The Goulandris National Natural History Museum and the Wildlife Alliance are hosting a free two-day family event titled Wild Weekend on October 3 and 4, 2026.
The event will run from 10:00 to 15:00 on both days at the museum premises in Kifissia, near Athens, coinciding with World Animal Day on Sunday, October 4. Admission to the museum and participation in all activities will be free for all visitors. Online pre-registration for the educational sessions will open on Thursday, September 24, 2026, on the official museum website.
Organisers said the initiative is designed to bring children and adults closer to native Greek fauna, including wolves, sea turtles, bats, rare vultures, trout, and whales. The program will highlight the environmental challenges these species face and the protective measures implemented across Greece.
Conservation alliance and museum exhibitions
The Wildlife Alliance is a collective initiative established in 2022 under the coordination and support of WWF Greece to protect iconic native species. The coalition brings together 11 environmental organisations: ANIMA, ARCHELON, the Hellenic Ornithological Society, the Society for the Protection of Biodiversity of Thrace, the Society for the Protection of Prespa, the Institute of Speleological Research of Greece, iSea, Callisto, MEDASSET, the TETHYS Research Institute, and WWF Greece.
Visitors attending the Wild Weekend will receive complimentary entry to the permanent Natural History exhibits, the Climate Change and Us exhibition, and a new interactive display titled Biodiversity: Everything is Connected. Guests can also view Facing the Truth, a 360-degree visual show detailing the impacts of global climate change.
The Goulandris National Natural History Museum is a non-profit foundation focused on environmental research and education. Established to study and preserve Greek natural heritage, the institution acts as a public center for biodiversity management, climate change response, and conservation awareness.
Leventis Hall workshop schedule
Educational activities in Leventis Hall will take place across both days of the festival, starting at 11:00 with a session presented by the Hellenic Ornithological Society titled Spread your wings! Can you catch up with a vulture? Open to up to 15 children aged 6 to 10, the workshop uses interactive quizzes, color tasks, and mask-making to teach participants about native vultures, including the Griffon Vulture, and their role in the ecosystem.
From 12:00 to 13:00, wildlife organisation Callisto will host The Little Wolf and the secrets of the pack. Running in two 20-minute sessions for up to 15 children aged four and older, the program features storytelling about a character called Little Wolf, an exploration of wolf pack behavior, and a story-building workshop focused on human-wildlife coexistence.
The Society for the Protection of Biodiversity of Thrace will present an interactive game titled No to poisoned baits! from 13:00 to 14:00. Designed for 20 children aged 10 and older, the activity examines why illegal poison baits are deployed in natural habitats, their impact on wild animals, and practical steps to ensure coexistence between humans and wildlife in regions like Thrace.
Leventis Hall will conclude its daily schedule from 14:00 to 15:00 with ANIMA hosting Wild animals emit SOS. The session consists of two 30-minute rounds for up to 15 children aged 6 to 12. Participants will discover native Greek species, learn about survival threats, and create custom posters to promote nature conservation.
Kyklos Hall interactive sessions
Kyklos Hall will feature interactive workshops tailored for different age groups. On Saturday, October 3, MEDASSET will host Mission: Save the Turtle! from 11:00 to 12:00. Up to 30 children aged 8 to 15 will take on roles as animal rescuers, veterinarians, and marine biologists to complete a simulated rescue, treatment, and release of an injured Loggerhead sea turtle, known scientifically as Caretta caretta.
On Sunday, October 4, MEDASSET will run Dive into the Deep from 11:00 to 12:00. The experience features six 5-minute sessions for up to six participants aged five and older per round. Visitors will walk through a three-dimensional marine environment, using their senses to solve riddles and explore underwater life.
Three multi-day workshops in Kyklos Hall will run on both Saturday and Sunday. WWF Greece will host Guardians of the Mediterranean from 12:00 to 13:00, engaging up to 20 children aged five and older in a theatrical game about Mediterranean marine biodiversity, ecological threats, and habitat protection.
From 13:00 to 14:00, the Society for the Protection of Prespa will present The life of a Trout. Formatted into five 10-minute rounds for five children aged 8 to 12, the board game places players in the role of a trout in the Agios Germanos River in the Prespa region, navigating seasonal obstacles to reach the winter spawning season.
ARCHELON will host the final session in Kyklos Hall from 14:00 to 15:00, titled The road to the sea... Adventures in the sand. Offered in three 15-to-20-minute rounds for six children aged 4 to 12, the activity simulates the journey of newly hatched Loggerhead turtles making their way from beach nests to the open ocean while dodging coastal hazards.
