High spirits, creative expression, cheerful
colour and imagination to spare once again form the driving force behind the
events organized by the City of Athens for this year's Athens Carnival.
This year the City of Athens aims to
encourage everyone to join in a lively, fun celebration, which will take place
at the usual Carnival locations but also in city neighbourhoods. A celebration
for people of all ages and all tastes, which harmoniously combines traditions
with contemporary ideas and events which appeal to all citizens, children and
visitors to Athens.
The City of Athens has ensured
firstly, that children have the highest priority considering that Carnival
season is a celebration for children, and secondly, that the festive atmosphere
is felt in all city neighbourhoods.
The basic elements of this year's events programme
- a collaboration between the City of
Athens
Cultural
Organisation,
City of Athens Music Ensembles,
Technopolis,
City of Athens Youth and Sport Organisation (ONA)
and the School Welfare Department - comprise Smoke Thursday
(Tsiknopempti), children's events in the city centre and surrounds, the two
Carnival weekends in central locations and a rich programme of festivities
throughout the city.
The events begin on Saturday,
February 14, with a performance by the City of Athens Big Band at Kolonaki
Square, followed by a performance by the Music Ensembles Children's Choir at
the Zappeion on Sunday, February 15. They continue on Smoke Thursday (Tsiknopempti),
February 19, when the party begins at noon with plenty of music and delicacies
served at the Varvakios Market, and moves to Thissio and Plaka in the evening.
On the weekends of February 21-22
and February 28-March 1, spirits will soar in Thissio, Monastiraki, the streets
of Plaka and the Ermou pedestrian walkway, with the sounds of Latin, jazz,
disco and Greek music.
Five major Carnival parties filled
with colour, imagination, music and dance will be staged at Technopolis.
On the weekends of February 21-22
and February 28-March 1, the City of Athens is holding a major Carnival
celebration for the city's children, featuring various activities, on the
Dionysiou Areopagitou pedestrian walkway and the Zappeion.
ONA has arranged 11 children's
parties at Cultural Centres, where youngsters will have the opportunity to meet
each other and enjoy the entertainment.
The City of Athens Music Ensembles
will also play their part in Carnival celebrations. The Symphony Orchestra, Big
Band, Greek Music Workshop and the band De Stijl will bring music
to various city locations. Also, in association with parents and guardians
associations, they will perform six concerts at Athens schools.
This year, the City of Athens is
making the most of its talented Music Ensembles, as well as the City of Athens
Philharmonic, which promises musical surprises for city residents.
Two exhibitions will take place at
the City
of Athens Cultural Centre as part of the Carnival events
programme, namely:
A kite exhibition with an
environmental character that will be held in the Cultural Centre courtyard from
February 22 to March 2, and a photography exhibition of Venetian masks by Eva
Terzi, from February 17 to March 1.
The Carnival season will conclude on
Clean Monday (Kathara Deftera), March 2, with festivities in four city
locations: Filopappou Hill, Akadimia Platonos, Spyros Vasillios Museum and
KAPAPS Woods, where all can fly their kites and join the traditional
celebration with music and dances from throughout Greece
Citizens and visitors can call 210
3621601 or the Citizens Helpline 1595 for further information.
Varvakios Market: The City of
Athens Philharmonic opens the traditional celebration at 11am with festive
music. The party continues with music and song, namely rebetiko, laiko (popular
song) and art song, by the group "Tis nichtas ta Kamomata".
Thissio: Music and song from 20:30 by Lambros Karelas and
Thodoris Papadopoulos.
Plaka: The Athens
Mixed Municipal Choir takes to the streets and performs Carnival songs starting
19:00 at Adrianou St.
Athens
primary school children will stage a parade involving 10 floats, starting from
the Thissio train station and ending at the Dionysiou Areopagitou pedestrian
walkway.
Saturday-Sunday, February 28-March 2 at Zappeion,
11:00-15:00
A major Carnival celebration for our young friends will take place at
the Zappeion, involving music, dance, jugglers, acrobats, stilt-walkers, dance
lessons and a great surprise... floats featuring our favourite comic heroes!
Saturday, February 21, 11:00
Athens
primary school children will stage a parade involving 10 floats, starting from
the Thissio train station and ending at the Dionysiou Areopagitou pedestrian
walkway.
Sunday, February 22 to March 2, at City of Athens Cultural
Centre courtyard"Kites... with an environmental character"
An exhibition of kites with an environmental character that have been
created exclusively with recycled and environmentally-friendly items.
