Athens City Festival Celebrates World Car-Free Day

 The Athens City Festival, hosted by the City of Athens, invites everyone to celebrate World Car-Free Day with a unique twist! From 8 p.m. on Saturday, September 21, until 8 p.m. the following day, Athinas Street – one of the city’s bustling commercial hubs – will be transformed into a pedestrian-friendly festival zone. For a full 24 hours, cars will be absent, and the streets will come alive with vibrant activities, creating the perfect space for you to explore and enjoy. But that’s only the beginning!

A jam-packed schedule awaits, offering something for everyone. Whether you’re into skateboarding, cycling, live concerts, DJ sets, film screenings, or even sunrise storytelling, there’s no shortage of fun! The festivities will run almost continuously, with a brief pause in the early hours of Sunday, promising an exciting experience for all ages. From Ermou Street to Evripidou Street, Athinas will be buzzing with activities – so don’t forget to plan your day accordingly

Rolling on Mitropoleos Street: A giant wheel parade in Athens, 8-9:30 p.m. (Syntagma Square)

Agia Fanfara: A lively music parade through Monastiraki and the hidden corners of Athinas, 8-9:30 p.m.

Skate Jam on Athinas Street: Skateboarders, take over the street! 8:30-9:30 p.m.

Athinas Street Party by Enteka Athens: A street party like no other, 9-11:30 p.m.

Midnight Cinema: Classic film screenings with Athens International Film Festival, City Lights (12-1:30 a.m.), Wings of Desire (1:45-4 a.m.)

Sunrise Storytelling: Magical tales to greet the dawn with Taxiarchis Beligiannis, 4-5:30 a.m.

Nonstop DJ Sets: From 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. and again at 5-6 p.m.

Skating for Beginners: Free lessons all day, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Classical Concert: With De Profundis Ensemble, 10-11:30 a.m.

Skate, Roller, and Scooter Lessons: 10:30-11:30 a.m., 1-2:30 p.m., 4-5:30 p.m.
Storytelling with Music: Narrations and live music, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Athinas Street Guided Tour: Dive into local history with expert Artemis Skoumpourdi, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Face Painting Fun: All day long, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Bike Art: Get creative with bike painting for all ages, sessions throughout the day.

Traffic Safety Workshops: Learn the ropes of road safety, 11 a.m.-3:45 p.m.

Walker Race: A balance bike race for young kids and their parents, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

No-Car Adventure: Join a fun-filled urban quest, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Bike Workshops: Covering everything from riding safely to choosing accessories, held throughout the day.

Urban Cyclist Time Trial: Test your cycling skills in a city race, 12-1 p.m.

Dinoverse Show: A fun-filled exploration of dinosaurs, 12-3 p.m.

Kids Radio Banda Band Live Performance: 4-5 p.m.

Slow Bike Race: Test your slow-riding skills, 5:30-6 p.m.

Locomondo Live Show: Wrap up the festival with a live performance from the popular band Locomondo, 6-8 p.m.