet shows will take place at Athens’ Christmas villages. The first is a family musical show based on comic sketches, by Francisco’s  Baruti Teatro group. The second performance, which is inspired by the Aegean islands and Seikilos epitaph, the oldest surviving complete musical composition, aims to teach children a very important message about life.

BubbleShow

A spectacular show, full of small, giant and countless magical soap bubbles, accompanied by fairytale music, will fill the Athenian sky.

Storytelling

Christmas stories about elves, reindeer, gnomes and more aiming to ignite children’s imaginations, promote their familiarity with poetry and linguistic symbolism will also take place at Athens’ Christmas villages.

Photo source: Municipality of Athens.

Christmas elf games

A Christmas elf will also wait for children to accompany them through a string of fun group and individual games, competitions and musical activities.

Christmas villages will be open daily from 11:30 to 14:00 and 15:00 to 20:00. On December 31 the villages will be open from 11:00 to 17:00.

More information can be found on the www.cultureisathens.gr website.