Less than two hours from Athens, the ancient Theatre of Epidaurus is another venue from the classical era, dating from the late 4th century BCE. Its wide bowl seats up to 14,000 and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.
August Moon Festival
No matter where you are in Greece, the night of the August full moon is cause for celebration – a tradition that dates back to ancient Greece and its lunar calendar.
Locations are often historic sites that are otherwise not used for performances, which in Athens includes blockbuster venues such as the Acropolis and the Agora that are open well into the night for concerts.
More than 100 historic sites throughout Greece are the scene of concerts, dance performances, poetry readings, plays, art exhibitions, film screenings and tours. You can even channel the brilliance of ancient Greece’s greatest astronomer, Hipparchus of Nicaea, at star-gazing events.
All the events are free, including those on the sacred island of Delos, the archeological site near Mykonos.
The venues and lineups change every year (just like the date of the August full moon), so check on each year’s plans in advance. With August being the peak tourist season in Greece, festival events attract oodles of fans.
Thessaloniki International Film Festival
Greece’s under-appreciated second city of Thessaloniki gets its turn in the spotlight in November during the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, which has become a significant stop on the international film circuit.
Emphasizing new, offbeat and independent productions, the program crams more than 100 films into a schedule spanning barely 10 days. Themes vary by year and celebrate the current films of various nations. Retrospectives and special programs focus on the works of individual filmmakers.
The festival has achieved acclaim for featuring many artistically significant works produced outside the commercial mainstream. In 2020, the coveted Golden Alexander Award – the top prize – was won by Fernanda Valadez for Identifying Features, her gripping drama about immigration.
Thessaloniki is on the calendars of some of the world’s most passionate filmmakers and film buffs, including Wim Wenders, Takeshi Kitano and Joanna Hogg. Besides the screenings, the festival includes panel discussions and seminars in film production, many led by revered directors.