Project Environment:
The Department of Tourism of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, as a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network for Gastronomy, implements and supports initiatives that promote local gastronomic culture, education, and public awareness. Within this framework, KATAKORYFO SMPC was entrusted with the planning and implementation of the Gastronomy and Educational Celebration for Children, held at the Foyer of the Thessaloniki City Hall during the Christmas Market in December 2025.
The event aimed to raise children's awareness of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and Thessaloniki's role as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, while promoting the values of sustainable nutrition, environmental responsibility, and food waste reduction. At the same time, it showcased the city's cultural identity through traditional Christmas customs and encouraged participants to connect with local producers and regional products, highlighting seasonality, local sourcing, and the nutritional value of food.
The celebration featured a variety of interactive activities in which children and students prepared traditional Greek Christmas sweets, including melomakarona, kourabiedes, and diples, while learning about their history, their connection to local traditions, and the importance of supporting local producers, reducing food waste, and protecting the environment. In parallel, renowned chefs from Thessaloniki presented original recipes using locally sourced ingredients, offering visitors a unique gastronomic experience and creating a festive atmosphere that celebrated the city's rich culinary and cultural heritage.
Project Scope:
KATAKORYFO SMPC was responsible for the comprehensive planning, organization, and implementation of the event, ensuring high-quality execution, safety, and professionalism throughout all stages of the project.
The scope of work included:
- Planning, preparation, and specialized organization of the Gastronomy and Educational Celebration in full compliance with health and safety requirements.
- Development of the detailed event program, coordination, and implementation of workshops on traditional Christmas pastry making, local gastronomy, sustainable nutrition, food waste reduction, recycling practices, and environmental awareness.
- Recruitment, management, and coordination of the event staff, including:
- one DJ providing music and entertainment;
- one performer portraying Santa Claus;
- three performers portraying Christmas elves responsible for facilitating and supporting the cooking workshops.
- Preparation of the venue, installation and decoration of the workshop areas, and provision of all necessary consumable materials, equipment, and logistical infrastructure required for the successful implementation of the activities.
KATAKORYFO SMPC was also responsible for the overall project coordination, communication with the Municipality and participating stakeholders, organization of staff and visitor flow, and compliance with all operational, health, and safety requirements, ensuring the successful delivery of the event.
The project was completed successfully, providing children and visitors with an engaging hands-on experience that combined gastronomy, education, and culture while promoting sustainable nutrition, local food production, and the gastronomic identity of Thessaloniki within the framework of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.