With the holidays just around the corner, now begins the wonderful season of Christmas bazaars and festivals!

We've created a single article so that you have one stop for all of the bazaars happening in Athens this season. If you know of a bazaar and it's not below, send us an email with detailed information at ideas@xpatathens.com.

Are you organizing a holiday or new year event and want to let everyone know about it? Create an XpatAthens Profile and upload your event today!

Join us and celebrate a day of fun, while doing some holiday shopping, sharing smiles and cat-stories with the family of Nine Lives! Let’s say goodbye to 2021 by helping cats in need.

Grab the chance to get your hands on the new 2022 Nine Lives calendars! A perfect Christmas gift for any cat lover. You will also find other seasonal goodies and selected Nine Lives merchandise.

All bazaar proceeds directly benefit stray cats in Athens through food & vet care.

Donations of cat food are welcomed with open paws!

When: December 4th, 2021
Time: 16:00 - 20:00
Where: Yoleni's Greek Gastronomy center, Solonos 9, Kolonaki

---

"Friends Of The Child" Christmas Bazaar

The Charitable Association "The Friends of the Child", wanting to support children in need, will be holding its established International Christmas Bazaar. In a Christmas decorated space, locals and visitors will have the chance to purchase homemade sweets, Christmas decorations, clothes, books, toys and unique gifts.

Our goal is to support and secure all the required monthly needs for children until their adultness, whose families (single-parent or nuclear families) face financial and social problems. Specifically, “Friends of the Child” covers food, clothing, rents and bills for families in housing risk, psychological and counseling support, entertainment, and medical care. Children with health problems are a high priority for our social program.

When: December 4th & 5th, 2021
Time: 10:00 - 20:00
Where: Old OSY Depot

---

St Paul's Anglican Church Christmas Bazaar 

After a Hiatus of two years St Paul’s famous Christmas Bazaar is back at a new venue.  Many beautiful stalls inside, everything from Books to Bric-a-brac, gifts, Preserves and Jewellery, as well as delicious refreshments.Don`t forget to try your luck at our Christmas raffle. Bring the kiddies along to see Father Christmas.Bring family and friends and spread the word!

When: December 5th, 2021
Time: 11:00 - 16:30
Where: Amphitheatre Foyer, Athens War Museum

Stay tuned for more!

The holiday season is upon us, and considering all that we’ve been through over the past 2 years, and to make up for 2020’s lack of festivities, we wanted to do something extra special (and extra Covid safe) this year.  And so this December, The Meet Market proudly presents our biggest event to date: 10 days of Christmas at the Palio Amaxostatio OSY. 

Come join us for holiday festivities and merry market celebrations as we head for the first time to this super central venue in Gazi, and fill it with 150+ stalls of beautiful products made & sourced with love from designers, artists, producers and selectors from all over Greece.

And because we couldn’t fit all these talented makers in one event, this year’s Christmas Meet Market is essentially 2 events in one.  From Friday 10 – Tuesday 14, we will be featuring our first round of participating brands and exquisite products, and then switching it up with an new artisan lineup from from Wednesday 15 – Sunday 19.  You’ll want to visit us twice to witness the fitness of all these makers, including plenty who will be participating for the first time.

We also be featuring our usual non-stop dj sets from start till finish each and every day, interactive games for all our little friends, Christmas cocktails & Glühwein, street food, gift cards, free prizes, super duper Yultide vibes and a whole lot more!

Opening Hours: (Weekdays 18:00 – 22:00 & Weekends 12:00 – 22:00)
Friday 10/12 from 18:00 – 22:00
Saturday 11/12 & 12/12 from 12:00 – 22:00
Monday 13/12 – Friday 17/12 from 18:00 – 22:00
Saturday 18/12 & Sunday 19/12 from 12:00 – 22:00

The Cafe will Feature Seasonal Menus and Holiday Happenings!

