Yesterday, Thursday, December 1, 2022, thousands of visitors of all ages saw the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) transformed into a bright place of celebration during a glamorous event that took place thanks to the donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). The festive illumination is now a tradition for visitors since, since 2017, they have flocked to see the Christmas world of the SNFCC come to life.

Last night at 19.00, thousands of lights, with a total length of 35 kilometers, were lit in the 84 plane trees along the canal, the three towering decorated FIRs of the market were revealed in all their splendor, while the fountains on the canal also participated in the spectacular spectacle dancing two classic Christmas songs, Bobby Helms ‘ Jingle Bell Rock and Michael Bublé’s Winter Wonderland.

All these together created a magical Christmas setting on which a big celebration was set up at the SNFCC market with actress Nadia Kontogeorgi as hostess. Initially, the children’s Choir of the National Opera, under the direction of Konstantina Pitsiakou, sang festive melodies. The American conductor, composer and artistic director of the young people’s Chorus of New York City, Francisco J. Núñez, along with Marina Satti’s Chóres, accompanied by eight male voices and seven musicians, invited the audience to sing with them favorite Greek and foreign songs-Christmas and non – Christmas-creating a large festive choir.

Timeless hits (Last Christmas, I’m Still Standing, Dancing Queen, Don’t Worry Be Happy, I Just Called to Say I Love you) and Christmas all-time classics (Feliz Navidad, Rocking Around The Christmas Tree, we wish you a Merry Christmas) roused the audience who sang and danced following the conductor’s instructions.

It was a unique participatory concert (sing-along) which took place within the Stavros Niarchos Foundation-Lincoln Center (SNF-LC) Agora Initiative, a partnership for the redefinition of public space, part of which is the proclamation of the SNFCC and Lincoln Center in “Twin agoras”. The event was broadcast live (via live streaming) and in the foyer of David Geffen Hall at New York’s Lincoln Center.

During the event, the four lighting installations of leading foreign artists (light Piano 2.0 by Arion de Munck and Mark Ridder, Submergence by Squidsoup, Halo by Venividimultiplex, light Holders by Jonas Vorwerk) were lit in Stavros Niarchos Park, as well as the Greek participation, the procession, by Giorgos Nikas and Eleni Maragakis, which was selected, for the first time, through an open call. All together they created a spectacular atmosphere of light and sound that impressed young and old. The lighting facilities are open daily with free entrance from 01/12/22 until 08/01/2023 from 17.00 in the afternoon until the closure of Stavros Niarchos Park.

The SNFCC Ice Rink also opened yesterday. The beloved Christmas institution returns this year with an important change: as part of the SNFCC’s environmental sustainability strategy, the rink’s facility uses synthetic ice, which has zero energy consumption while offering the same favorite experience to all aspiring skaters. The Ice Rink operates daily from 01/12/22 until 31/01/23 from 10.00 in the morning until 22.00 in the evening with free admission with electronic pre-registration at SNFCC.org/Icerink2022.