Events for the Weekend of 23-26 December

Hanukkah

There are still Hanukkah events, even in the coming days:

Sixth candle, Friday, December 23 -

• at 14:30 at the Brandenburg Gate

Seventh Candle, Saturday, December 24 -

• The lighting of candles by Chabad Alexanderplatz at the "Mita City Hall" at 19:30 (I did not personally understand if it was the "Roots Rathaus" or the Mita City Hall next to Kino International)

Eighth Candle , Sunday, December 25 -

• Hanukkah party for children at 12:30 at the Chabad house on Münstersche Str
• Party for Israelis at 19:30 at Beit Chabad (for registration)
• And if you are out of town - also a Hanukkah party in Hanover Chanukka Wunderland (details)

Christmas

For those who have not yet experienced Christmas here, this is one of the "quiet" periods in Berlin.

What is important to know about Christmas in Berlin:

• On Sunday (December 25) and Monday (December 26) the stores will be closed, on December 24 (Christmas Eve) they will close at noon (depending on the store, most of them will be closed at 2:00 p.m.)

• Public transportation operates all days of the holiday

• On December 24, most museums and attractions are closed. In the rest of the blog I gave some ideas what should be done. On Sunday and Monday there are attractions that work, including museums that are usually closed on Mondays, but on Monday, December 26, they will be open.

• Want to catch up on another Christmas market? For most of them you should hurry and visit on Friday, December 23.

Some markets that are still open after Christmas starts..

• Potsdamer Platz, we're back at you! The first market to open, and one of the last to close, the Winter World at Potsdamer Platz, a tiny market that includes the famous snow slide (December 24: 10:00-14:00, the market itself will be open for another two hours until 16:00 but without the facilities; December 25-1 January 11:00-22:00) - Location

• Staatsaufer/Babelplatz: The market of the Gendarmenmarkt will be located in the Babelplatz in the coming years due to the renovation of the original square. December 24 12:00-18:00; December 25-December 30 12:00-10:00 p.m. and December 31 (New Year's Eve) 12:00 - 1:00 a.m. January 1 (location/site)

• Alexanderplatz (next to the Kaufhof Gallery): December 24, 10:00-16:00; on December 25 and 26, 10:00-22:00; Not far from there, the market in the Red Town Hall will be open on December 25/26 from 11:00 - 21:00 and between December 27 and 30 from 12:00 to 22:00 (on the 24th - closed)

• Memorial Church: The main market of City West is open on December 24 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; on the 25th and 26th from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on December 27-30 from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

• Frankfurter Alla's amusement park, Winterzauber Berlin will also be open during the holiday, but not on the eve of the holiday: on December 25 from 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on December 26 from 2:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (location/FB presence)

• Another funfair that will be open during the holiday is Family Wonderland in Spandau - on the 25/26 from 12:00 to 22:00; on 27-30 between 13:00 and 22:00 (location)

• The Zehlendorf market will be open both on the eve of the holiday and on the holiday itself: on December 24 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; on the 25/26 from 11:00 to 20:00; and on December 27-30, 11:00 - 21:00

• You can get to the market of Spandau Citadel on Monday until December 30 between 12:00 and 20:00 (location/site). (24/25 closed)

• Probably the last chance to enjoy the Charlottenburg Palace Christmas market (the market will not take place in the coming years) is on December 25/26, from 12:00 to 20:00 (on the 24th - closed) (place/site)

• Still open Christmas Gardens (location/site) and Christmas at the Tierpark (location/site) are quite expensive but great if you're into the WOW effect and Instagram moments.

So what is there to do on December 24th?

On December 25/26, just to be clear, almost everything is open, except for shops. So you can plan your day as you would normally plan it. 