Yiorgos
Mouzourakis presents the parties of colour.
Saturday, February 21
The red party features Latin and
tango rhythms. The venue, converted into a ‘50s-style club, hosts the group
TANGarto with live music and professional dancers "interpreting" the music. A
DJ further steps up the rhythm.
Wednesday, February 25
Zoi Tiganouria performs Latin-Tango-Jazz melodies, raising spirits and uplifting the
mood.
Thursday, February 26
A Cuban
group takes us on a trip to distant Cuba.
Saturday, February 28
The gold
party highlights the ‘80s with funk, soul, disco, R&B and reggae music,
featuring the group Saturday Night Fever.
Sunday, March 1
The blue
party marks the peak of Carnival season, where Athenians celebrate in true
contemporary Greek style, with Greek music by Yiorgos Mylonas' group.
Festive
Opera Gala featuring the City of Athens Symphony Orchestra with soprano soloist
Eleni Stamidou and tenor Antonis Koroneos. Conductor: Michalis Economou
Neos Kosmos Multipurpose Centre, Monday
16/2, 20:30
Glykeria and
Eleni Tsaligopoulou in concert
Neos Kosmos Multipurpose Centre, Thursday 19/2, 20:30
"Long live
the girls next door" - Pantelis Abatzis in concert
Neos Kosmos Multipurpose Centre, Saturday 21/2, 20:30
"World of mine,
I'm going to throw you a punch"
by the
Athens Municipal Estoudiadina
Neos Kosmos Multipurpose Centre, Wednesday 25/2, 20:30
City of Athens Music Ensembles
Concerts at Schools
In
collaboration with Parent and Guardian Associations and the City of Athens
School Welfare Department
Wednesday, February 18, 18:30
Greek Music Workshop,
76th & 138th Primary School (6 Kyklopon & Thessalonikis sts, Ano Petralona)
Friday, February 20,
18:30
Greek Music Workshop,
38th
& 120th
Primary School, 4th & 107th Night School (14 Cockerel St)
De Stijl 14th Junior-Senior High School
(28 Anastasiou Zinni St, Koukaki)
Wednesday, February 25,
18:30
Greek Music Workshop 6th Junior-Senior High School, 36th
Junior-Senior High School & 4th Junior-Senior High Night School (19
Zevxidos & Pytheou sts, Kypseli)
De Stijl, 62th & 146th Primary School, 32nd Night School,
89th Night School & 104th Night School (Lela Karayianni
& Smolika sts)
Friday, February27, 18:30
Greek Music Workshop,
Grava School Complex (60
Taigetou St, Patissia)
Musical strolls with the City of
Athens Philharmonic
Week of Monday, February
23 - Saturday, February 28
The City of Athens Philharmonic will undertake musical strolls through the
following street markets:
Kadmou & Leandrou sts, 23/2
Syrakouson St, 25/2
Yiannari St - Thymarakia, 26/2
Agios Yiorgos Square - Kypseli, 27/2
Troon St - Ano Petralona, 27/2
Riankour St, Ambelokipi, 28/2
Monday, February 16 -
Saturday, February 28
The City of Athens Philharmonic will undertake musical strolls along the
commercial centre's pedestrianised streets, through Omonia Square, Syntagma
Square and Monastiraki Square. Additionally, Fokionos Negri St, Stathmos Square
in Kato Patissia and Ermou Street.
Photography exhibition by Eva Terzi
entitled "Venice - Secret Meetings"
(17/02-1/03 at the City of Athens Cultural
Centre)
The
exhibition takes to charming Venice during Carnival season, when the city is
transformed into an endless celebration of colour. Masks - sometimes happy,
sometimes mysterious, occasionally melancholic - preside amid the crowd of masqueraders.
The programme kicks off with
a Carnival dance music DJ set, followed by Tasia Vera, who is famed for her
folk song performances, and Marina Christofaki's dance troupe, who will
entertain the crowd. A competition for the most impressive kite will be held
and the prize is a trip to a Greek destination.
AkadimiaPlatonos (archaeologicalsite) from 10am
Traditional
and laiko (popular music) programme
Spyros Vassiliou Museum - 5A Webster St
Clean Monday Feast with Areti Ketime and her group
KAPAPS Woods from 11am
Traditional and laiko (popular music) programme, in collaboration with Ano Ambelokipi Cultural Associaton.
High spirits, creative expression, cheerful
colour and imagination to spare once again form the driving force behind the
events organized by the City of Athens for this year's Athens Carnival.
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