This holiday season, Hard Rock Cafe® Athens invites guests to gather ‘round the table and celebrate this glorious time of year together in true Hard Rock style. Throughout the month of December, there will be a limited-time, multi-course holiday menu featuring some of Hard Rock’s most popular culinary options. From the original Legendary® Burger to a full rack of baby back ribs or lighter fare such as grilled salmon or Moving Mountains® Burger for our vegetarian friends. Hard Rock Café Athens has something for everyone in your family.

During the Festive season, there will be various activities available in order to spend these holidays with as much Rock mood as possible!

Christmas Eve

More specifically, on Christmas Eve at 8 p.m. There will be a Live Dj set on the ground floor - in the beautifully decorated main area of ​​the Café - and guests will be able to try the Festive menu of 2 dishes with 1 glass of wine/ beer at €29.95, but also at 9 p.m. the rock band Jitterbugs will play Live and the guests will be able to taste the wonderful Festive menu of 3 dishes, with 1 glass of wine/ beer at €35.95. A children's Roxtars menu with ice cream as dessert is also provided at €15.

New Year’s Eve

At the same time, for New Year's Eve at 8 p.m. there will be a Live Dj set on the ground floor with a Festive menu of 2 dishes with 1 glass of wine /beer & 1 glass of sparkling drink at €32.95 and at 10 p.m. will play Live again the Rock band Jitterbugs with a Festive menu of 3 dishes with 1 glass of wine /beer & 1 glass of sparkling drink 39.95€. A children's Roxtars menu with ice cream as dessert is also provided at €15.

Breakfast with Santa

Finally, for two consecutive Sundays on December 12 & 19, Breakfast with Santa is waiting for its beloved little friends together with the whole family to spend a unique Sunday afternoon (12 pm - 4 pm), to take photos with Santa Claus and to engage in creative activities such as drawing and face painting. Entrance for each child will be 15 € including the children's meal.

The Full Holiday Menu

Sensational Starters:

• Caesar Salad Bruschetta - crisp artisan bread topped with fresh romaine tossed with classic Caesar dressing, candied bacon & parmesan crisps, finished with a sweet balsamic glaze
• Blue Cheese Chopped Salad - chopped mixed greens tossed in a blue cheese vinaigrette with pickled red onions, red peppers, and Roma tomatoes, finished with crispy shoestring onions and blue cheese crumbles

Mouthwatering Main Courses:

• Mushroom Swiss Burger - signature steak burger layered with Swiss cheese, roasted mushrooms, garlic aioli and leaf lettuce, finished with shoestring onions
• Surf and Turf Burger - signature steak burger topped with One Night in Bangkok Spicy Shrimp™ on a bed of spicy slaw
• Original Legendary® Burger - signature steak burger, with applewood bacon, cheddar cheese, crispy onion ring, leaf lettuce and vine-ripened tomato
• Moving Mountains® Burger - 100% plant-based 170gr patty, topped with cheddar cheese and a crispy onion ring, served with leaf lettuce and vine-ripened tomato. Served with seasoned fries
• Grilled Salmon - seasoned & grilled then topped with garlic herb butter and served with fresh vegetables
• BBQ Grilled Chicken - grilled chicken layered with signature spices and our signature barbecue sauce, served with seasoned fries and fresh vegetables
• Full Rack of Baby Back Ribs - seasoned with a signature spice blend, then glazed with house-made barbecue sauce and grilled to perfection
• New York Strip Steak with Marinated Mushrooms - USDA Choice 12 oz NY strip steak, grilled and topped with mushrooms marinated in a smoked bacon and bourbon sauce

Desserts and Drinks to Satisfy a Sweet Tooth:

• Holiday Brownie - warm chocolate brownie topped with caramel and chocolate sauce, served with whipped cream
• Chilled Espresso Martini - Grey Goose Vodka, Kahlúa, fresh-brewed espresso shaken until frothy and chilled

Whether you choose to dine in or take out, Hard Rock Cafe Athens wants to be part of the memories families make this holiday season! Those wishing to dine at Hard Rock Café Athens can make a reservation by visiting hardrockcafe.com or by calling 210 324 5170. Not dining in this year? No problem! These mouth-watering limited-time menu offerings are available for fast and fresh delivery via Wolt App straight to the dining room table by visiting Wolt. 

