Ice rink, Trampoline, Games and activities for all
December is here! Festive magic has filled the air in Christmassy Vamvakou, Lakonia and the Vamvakou Santa School – all ready to welcome you! An ice rink, a trampoline and bouncy castles, lots of Christmas lights and ornaments, crafts and games, creative educational programs, scents, flavors and delicacies, musical events and theatrical performances, wellness and DJ sets will make December and the first days of the new year even brighter! Vamvakou will change in its entirety to transform into a meeting point for the Christmas season as part of the Vamvakou Revival initiative, thanks to an exclusive grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).
The heart of Christmas beats at the Vamvakou Santa School
The Vamvakou Santa School, a wonderfully themed space, has just opened its doors, filled with Christmas dreams and ready to excite young and old during this holiday season. This winter’s protagonists are a 200 sqm ice rink to spin and slide, a 6-seater trampoline for leaps higher than the fir trees, and bouncy castles for great adventures and play until you drop. Meanwhile, the school’s indoor space has transformed into a magical Santa workshop for creative play and writing your letter to Santa Claus; with board games and chess, virtual reality, hot drinks, and delicious snacks for you to enjoy. Entertainment could not be missing from the Vamvakou Santa School. Early drinks, Nikos G on the decks and winter cocktails from Vanara events will accompany us while skating (22 & 29 Dec, 5 Jan).
December activities for all with the scent of Christmas
A month full of festive activities for the entire family has arrived! As Christmas approaches, we enjoy an atmospheric solo piano jazz evening (7 Dec) featuring Kostas Yaxoglou at the Voureiko restaurant-café. We make Christmas candles (7 Dec), magical snowballs (8 Dec) and imaginary journeys listening to Christmas tales (14 Dec) and participate in an interactive puppet show (14 Dec). Kourabiedes or melomakarona? The season’s perennial sweet dilemma! In this great Christmas battle, we call a truce trying out a recipe that always works (15 Dec). For limited appointments, you may enjoy wellness programs and relaxing massage sessions at the Traditional Guesthouse overlooking the winter landscape (7, 14, 21 & 28 Dec, 5 Jan).
Christmas in Vamvakou (21-26 December 2024)
Just a breath away from Christmas (21 Dec), we make cookies and Greek chocolate salami; enjoy all-time classic Christmas melodies by Giorgos Kostianis and Louis Vlachakis at the Voureiko restaurant-café; and participate in the Robotics Xmas workshop (23 Dec) at the V.Lab (Vamvakou Technology Lab fully powered by SNF). On Christmas Eve (24 Dec) we meet at the Vamvakou Santa School and stroll along the village alleys, all flooded with Christmas carols and cheerful voices. On Christmas day (25 Dec), let’s celebrate at the Voureiko restaurant-café in an enchanting musical performance featuring Zacharias Karounis and the “Grammes” music group. On the following day (26 Dec) children may participate in an experiential workshop listening to musical fairytales.
New Year’s Day in the village (24 December 2024 – 2 January 2025)
As we head towards the end of the year, we narrate festive stories; make a Christmas tree out of clay (27 Dec) and shimmering night lights (28 Dec); and travel where “Santa Claus lives” (28 Dec) through a theatrical performance by the “Morfes Ekfrasis” theatre company. Just a step before waving goodbye to 2024, the secret recipe for a mouthwatering Vasilopita, the New Year’s traditional cake as made in Vamvakou, will be revealed (30 Dec) and Christmas carols will be heard across the village (31 Dec). The first days of 2025 will be spent enjoying melodies (1 Jan) from the past and the present performed by the “Grammes” music group at the Voureiko restaurant-café; making badges (2 Jan) to gift to our friends and loved ones; and experimenting with goblins’ giggles and children’s laughter (3 Jan) in an exciting science workshop.
“Today is the Lights and the Enlightenment…” (3-7 January 2025)
To exorcize the goblins, we narrate tales and amazing stories well hidden in the Vamvakou School Library (4 Jan). On Epiphany Day (6 Jan) we celebrate by learning about the light, so aptly perceived by people as the source of life, while on the day of Agios Giannis [Saint John] (7 Jan) we lovingly make beautiful lucky charms that will bring hope for the new year!
Explore Vamvakou, a travel destination bound to get you into the Christmas spirit, at www.vamvakourevival.org/en/events
Vamvakou Santa School
Saturday 30 November 2024 – Tuesday 7 January 2025
Free admission (excl. ice rink*, trampoline*, theatrical performances)
Opening times:
1-22 December, 11:00-18:00, weekends. Opening on weekdays for schools and groups upon request.
23 December – 7 January, 11:00-18:00, daily
Organized by Vamvakou Revival
* Information
Ticket: 6€ Ice Rink; 3€ Trampoline; Free admission to games.
Ice rink suitable for children from 5 years and above; Trampoline for children from 3-12 years old; Bouncy castles for children from 2-10 years old
Available on a first-come-first-served basis.
Ice rink: option for online reservations