On December 24, on the other hand, the museums and attractions are mostly closed (and even a spontaneous restaurant in the evening may be difficult to find) and you should plan what to do. Some ideas:

Morning:

• Karl's Erdbeerhof is open on December 24th from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. On the 25/26 it is open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m

• The pool at "Spreewaldplatz" is open from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., including the wave pool and the slide (details)

afternoon:

• The GameState arcade in Potsdamer Platz is open until 16:00 (location)

• For a slightly more active activity, the climbing hall "Ostblok" (location) is open until 17:00 and the Lenkwitz ice rink is open from 12:00 to 16:00 (site/location), by the way, the Lenkwitz pool, next to the ice rink, is open until 1:30 p.m

• The Spy Museum is open until 20:00 (details/location) as well as the "Disgusting Food Museum" and the house at Checkpoint Charlie (the last two museums are not really recommended museums in my opinion, but your decision).

Evening (not for the whole family!): 

• Comedy (in English): "Ho-Ho-Ho" How about NO?? (in Neuklan, details/location) ; or "Xmas NON Special" (in Mitte, details/location)

• Christmas Film Festival at "Movimento" (details)

• Many parties in clubs (details)

The event map

Events for the first Advent Weekend, November 25-27

Christmas Markets

Christmas markets have already started this week, and there are dozens all over the city! It is really hard to choose where to go. I have here a map of all of the Christmas Markets in Berlin - big and small, permanent throughout the season or only at the weekend, traditional and quirky. In the blog, I am not going to list them all, because that would take you the whole weekend to read, instead of going out there. However, a few recommendations: 

• Personal favourites for beauty, atmosphere and/or stalls: Lucia in the Kulturbrauerei (location/website), Charlottenburg Palace (location/website) and the smaller ones by private initiatives and charities. I haven't tried yet the new location of the Gendarmenmarkt market this year - on Bebelplatz (location/website) - so I can't really vouch for it, but I used to love it in the past. The one in the Zitadelle Spandau (location/website) is new, but is supposed to be wonderful and is adjacent to the other famous Spandau Old City Markets. All of these are also open on weekdays. 

• If you (or your kids) love rides and a funfair atmosphere, go no further than the Winterzauber (location/FB presence) on Frankfurter Allee (near the Magdalenenstr Station).  

• The Christmas Gardens (location/website) and the Weihnachten im Tierpark (location/website) are for quite a fee but are great if you're into the wow effect and the instagramable moments. 

• If you're visiting Berlin, this list should be more than enough. No need to go to all kinds of exotic markets in faraway neighbourhoods. However, if you have the time, I encourage you to explore other parts of the city, and integrate a coll unique market from the list there, or even take a ride to one of the small markets in Brandenburg. 

All of these (and much more) are available in the map : 

• And now, for markets unique for this weekend 

• The Qweer Winter Market in the Alte Münze offers a certainly different atmosphere than usual. There is an entrance fee of €5, Sat+Sun from 1pm (location/FB Event). 

• The Späth'schen Baumschulen is running a Christmas Market on the first three Advent weekends, with about 100 stalls, children's activities and music. And of course, many decorated trees, given that this is a huge tree nursery (location/website) 

• Further down JWD in Treptow, you'd find the Waldgaststätte Hanff`s Ruh, in the middle of the forest in Grünau. It hosts a market only at this weekend (location/website)

• Meanwhile, in Neukölln, you can visit the Nordic Fairytale Christmas Market (location/website), in the Britz Estate (Schloss Britz). If you like the Historic Market in the RAW (location/website), which is open daily, you'd also like this one. 

• The "Environmental" Christmas Market is on Sophienstr in Mitte, and if this backdrop is not dramatic and beautiful enough, most stalls are of small handmade gifts and snacks. On all Weekends (location/website)

• Another market integrating local manufacturers and beautiful settings will be in the Schloss Schönhauser in Pankow this weekend (website/location)

• The Japan Christmas Market in Festsaal Kreuzberg (website/location) on Sunday promises Japanese-style atmosphere. There is an admission fee (EUR 12). 

