Festivals in Greece: 2012
- Here's is a partial list of the most important events in Greece for 2012. The birthplace of Western culture, Greece holds major arts festivals throughout the year, especially in summer. Carnival Season (Apokreo) is particularly famous in Patra.
- For more information on these and other festivals, see www.greektourism.gr and www.whatsonwhen.com.
NOTE: Before planning a trip around a festival, make sure that you verify the festival dates at the festival or local TI's website.
| Jan 1 | New Year's Day | Greece |
| Jan 6 | Epiphany | Greece |
| Feb 5-26 | Carnival Season (Apokreo), peaks on the last Sunday before Lent | Patra, Athens, most of Greece |
| Feb 27 | "Clean Monday" (Kathari Deftera, the first day of Lent in the Orthodox church) | Greece |
| March 25 | Greek Independence Day | Greece |
| April 6-9 | Easter Weekend — Orthodox Good Friday through Easter Monday | Greece |
| May 1 | Labor Day | Greece |
| June | Athens International Jazz and Blues Festival | Athens |
| June | Miaoulia Festival | Hydra |
| June | Nafplio Festival (classical music) | Nafplio |
| June–July | Athens Festival (music, opera, dance and theater) | Athens |
| June–August | Epidavros Festival (drama and music) | Epidavros |
| July–August | Ancient Olympia International Festival (music, dance and theater) | Olympia |
| Aug 15 | Assumption | Greece |
| Sept | Athens International Film Festival | Athens |
| Oct 28 | Okhi Day (Anniversary of the "No;" commemorates rejection of Mussolini's WWII ultimatum) | Greece |
| Dec 25 | Christmas | Greece |
| Dec 26 | "Second Day" of Christmas | Greece |
Updated for 2012. For lots more information, check out our Rick Steves' Greece: Athens & the Peloponnese guidebook — or join us on one of our free-spirited Athens & the Heart of Greece Tours.