Artemida Avenue will become a pedestrianised street tomorrow, Friday 2 October, from its start — just past the main junction — to Ethniki Antistasi Square, known as Kopelaki. The pedestrianisation will be in place from 17:00 until midnight, and the evening will culminate in a concert at 21:00, featuring Polina and Kostas Bigalis. The council is asking vehicle owners not to park on the avenue tomorrow.
Along the route there will be inflatables, entertainers, organised children’s activities and themed stalls, with the market shops open. At the same time, a prize draw is taking place: receipts totalling over 10 euros from purchases at shops in the town, from 23 September until tomorrow, can be exchanged for raffle tickets at the ballot boxes located in front of Piraeus Bank and the KEP (the citizens' service centre). The event is organised by the Municipality’s Department of Culture with the support of SEVEA, the Artemida Association of Professional Craftsmen and Traders.
How much does it cost and what does it cover?
The contract was awarded directly, by Mayor’s Decision No. 664 of 9 September 2026, to the company Growupattica EE, based in Marousi, for 16,120 euros plus VAT, i.e. €19,988.80 in total. The decision breaks the amount down into four parts:
- live concert featuring Kostas Bigalis and Polina, including sound and lighting and a stage: 13,863.20 euros
- entertainers and organised children’s activities: €2,039.80
- themed stalls, inflatable attractions and operating staff: €2,926.40
- event coordination, production management and support staff: €1,159.40
In other words, seven out of every ten euros go towards the concert. The invitation to tender was issued on 2 September, the tender was submitted on 7 September and the contract was signed on 9 September, based on study 116/2026 by the Directorate of Sport and Culture.
How much did the previous ones cost?
The White Night is not a new event, and its cost has fluctuated. From Diaugia:
- 1 December 2023: €14,999.99, in collaboration with SEVEA, contractor: CREACE S.A.
- 8 November 2024: €10,000.00, contractor: Growupattica
- 12 December 2025: €22,000.00, contractor: Growupattica
- 2 October 2026: €19,988.80, contractor: Growupattica
This year is the first time it is being held in October rather than over the festive season.
One company, 23 contracts
Growupattica EE has been awarded 23 direct contracts for events by the Municipality of Spata–Artemida from 2024 to the present day, totalling 282,780.52 euros including VAT: 5 contracts totalling €69,043.84 in 2024, 10 contracts totalling €114,232.88 in 2025, and 8 contracts totalling €99,503.80 in 2026. On the same day that the ‘White Night’ contract was signed, on 9 September, the same company was also awarded the ‘Traditional Dance Night’ for 14,997.80 euros. Its portfolio also includes the Sardine Festival (€24,986), the Vravronia Festival, the Municipal Conservatoire, the choral festival and the theatre performances in July 2025, which were awarded for €29,995.60 — four euros and forty cents below the 30,000-euro threshold above which direct award is not permitted.
This is the second instance of a concentration of orders that we have recorded in the space of a week, following Geofos on greenery and branches.
A practical detail for tomorrow: in Neapoli, HEDNO has a scheduled power cut from 08:00 to 17:00, which ends just as the pedestrianisation begins.
Sources: Municipality of Spata–Artemida, Mayor’s Decision 664 of 9 September 2026 (ADA ΨΤΕΤΩ1Χ-ΘΔΡ); Diafania, contracts 2023–2026; event announcement, September 2026.