For more information about the Holiday Menus and Reservations, you can call 210 3245170 or send an email to athens_salescoordinator@hardrock.com. 

A historical hike in the ancient trail connecting the port of ancient Kirra with the Oracle of Delphi.

Once you arrive to Delphi, a professional guide will welcome you with a tour in the Archaeological site and the museum. Afterwards we will be transferred to Arachova village for an early dinner in a Greek tavern. Arachova is a mountain village, on the slope of Parnassos mountain, featuring stone houses, narrow alleys and fresh water springs. Despite its huge tourist growth due to the ski resort, its heritage has been well preserved. The region is famous for its agriculture, cattle breeding and boasts high quality products like olives and olive oil, tsipouro, formaella & feta cheese, yogurt, opsimotiri cheese, halvah, frumenty and noodles. Arachova is also famous for its handmade, pure woolen textiles, which are made using traditional looms and natural colors.

Having enjoyed your meal and a stroll in the village you will then return to Athens.

---

Visit TrekkingHellas.gr to learn more about the tour!

Founded in 2019, the Athens English Comedy Club is the first, and only, purely English comedy club in Greece! 

Is the Athens comedy scene “all Greek” to you? Are you on the lookout for English language events which do not require you to read surtitles? Do you want to try your hand at stand up in English? We are here for YOU! 

The Athens English Comedy Club brings you local and international comedians, right in the heart of Athens. 

---

About the comedians: 

Dimitri Doukoglou is a Greek-Canadian comedian and illustrator based in Athens. He has been performing stand-up professionally since 2007. He has co-produced and hosted the humorous D&D web series 'Once Upon a Dice' (Μια Ζαριά κι Έναν Καιρό). He is also a science communicator and has produced and hosted several live science comedy shows, as well as the YouTube series 'Sex with Doukoglou' which explores human sexuality. He often forgets to eat. 

Dimitris Dimopoulos is a comedian, librettist, director and translator. He has been performing stand-up comedy since 1996 from “Comedy Nights”, Greece’s first comedy-club, and has since presented three solo shows including “Kafrokrema” which is currently running. He has written librettos for the highly satirical operas “Twilight of the Debts”, “AirRossini”, and “Yasou Aida!”. His passion for comedy and musical theatre culminated in the creation of the show "Stand-Up Symphony" in cooperation with the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra. 

Blink Mike has been performing stand-up since 2013 and stands out for his creative and sharp jokes. In 2013 and 2014 he took part in the Stand Up Comedy Festival competition where he won 2nd and 1st place respectively, while in 2018 he made it to the final of the nationally aired TV program “Greece Has Got Talent”. His first solo show “Technically Forbidden” completed its first country-wide tour this year. 

Odysseas Deniz Ürem is a stand-up comedian based in Athens, Greece and he performs regularly in theaters and comedy clubs in Greece such as the Athens English Comedy Club, Mic Drop Comedy Club and Losantzele Comedy Club. He performs in Greek and in English, his act revolves around subjects such as death, sex, family, racism, religion and among others it also consists of many surrealistic takes on every day life. 

Athina Kefalopoulou, a Greek raised in Russia and Norway, is an actress, arts producer, and sociologist. She delved into performing stand-up comedy in 2019, taking part in the science communication show ‘Science+Comedy’, while she has taken part in numerous productions in Greece and the UK including within the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Athina is the founder of the Athens English Comedy Club. 

Mariem Chaari has the kind of life that qualifies her to be a comedian. Or a serial killer. Never short of content, she found herself one day on the stage of Athens Comedy Club making jokes. Since that day, she realized that making people laugh is the cheapest form of therapy. And strives for more. She likes to explore subjects that have to do with body image, sexism, and her own special way of seeing things (you don't say). On the side she's a successful single mother of two ginger cats, a foodie, and an Artist. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

We also offer 3 free tickets per show to persons with disabilities or unemployed persons (phone reservation required, and the relevant card/proof will be checked at the box office). 