• There is  also a "vegan" Christmas Market listed for Sunday in Fehrbeliner Platz. I hesitate to recommend this one since there is no web presence and it might be a mistake but feel free to check it. 

Other Christmas events: 

• If you're up for a bit of an excursion and for an interesting event: Members of the communities in Kladow and in Groß Glienicke sound their bells and sing to each other from the two banks of the Glienicke See on Saturday, from 5:30 pm, in the Badestelle Pferdekoppel (location/more information)

• On Sunday, fans of retro trains can enjoy a ride with a classic steam engine, from Lichtenberg throughout the Ring. The price is not cheap, but true love never is (location/website). It should be also mentioned, that since the train rides on the Ring, you might get lucky and see it on its ride, in one of the Ring stations, for free (so is it love for sale or for free?) 

• December 1st is the first day of the Advent Calendars! And in Pankow, there's a "living" Advent Calender, that promises activities every day in another part of the neighbourhood. On December 1st, it would be in the Rathaus Centre , with music, presents for kids and much more. 

Black Friday

You might want to ask, but no real big events related to Black Friday have been registered. It makes me somehow happy, hard to explain :-)

There are several clothing exchanges happening in the city, which might be interesting (on the general events map at the bottom of the page), as well as a Punk and Rockabilly market in the Wild at Heart in Kreuzberg on Sunday (location/FB event)

Music 

Lots of music for the whole family at the weekend, and not only in the Christmas Markets. 

• Atze Theater will present the show "Bach, the Life of a Musician" on Saturday (location/details) 

• In the Philharmonie, you can listen to the family concert "Das Zauberflötchen" (location/tickets) 

• In the Komische Oper you can enjoy Smetana's Moldau for kids (location/tickets)

Furthermore.. 

• Gluehwein Shabbath with HIllel Berlin on Friday evening (info)

The event map

Events for the Weekend in Berlin, November 18-20

(almost) Starting: Christmas Markets 

Christmas markets officially start only on Monday (and Sunday is a day of mourning, like the previous week, more on that in the next item). But really, you're in Berlin, so why not start ahead of time if possible?

Last week I already described several markets that have already started, among them:

• The market with the snow slide in Potsdamer Platz (see the map at the bottom of the entry)

• The largest market/fair in Berlin, the Winterzauber on Frankfurteralle, with a huge amusement park (see the map at the bottom of the entry)

At the weekend, several markets will be added: Ones that, as mentioned, could not wait for the official start of the period...

• Another market that is an amusement park in the Zentraler Festplatz, called Berliner Winterpark

• The medieval market at RAW opens already on Thursday (November 17), and includes performances with a historical atmosphere, photogenic installations and, of course, food stalls (map, website)

• The Spandau district is known for the variety of amazing markets in the Old Town area, and this year is no exception. There are no less than four central markets in Spandau, starting from the mall area next to the train station and continuing right up to Spandau Citadel. The first of them will open this Saturday, "Family Wonderland", a market that, as you can understand from its name, is family-oriented (map / website)

• The Christmas Gardens - in the Tierpark and the Botanical Gardens - both opened this week and are going to provide us with a spectacular light display that blends beautifully with the magical scenery of the Tierpark or the Botanical Gardens. There is quite a hefty admission fee(the botanical gardens: map / website; the shooting park: map / website)

There are also markets that take place only at this weekend, so if they look interesting to you, you should live the moment, for example the Finnish Christmas Market at the Finnish Cultural Center in Kreuzberg (map). If handicrafts and Finnish folklore are not exciting enough for you, the Tegel prison store also holds a Christmas fair on Saturday, of course with rehabilitative handicrafts by prisoners (map/information)

(again): No Flea Markets on Sunday (but don't worry about a too full wallet!)

