03-12-2008: "City of Athens announces Christmas programme: We’re celebrating on every corner of Athens!"

This year Christmas in Athens will be different - more modern and
artistic, with a greater emphasis on culture, and bathed in light and music.
The City of Athens
is once again staging a comprehensive series of events. This year the
celebration is spreading across many locations throughout the city, in City
District, on squares and in the neighbourhoods. All citizens - and children, in
particular - have
the opportunity to feel the festive atmosphere, no matter where they live.

Christmas decorations are being
installed as the city is transformed and awaits its residents and guests to
join this unique celebration. Syntagma
Square, the National Gardens, Kanari Square in Kypseli and Sotiris Petroulas
Square in Kolonos are some of the locations at which we will have the
opportunity to celebrate Christmas and the New Year.

Syntagma Square: The centre of the celebration

From December 7, 2008, through
January 6, 2008, Syntagma Square,
which constitutes the core of our city's Christmas panorama, will present a stunningly
festive image. The City's Christmas Tree will be lit in a brilliant fashion and
special structures, games and a stage, that will host music events and
children's activities, are to be installed. The tall, dazzling Christmas tree
will take its place at the square's most central point, while the much-loved
carousel will no doubt draw the attention of both youngsters and adults. Throughout
the month Syntagma Square
will serve as a musical oasis with classical and jazz melodies, Christmas tunes
from around the world, Byzantine hymns, ethnic music and traditional dance
performance.

The city's Yuletide lights will be
lit up at the Municipality's Christmas event programme launch, to feature the
City of Athens Philharmonic Orchestra,
Children's Choir and Big Band. The lighting of the city's Christmas tree, on
Sunday, December 7, at 20:00, will involve a stunning fireworks show and mark
the start of the festive celebrations.

Throughout the month, Syntagma Square
will host a series of art and music events, which is set to reach its peak on New
Year's Eve. Well-known music producers Theodoris Sarandis and Nikos
Lyberopoulos will flood the city with music. The City of Athens Symphony Orchestra (conducted by maestro
Lefteris Kalkanis) and the Athens Municipal Mixed Choir (conducted by Stavros
Beris) will present Athenians with a special New Year's Eve programme of melodies
from much-loved musicals and Christmas songs together with tenors Nikos
Stefanou, Dimitris Kasioumis, Yiannis Christopoulos and Stamatis Beris.

As the clock strikes midnight,
marking the start of the New Year, the sky will be filled with fireworks
launched from four locations (at two points on Syntagma Square, Lycabettus hill and
Technopolis).

National Gardens: The Forest of Fairytales

The Municipality will transform the National Gardens into the ultimate educational
and entertainment destination, from December 20 through January 6 (10:00 -
17:00), with the aim of charming youngsters and reviving the look of childhood
innocence on the faces of adults. Spectacular structures, a wealth of interactive
activities, games, entertainment and education will come together in Athens' loveliest garden.
Our young friends are invited to take a magical journey through the National Gardens that will feature a village of
small timber homes. Children will be able to participate in various activities,
meet Christmas characters and listen to stories taken from the magical world of
fairytales and dreams.

City of Athens Technopolis: Xmas / New Year's Pulse

On December
24 and December 31, 2008, the City of Athens
Technopolis, in Gazi, will stage two major parties
specifically for the city's youth.

Six well-known DJs and radio
producers will play on specially-built decks and "talk" to the crowd only as
they know how.

Kanari Square - Kypseli

Launch:
Tuesday,
December
16, at
19:00, with
the City of Athens
Philharmonic Orchestra

This
year, for the first time, Kanari
Square will be converted into one of the city's
key Yuletide destinations with its own carousel, a large Christmas tree and
plenty of festive lights.

Sotiris Petroulas Square - Kolonos

Launch:
Tuesday, December 16, at 19:00, with DJ Yiannis Moutsatsos

Santa
Claus will be stationed at his hut where youngsters can come along and take
photographs with him, beside the Christmas tree on the festively-trimmed
square.

"Christmas is everywhere... the city celebrates" - Events in City Districts  

Starting December
7, 2008, and
every day, music groups and art troupes will stage performances in Athens' neighbourhoods
and City Districts. Athenians will once again have the chance to choose from a
wide range of art events to be staged in numerous city neighbourhoods.

Organisers - Sponsors - Communication Sponsors

Athina Municipal Radio 9.84 FM, the City of Athens Cultural Organisation and the
City of Athens Music Ensembles
are the organizers of the municipality's Christmas festivities programme.