The focal point of the events will be the central square of Syntagma, where 21 live events will take place under the massive 21-metre christmas tree. The music programme has 3 performances each day the first starting at 11.00 in the morning with orchestral ensembles, followed at 14.00 by music from up-and-coming acts, while at 18.00 some of the most popular Greek artists take to the stage.
Parallel to this, a series of special musical events and parties will be popping up in the most unexpected parts of the city. All this will culminate with the New Year’s Eve party at Athens’ central market The Varvakeio Agora, on Athinas Street celebrating the start of 2023.
On Friday, December 23rd at 14.00 the mood changes as the boisterous Gumbo Ya Ya and the explosive Sugahspank! take the stage, bringing you authentic jazz & blues straight from the streets of New Orleans. Immediately afterwards, at 18.00, the dynamic 1550 (Fifteen Fifty) and the subversive and multi-talented Dimitris Starovas comes to the stage to present songs from his discography mixed with hits from the Greek and international music scene in a unique concert full of prose and plenty of humour.
On Christmas Eve, Saturday 24 December, the soundtrack of Syntagma Square is very Christmassy, as befits the day. The musical program starts, as always, at 11.00, with original and arranged festive and solemn melodies, masterpieces of the world classical repertoire and Christmas suites from the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, by the 20-member Athenian Mandolinata “Nikolaos Lavdas”. The make sure to bring your dancing shoes, since at 14.00 VaniLa swing will be back, more refreshed than ever, to play a mix of original songs and hit covers as only they know how to play them! At 18.30,the mood changes. People will be treated to Elvis’ Christmas, a wonderful Christmas live with…. Elvis Presley, a production of his Christmas and gospel song. This will be brought to you by Doros Demosthenous together with a group of talented soloists.
On Tuesday 27 December, the programme starts at 11.00 with the Jazz Octet of the Military band of Athens and their “Blues Christmas”, contemporary and traditional Christmas melodies with a jazzy take. At 14.00, the Alexandros Affolter Quintet will take to the stage to present a show with a Christmas mood and jazz selections from iconic artists such as Cole Porter as well as songs made popular by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong. The day will close uniquely with a concert by Greek rock star Nikos Portokaloglou, as well as some of his hits Portokaloglou will be performing some of his favourite songs, a bold combinations of Greek and foreign iconic music in his own unique style. He will be joined by Vicky Karatzoglou, Byron Tsourapis and the Eugene Alites.
The concert program at Syntagma Square will conclude on Wednesday 28 December, starting at 11.00 with the Athens Big Band, which will perform a mishmash of much loved Christmas melodies along with old time classics from the golden age of the big band. At 14.00, the stage will be taken over by a multi-dimensional musical personality, Xenia Gargali with her band “Plasteini”, in a glittering journey of melodies from all over the world. At 18.00, the one and only Rena Morfi will take the stage with her band to stir up the audience! The performer with her velvety voice and explosive stage presence, her unexpected Latin covers will give us a live full of dynamism, brio, passion, inexhaustible fun and sensitivity.
On December 29th, in one of the most beautiful arcades of the city centre, the arcade of the Moxy Hotel in Omonia, a big Christmas party with lots of music and dancing will take place, with songs chosen by the radio producers of Best 92.6 FM.
And for the first time ever, the Municipality of Athens invites us all to celebrate the New Year with a frenetic New Year’s Eve Party at Varvakeio Agora with high profile local DJs of Athens.
So on January 1, 2023, after midnight and the changing of the year and the massive fireworks display at Syntagma Square, we’ll all meet at 1.00 am in the most emblematic market ‘Varvakeio Agora’ of the city, partying together in the heart of Athens with banging tunes and lots of dancing to welcome in the New Year as it deserves.
Read more:
A Flaming Christmas: Florina and its Villages in Northen Greece
Christmas in One of the Most Beautiful and Famous Ski Resorts in Greece
7 Traditional Christmas Recipes from Around Greece