Also this week there is a national day of mourning on Sunday, which means there are no traditional flea markets this week either. The flea markets of June 17th Street, the "Mouerpark" and similar markets, are all closed. Some of the Christmas markets mentioned in the previous section are also closed (for example the one in Spandau).

However, there are also quite a few special market events for the weekend:

• Stone lovers? The "Mineralis" fair (in Hall 17 of the Messe, map / website) naturally focuses on the collection and research of proper stones, crystals and minerals. Friday-Sunday, entrance fee.

• Art book fair, every day of the weekend, in Bethanien (map / website)

There are quite a few clothes swapping events in the city during the weekend (see map at the bottom of the page), the main one is probably in Haus der Statistik (map), the MAKE SMTHNG Kleidertauschparty Berlin swap market on the first (details)

• Another Sunday market, is at the Vegabund Brauerei (map) in Wedding: flea markets, craft beer and all kinds of other surprises (details)

• The Italian pasta week is ending, and you can still manage to eat a fine Italian dish for only 15 euros (details)

(a few more) Interesting Things

• Last week there were many lantern parades around Berlin, this week there is one particularly interesting lantern parade - on Saturday there is a procession in Kreuzberg 36 under the title "widerständiger Laternenumzug gegen Verdrängung". It starts at Rio Raiser Square (map) at 3:30pm (event). 

• A-Propos activism, the Jewish movement Hashomer Hatzair is celebrating a decade with a celebratory action on Saturday and before that, on Friday - the laying of Stumbling Stones for the activists of Hashomer Hatzair who were murdered by the Nazis, as part of the movement's history project (details).

• Another decade is being celebrated: Shabbat Together of the Frankelufer Synagogue. On Saturday of course, in the synagogue (details)

• November 24th is the American Thanksgiving Day. So far, not many events have been announced (even compared to previous years), but there is, for example, a dinner at Bräugier Ostkreuz (details).

The event map

Events for the weekend, November 11-13th

 Lantern Parades

You have probably received the memo from the Kita, but just in case: In this time of the year lanterns parades take place all over Berlin. The origin of the tradition is for Sy. Martin's Day on November 11th, but in secular Berlin, there are many non-religious parades. 

Most of the lantern parades take place on Friday: 

• Treptow-Köpenick: In Strandbad Wendeschloss (info / map) 

• Tempelhof-Schöneberg: In Café Eule in the Gleisdreieck Park (info / map) 

• Steglitz-Zehlendorf: In Domäne Dahlem (info/map) 

• Pankow: In the Heinrich Böll Library in Prenzlauer Berg (map), at 5pm, with a parade in the Mühlenviertel

• Potsdam: in the Volkspark, in the Remisepark (map/event) 

• Neukölln: In the Britz Gardens (info / map) and in the Wutzky Einkaufcenter (info/map) 

On Saturday: 

• In Medaillonplatz in Rummelsburg (info/ map)

• In the Schultheiss Quartier shopping centre in Moabit (info/map) 

• How to create light and fire like in the Middle Ages, on Saturday (2pm) in the Waldschule Zehlendorf (info / map) 

Diwali

I think it's the first time I see a public Diwali party in Berlin, so yippy-multikulti!  If you don't know it, some Wiki-Info. It is, Indeed, another light-oriented festival, because that's what we humans do when it's getting darker and colder. 

So, Diwali Berlin on the Sage Beach includes 12 stands with Indian food, DJs, comedy, dance, and lots of fun. 

Sat-Sun, from 2:30pm, on Sage Beach (website / address)

Meanwhile, in Wuhlheide...

The dead are walking around us! No, the Zombie Apocalypse is going to happen elsewhere (I suspect, in BER), it's just a Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) party.

On Saturday, in the FEZ (website / map) 

The Ghost of Christmas Future...

If the theme of the last item was zombies, here we have the good old starship invasion: The streets of Berlin are filling slowly with empty shells, reminding us that Christmas is near. And relatively, many events start way before the official starting time of the Christmas Markets in Berlin (which is the weekend of the 25th, so in two weeks). 

