TiACF25: Greek Folklore Festivities

This is Athens City Festival returns this May — bigger, bolder, and bursting into more neighbourhoods than ever before. From 1 May to 1 June, over 200 free events will take over parks, squares, rooftops and hidden corners across the capital, inviting locals and visitors alike to explore a different side of the city. Scroll down for a curated selection of this year’s events — or head to the official festival site to see the full programme.

From Cretan feasts and Thracian rhythms to shadow puppets and traditional catwalks, This is Athens City Festival celebrates the sounds, stories and rituals that shaped Greek identity. Whether it’s a serenade in the streets of Plaka or a folk rave in a city square, this line-up bridges old and new with pulse, pride and playful spirit.

05/05: Wedding Songs & Dances from Karoti, Thrace, Mitropoleos Square: The Dora Stratou Dance Theatre re-enacts traditional wedding rituals from northern Thrace with music, songs and dances in the heart of the city.

05 & 19/05: The Magic of the Serenades in the Streets of Plaka, Agia Aikaterini, Plaka: The Karaviotis Brothers lead a musical stroll through Plaka’s alleyways, reviving the romantic serenades that once echoed across the old tavernas of Athens.

10/05: The Athens Panigiri, Plato’s Academy Park: Giorgos Kotsinis and fellow musicians bring festive folk energy to Plato’s Academy — an open-air gathering of music, dance and rootsy celebration.

17/05: Traditional Dance & Costume Showcase by the Lyceum Club of Greek Women, National Garden: Join a live celebration of Greek tradition, with sixty dancers in regional dress bringing folk music and dances to life in the heart of the city.

25/05: Cretan Feast with Psarogiorgis, Bei Park: Straight from the mountain village of Anogeia, Psarogiorgis brings his legendary family’s musical legacy—and the Cretan lute—to centre stage for an unforgettable open-air concert.

31/05: Thracian Festival, Kotzia Square: Evritiki Zygia returns with their signature blend of ancient Thracian instruments and electronic beats, turning tradition into a contemporary soundscape for one epic closing-night panigiri.

* Most events are free entrance and require no tickets, to the exception of some that have a priced ticket, or require pre-registration, or are invitation-only. All related information to each of the festival's events can be found on the festival's website, under the page for each event.