The theatre is wheelchair accessible. 

Upon entry you will need to provide a vaccination certificate or a valid proof of recovery/antigen test. 

---

 

FokiaNou Art Space has a fondness for Athens, especially when darkness falls and the hard walls of apartment buildings around us are softened and illuminated. Beyond the wires, cables and antennas, the neighboring marble stadium glows and the Acropolis and Lycabettus are bathed in light. Bars, clubs, theaters, cinemas and parks are buzzing with music,walks, kisses, love, sex, friends, and fun, but also loneliness and work. Nineteen artists were selected from an open call for an exhibition with the theme of Athens at night: stories and impressions of the night and the city. The exhibition includes painting, drawing, collage, sculpture, printmaking, photography and video. 

Participating artists: Athanasia Aarniosuo, Nora Cook, Mary Cox, Angeliki Douveri, Alexandros Georgiou, Dimitra Gounari, Eleni Kolliopoulou, Nina Kouklaki, Kalliope Kouklinou, Christiana Krasia, Sofia Kyriakou, Kostas Lales, Ilia Machaira, Yiannis Moustakalis, Alegia Papageorgiou, Geeta Roopnarine, Stella Sevastopoulos, Christina-Sylvia Simantira, Georgia Touliatou.  Curated by Mary Cox and Panagiotis Voulgaris.

FokiaNou Art Space is an artist-run project space in the intimacy of a small apartment in an old building in the center of Athens. The space encourages collaborative creative efforts between Greek and foreign artists, thereby promoting and supporting the local art community. The space hosts exhibitions, workshops and projects under the direction of two artists, Mary Cox and Panagiotis Voulgaris. www.fokianou247.gr

Duration:   20 January - 5 February 2022
Hours:  Thursday – Saturday 17.00-20.00
Special hours for 20 January:  17.00-21.00
FokiaNou Art Space, Fokianou 24, 7th Floor, Pagrati  Metro:  Evangelismos

FokiaNou Art Space is pleased to present a two-person show entitled “The beheaded researchers present: A crash course on inner reasoning”. The artists, Georgia Touliatou and Nina Kotamanidou externalize fragmented and repeated introverted thoughts as they are triggered by external conditions. Their work refers to their anxietyabout indifference, ignorance and loneliness. In drawings and paintings, they address the contrast of a dream of a happy life with the difficulty of managing their theoretically favorable situation in a culture of abundance.Their research into A.S. Byatt’s Identity and the Writer, and the idea of the personality of the individual as a “knotted subject”, forms the basis for the simultaneous creation of several texts and embroideries, leading to a greater understanding of the concept of culture and social identity. 

Nina Kotamanidou looks at the everyday as a way of understanding the world we live in and what we make out of it. The tension created by the feel-good indulgence of western culture and personal dissatisfaction delineates the field of her interests. She studied painting in Aristotle University, Greece, earned an MA from Winchester School of Art, UK, and a PhD from University of Surrey, UK.

Georgia Touliatou was born in Athens, studied painting at Aristotle University of Thessalonica, Greece and at Wimbledon College of Arts, University of the Arts London, UK. Most of the time, she lives and works in Athens, Greece. She regularly participates in video festivals in the EU, Russia, Korea, Japan and the US. She currently works on a post-nostalgic point of viewing environment, human behaviors and relationships, constructing an imaginary that unveils protective narratives, in any meta-digital format.

FokiaNou Art Space is an artist-run project space in the intimacy of a small apartment in an old building in the center of Athens. The space encourages collaborative creative efforts between Greek and foreign artists, thereby promoting and supporting the local art community. The space hosts exhibitions, workshops and projects under the direction of two artists, Mary Cox and Panagiotis Voulgaris. www.fokianou247.gr

Opening:  10 February, 17.00
Duration:   10 – 26 February, 2022
Hours:  Thursday– Saturday 17.00-20.00
FokiaNou Art Space, Fokianou 24, 7th Floor, Pagrati  Metro:  Evangelismos