What do we have at the weekend?* 

• The market in Potsdamer Platz, already quite established in the past two weeks (Fr-Sa, Mo-Sa - might be closed on this Sunday due to the mourning day)

• The market in Frankfurter Allee, near the Magdalenenstr U-Bahn, with many rides and what promises to be the largest funfair/Christmas Market in Berlin (Fr-Sa, Mo-Sa - might be closed on this Sunday due to the mourning day)

• The Glühwald on Mercedes Benz Platz (Fr-Sa, Wed-Sa - might be closed on this Sunday due to the mourning day)

• The Vorglühmarkt in Holzmarkt-25 (map, also see the Christmas Market map below) , also on this Sunday (for sure) 

• The Christmas Avenue , aka the "Gay" Christmas Market on Nollendorfplatz, from Friday on 

No Flea Markets this Sunday

There is no shortage of events for this weekend (as usual...) but there is also one notable "regular" event missing: there are no flea markets on this Sunday, as it is the "National Mourning Day". Originally designed to commemorate the fallen of the First World War, it is a day dedicated to people who died in wars and violent incidents. There are usually several interesting ceremonies in cemeteries. 

While the official outdoor markets don't operate, there are several special markets and events. Small exchange (trade off) markets in Friedenau and Prenzlauer Berg are marked on the map at the bottom of the page, but there is also the Fashion Fleamarket in Ballhaus Berlin, on Sunday, which is dedicated only to women's fashion (info/map) 

• Also, a "Vintage and Art" in Brauhaus Neulich (map/FB event)

• A street food festival in Oranienburg (map/FB event) 

• A "Romantic Vintage Market" in Schloss Diedersdorf on Sat and Sun (map/FB event)

Pasta and other important things next week

Apparently, next week is True Italian Pasta Week. For EUR 15, you can get in selected Italian places a fancy pasta dish plus a drink. 

Monday - next Sunday 

In many Italian places around the city 

The event map

Events in Berlin , 4-6 November

 Lantern parades 

First, this is a reminder to all parents of children in kindergartens—the lantern parades are approaching, and you should prepare. It is highly likely there'll be one in your kindergarten as well. For children, this is usually one of the most exciting and central events of the Kita year.

The main lantern parades take place on November 11th, but this week there are also some cute parades and events for you:

• Lantern parade at the Düppel Museum, Saturday starting at 15:00 (the parade itself starts at 16:30) (site / location)

• On Sunday you can build lanterns in the Britz Gardens, at the Freilandlabor Britz (site / location / you must register in advance!)

• Also on Sunday, making lamps from recycled materials also at the Museum of Communications, as part of Museum Sunday (site / location)

Christmas markets (sorry, "Winter Fairs")

Berlin's Christmas markets only open at the end of November. In fact, there are two Sundays in November, which are days of national mourning and on which the “normal” Berlin flea markets will also be closed (the first of which is next Sunday - November 13).

But in Berlin as in Berlin, there's always a good excuse for a party. Already last week, we welcomed the first Christmas winter market; And the second opened already this week.

• The winter fair (Winterzauber) on Frankfurt Allee is actually a flashy amusement park full of rides and lights and at the same time the biggest Christmas market in Berlin. For the orientation of Berlin veterans: In the past, this Christmas market was behind "Alexa" and last year it was located next to Lichtenberg's Ikea. This is its third stop, also in Lichtenberg, near the Magdalenenstr station. This will not be the last stop in the market wanderings, as the area is actually intended for construction in the coming years. In any case, this market starts already this Friday and will continue until December 25th, closed only on the various days of mourning and on Christmas Eve; On Wednesdays there are discounts on the rides. (location)

• Continues: Winter World in Potsdamer Platz. This fair runs until January 1st and includes, among other things, the snow slide, as well as food stalls and other amusements (location)

• And another little something in Christmas spirit: on Mercedes-Platz the Glühwald starts on Saturday, a few food/drink stalls (with an emphasis on Glühwein of course) and beautiful decorations. Between Wednesday and Sunday from 16:00, until December 30 (location / website)

Science days, legendary days

Many events for the inner knowledge enthusiast in each of us. First, Berlin celebrates two events – the "Children's Fairy Tale Week" (with many reading events) and the "Science Week" (in which most of the events are aimed at adults).

