Athens Halloween Festival Returns for Three Nights in Gazi

Athens is getting a Halloween takeover this fall as the Athens Halloween Festival returns from October 30 to November 1, transforming the city’s Old O.SY Bus Depot in Gazi into a three-day celebration of horror, fantasy, cinema and all things spooky.

The festival will take place at the former bus depot at 1 Ermou and Pireos streets, with general admission starting at €5 for early-bird tickets. Organizers promise an expanded event featuring themed attractions, creative workshops, performances, movie nights, games, cosplay and a Halloween market bringing together more than 80 stores and creators.

One of the festival’s main attractions will be a special exhibition by Spanish animation artists Carlos and Jordi Grangel, whose work includes Corpse Bride, Hotel Transylvania, Pinocchio and Madagascar. The brothers will come to Greece exclusively for the festival, where visitors will be able to see original artwork from the films. They will also take part in a workshop and appear for autograph and photo sessions.

From animation to Hollywood special effects

The festival will also feature Greek special-effects artists Giorgos and Rouli Alachouzos, who have worked on more than 50 film productions internationally, including Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

At the festival, the brothers will take visitors behind the scenes of special effects, exploring how creatures, transformations and cinematic illusions are created for the screen.

Another attraction will be the Horror Museum, a fictionalized experience built around an abandoned collection of horror figures. According to the festival’s story, unexplained sounds and mysterious movements eventually led the museum’s owner to believe that something had taken up residence among the exhibits.

The museum has remained abandoned ever since—but for three nights, its doors will reopen as part of the Athens Halloween Festival.

A Halloween market with more than 80 vendors

The festival will also host a Halloween Market featuring more than 80 stores and creators offering products aimed at the Halloween, witchy and horror communities.

Visitors can expect spooky creations, collectibles, accessories, decorations and other Halloween-themed finds, alongside workshops and activities throughout the venue.

The program includes pumpkin carving, wand-making and other spooky workshops and creative activities for children and adults.

Movie screenings, live performances, stand-up comedy and other happenings will add to the entertainment lineup, while games and costumed characters will appear throughout the festival.

A costume contest will also give visitors the chance to compete for prizes.

Free activities included with general admission

Several activities will be available at no additional cost to visitors holding a general admission ticket.

The festival’s “Witch Hunt” game invites guests to help the Sanderson sisters from Hocus Pocus find witches trapped around the festival grounds by its monsters. Visitors who find them all will enter a prize drawing.

Face painting will also be available, while makeup artist Christina Exintadeka will offer free lessons focused on Halloween characters.

On October 30, Candycane Tattoos will offer free Halloween-themed tattoos from 5 p.m. The activity does not accept advance reservations, with organizers recommending that visitors arrive 30 minutes early.

Another free activity will feature the spooky board game created by JB Wonder & Fantasy Games, with its creator, Panagiotis Vasilakos, on hand to introduce visitors to the game.

Visitors should note that some activities—including workshops, stand-up comedy, movie nights and pumpkin carving—require separate tickets. However, when a ticket for one of these activities is purchased, general admission to the festival is included and no additional entry ticket is required.