Many travelers plan their vacations around various festivals and events in the cities they visit. If Athens is on your must visit list and you want to know what’s going on in the city, then here is a list of festivals taking place each month.

January

Theofania (Epiphany) : takes place on January 6th. It is an important feast day. All over the country, including in the capital, blessing of the waters ceremonies take place. Those brave enough dive to retrieve the cross thrown by the priest in the rivers or seas.

March

Apokries : is the first Sunday before Lent. Carnivals take place for three weeks before the Lent. It’s the time to celebrate with costume balls and parades in Athens.

Independence Day and Evangelismos, March 25th : the national holiday is marked by parades and dances, celebrating the revolt against the Ottoman Empire.

April

Athens French Film Festival, March 31 – April 8, 2012 (unconfirmed): features French films released in the last year and a retrospective of the best French directors. All films are subtitled in Greek.

Megali Evdomada: it’s the Holy Week starting on Palm Sunday and culminating with Easter Sunday. In 2012, Orthodox Easter falls on April 15.

Agios Georgios (St. George), April 23: it is an important feast day commemorating the patron of the shepherds

Athens International Film Festival , April 22-28, 2012: concentrates on feature films from all over the world , documentaries and films by Greek expats.

May

Protomagia (May Day, Labor Day), May 1: it’s a national holiday and , in Greece, a family day.

AGON Film Festival, May 8-13, 2012: it takes place every two years and features archeological films about the Mediterranean area.

Agios Konstantinos kai Agia Eleni (St. Constantine and St. Helen), May 21: important feast day. Celebrations include walking on fire.

Analipsi (Ascension): an important feast day, celebrated 40 days after Easter

June

Pentkosti (Pentecost, Whit Sunday): an important feast day, celebrated in Athens; takes place 7 weeks after Orthodox Easter Sunday.

Athens Festival : takes place between mid-June and mid-September. It’s an important festival which features a mixture of modern and ancient ballet, theatre and music. It takes place on the slopes of the Acropolis.

Agios Ioannis (St. John’s Day), June 24 : an important feast day; on the evening before bonfires are lit in Athens.

July

Ionnina Cultural Summer: takes place during July and August. The festival features music, arts and other cultural events in the capital.

Athens Street Festival, July 14, 2012: you can buy crafts, food and enjoy the carnival rides.

August

Metamorfosi (Transfiguration of Christ), August 6th: important day for the Orthodox church

Koimisis tis Theotokou (Assumption of Virgin Mary), August 15th: important feast day , national holiday

Apotomi Kefalis Ioannou Prodromou (The Beheading of St. John the Baptist), August 29th: festivals take place in many chapels in Athens

September

Gennisis tis Theotokou (The Birth of Virgin Mary), September 8: important feast day

Ypsosis you Timiou Stavrou, September 14: a major summer festival in Athens

October

Ochi Day , October 28: national holiday, parades take place in the capital

December

Agios Nikolaos (St. Nicholas Day), December 6th: celebrate at seaside churches; he is the patron of the travelers, children, seafares and orphans.

Christougenna (Christmas Day ), December 25th: although not as important as Easter, it’s a major feast day.

New Year’s Eve, December 31st: there are many festivities taking place in Athens, seeing in the New Year.

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