Greek celebrations in Athens
Greeks love to celebrate during Christian holidays and festivals throughout the year. The following are some of the biggest festivals and events in Athens.
Carnival Season
The first carnival season hits Greece in February, three weeks before the start of Lent. The city celebrates with a feast of eating, drinking and dancing in the streets. Since Easter is the most important festival in the Greek calendar, the people of Athens celebrate this carnival season with much fanfare and merrymaking. Its highlight is the candlelight procession up Lykavittos Hill culminating at the Chapel of Agios Georgos.
Greek Independence Day
March is a month of celebration, particularly on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Greek Independence Day on the 25th. The city celebrates with a big parade and major musical concerts.
Greek Folk Dances
This festival begins in May and ends in September. Every day, a host of folk dances is performed at the Dora Stratou Theatre to the delight of fans. Naturally, excessive eating and drinking are also part of the celebration. May is also the time of the Spring Festival to commemorate Labour Day on May 1. It's an official holiday.
Hellenic Festival
The Hellenic Festival, held annually from mid-June to end-September, is the biggest event in Athens. It features all kinds of live musical performances, non-stop dancing and theater presentations in various venues around the city. There’s also a yearly staging of a Greek drama at the ancient Odeon, with the floodlit Acropolis looming in the background. The Hellenic Festival coincides with the Athens and Epidaurus Festival from late-June to mid-August. It has a wide range of events to cater to varied tastes. One of its highlights is a series of theater performances at the ancient Epidaurus Theater.
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