12-02-2009: “Athens celebrates Carnival”

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.

The programme of events is as
follows:

Smoke Thursday, February 19, 2009

Children's events

Concerts in the city centre

Parties

11 Children's Parties

Music and Dance throughout the City

City of Athens Music Ensembles
Concerts at Schools

Musical strolls with the City of
Athens Philharmonic

Photography
exhibition by Eva Terzi entitled "Venice - Secret Meetings"

CLEAN
MONDAY, March 2

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Smoke
Thursday, February 19

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.

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Children's events

Sunday, February 15 & 22 - Zappeion

Music Ensembles Children's Choir and jugglers

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.

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.

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Concerts
in the city centre

Ermou pedestrian walkway, Friday 20/2, 18:00 - Disco rhythms, live music
Filomousou Eterias Square, Plaka, Friday 20/2, 20:00 - Laiko (popular
music) concert
Psyrri Square, Friday 20/2, 20:00 - City of Athens Youth and Sport Organisation
Youth Philharmonic perform Latin tunes
Monastiraki Square, Saturday
21/2, 12:00 - Music Ensembles Greek Music Workshop performance of laika
(popular music)
Thissio (Train station), Saturday 21/2, 20:00 - Rallia
Christidou and Melina Aslanidou perform laika (popular music).
Thissio (Train station), Sunday 22/2, 19:00 - Kostis Maraveyias
performs Greek rock
Thissio (Train station), Saturday 28/2, 12:00 - Music Ensembles
group De Stijl perform youth-oriented tunes
Thissio (Train station), Saturday 28/2, 20:00 - Laiko (popular
music) Concert
Ermou pedestrian walkway (Train
station), Saturday 28/2, 20:00 -
Laiko (popular music) Concert
Ermou pedestrian walkway (Train
station), Sunday 22/2, 11:00 - City
of Athens Philharmonic concert
Monastiraki train station, Friday 27/2, 12:00 - Music Ensembles
Athens Mixed Municipal Choir
Monastiraki train station, Friday 27/2, 18:00 - Cuban rhythms,
live rock music
Kolonaki, Saturday 28/2, 12:00 - Live disco music
Monastiraki Square, Saturday 28/2, 20:30 - Laiko (popular
music) concert
Ermou pedestrian walkway (Asomaton St), Sunday 1/3, 11:30, Cuban rhythms, live music
Ermou pedestrian walkway (Asomaton
St), Sunday 1/3, 20:30 - Laiko
(popular music) Concert
Monastiraki Square, Sunday
1/3, 20:30, Laiko (popular music) concert with Yiorgos Vendouzas and his
band
Greek National Opera, Monday 23/2, 20:30 - Athens Mixed
Municipal Choir and Dionysios Lavragas Mandolinata performance

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Parties

5 Parties at Technopolis
(20:30)

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.

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11 Children's Parties

(Organised by the City of
Athens Youth and Sport Organisation)

Evelpidon Multipurpose
Centre (18 Evelpidon St), Friday 13/2, 17:00

Our young friends will have the
opportunity to design masks and kits under the direction of artists. A Carnival
party follows.

Sepolia Multipurpose Centre (4 Labovou St), Saturday 14/2, 19:00

Children's Carnival-themed party

Kypseli Multipurpose
Centre (18 Kalogera St)

Tuesday 17/2, 16:30 Children's
Carnival party (traditional dance group)
Friday 20/2, 19:00 Children's
Carnival party (theatre troupe)

Ano Petralona Cultural Centre
(164 Dimofondos St), Friday 20/2,
18:30

Carnival event featuring children's and adult groups

Kato Petralona Cultural Centre (61 Athinodorou St), Friday 20/2, 19:00

Carnival
event featuring traditional and imitation dance (featuring adult group and
children's group)

Alexandras Avenue Multipurpose
Centre (152 Alexandras Ave), Friday 20/2, 19:00