Thessaloniki is expecting thousands of visitors this weekend as the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) enters its final weekend and the city’s waterfront hosts a major free concert by popular Greek performer Antonis Remos.
The concert, marking 30 years of Remos’ career, is set to begin at 8 p.m. Saturday on the New Waterfront in front of the statue of Alexander the Great. The event is expected to draw large crowds, adding to the influx of visitors attending the trade fair, Greece’s largest annual commercial and exhibition event.
Hotels in central Thessaloniki are reporting occupancy rates above 95%, according to Dimitris Simiakos, secretary-general of the Thessaloniki Hoteliers Association, who told Greece’s state-run news agency that last-minute bookings remain strong. Central hotels are expected to reach full capacity by the time of the concert.
Restaurants and other businesses along the city center and waterfront are also reporting strong demand, with many reservations already made for the weekend.
The increased traffic has prompted Thessaloniki’s traffic police department to implement a special plan to manage the expected influx of residents and visitors. Officers have been deployed on major roads, while the plan includes measures to handle tourist coaches arriving from across Greece as well as visitors traveling by road from neighboring Balkan countries.
No road closures were initially planned. Authorities, however, said the arrangements could be modified if crowds spill onto the roadway along the waterfront. Roads could then be closed and traffic diverted if necessary.
The weekend is also expected to give Thessaloniki additional international exposure. Simiakos said visitors were arriving from Turkey, the Balkans and western Europe, with travel agencies offering special packages combining the trade fair and concert.
The concert will feature Remos alongside Greek and international performers. The event will also pay tribute to the late Greek singer Giorgos Mazonakis.
Organizers have installed 10 giant screens at locations around Thessaloniki, covering a distance of about two kilometers, while 30 cameras will provide live coverage. More than 1,000 technicians and 100 musicians and performers are involved in the production. A display involving 1,200 drones and a fireworks show is also planned.
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki is Greece’s second-largest city and the main urban and economic center of northern Greece. Located on the Thermaikos Gulf, it is a major port and transportation hub with strong commercial links to the Balkans and southeastern Europe.
The city is also one of Greece’s leading tourist destinations, known for its Byzantine churches, Roman and Ottoman-era monuments, extensive waterfront promenade and vibrant restaurant and nightlife scene. Its proximity to the Balkans and Turkey makes it particularly accessible to regional visitors.
The annual Thessaloniki International Fair, established in 1926, is a major fixture on the country’s economic and political calendar. Held each September, it combines exhibitions and business events with cultural programming and typically attracts large numbers of visitors to the city.
