I’ve realized in the past couple of years that the best parties are those you haven’t planned for – those you hear about out of the blue, on the same day, when you’re already out and about. Last year, my friends and I made a list of all the DJs we wanted to see live. We’d meet up right after work, unworried about tickets, since most played in public squares and parks, with free admission. We’d dance until the last track was over and usually ended up in a bar somewhere nearby.
This year has been equally promising, as stages with DJ decks set up in public squares, colorful spotlights illuminating faces and promenades, and music spilling out into the air to mingle with the sounds of the city, have been a big part of Athens’ vibe these past few weekends. Come May, the curtain went up in a series of events to transform public spaces into a celebration of music. From the lofty eminence of Lycabettus Hill to the cozy confines of Pangrati Woods, the City of Athens has organized dozens of open-air parties that form the most vibrant and well-attended part of its annual festival, running through the end of the month.
“When the festival began five years ago, the decision to plan party-like events had to do with our desire to shine a spotlight on the city’s dance culture, so nine out of the 10 events were put together from the beginning with groups of Greek DJs. The idea gained momentum, so every year we have new artists appearing, apart from the better-known ones,” Nikos Barlas, the municipal authority’s artistic director, who is also responsible for the festival, tells Kathimerini.