An exciting event for science lovers is the 20th Anniversary of the "Children's University of Lichtenberg". It is also celebrating the beginning of a new "season" of academic lectures for children aged six and older. On Saturday, at the Anna Seghers Library in Lichtenberg (event/location)

• At the same time, FEZ continues with the "crazy laboratory", with experiments and activities for children till to the age of four (until Sunday / details / location)

And if all this is not enough, Sunday is "Museum Sunday", with many museums that are open for free, and activities in the various museums.

Among the many activities:

• A journey following the beginnings of photography at the Museum of Photography (details / location)

• Musical tour at the Düppel Museum (mentioned earlier in the context of the lanterns), (details / location)

• Experiments with light at "Berlinische Galerie" (details/location)

• Not in the context of the Museum Sunday (and for a fee), but in the Botanical Gardens, those of you who suffer from the cold and miss the desert will be able to take a guided tour for families to the “desert” inside the gardens (details/location)

• There are many other events in the dozens of participating museums

Food and more things to put in the shopping bag

• At the Messe the Bazaar Berlin fair is held this weekend. It includes decorative objects and "gifts" (details/location - please note that the complex is huge and at least from their website it is not clear where exactly within the complex the fair is located)

• Street food festival in the IKEA Schoenberg parking lot, Friday-Sunday (FB event / location)

• Brazilian cultural festival, including food, music, children's area and more at Festsaal Kreuzberg on Sunday (details/location)

• Vintage clothing sale this weekend in Kühlhaus Berlin (FB event / location)

• Designer market in Leopoldplatz in Wedding on Sunday (location); And for those who prefer it under a roof - on Saturday in Arminius Halle, designer and handicraft market (website / location)

• Huge flea market at Trabrennbahn Berlin Karlshorst - Saturday/Sunday (location)

November 9

The  German "Schicksalstag" and anniversary of the Novemberpogrom is approaching and there is large event that will be held near the monument on Levetzowstrasse in Moabit, with the participation of Jewish and non-Jewish organisations (including Hashomer Hatzair, FB event, location)

The event map

Events for the weekend of October 28th-30th (and of course, Halloween on the 31st)!

Halloween

Although this is actually on Monday, it is obviously the biggest event of the weekend. There are so many Halloween events, that I had to only concentrate in some major ones in the blog text itself, but I have added quite a few on the map. 

Things you should know, if you're new to Berlin: 

• Halloween is not really a thing in Germany. Consequently, many people have no idea at all it is Halloween

• You'd find many parties for adults (the most famous ones in the Kulturbrauerei and in the Weekend, but have a look at 030 if you're looking for Halloween parties for adults)

• You will also find some cool events for kids, but trick-or-treating is not really so popular, and it is, quite honestly, subjected to the following Murphy's Law: If you will go outside all dressed up with the kids, it is very likely that the neighbours will have no idea why you're asking for candy ; and If you will not buy any candy and will not take your kids, you will get people at the door plus very accusing looks from your own kids. So, in conclusion, mostly a very scary holiday for social awkward people like me, who'd always end up doing the wrong thing. 

And without further ado, some Halloween events this year: 

• Scary Autumn party in the Strandbad Wendenschloss on Saturday, with a bonfire, pumpkin carving, and much more (FB event / location) 

• T&T events:
  
  
• One, which seems a little private: Someone is organising trick-or-treating in the Weinberg on Sunday afternoon (FB event, location)

• Another one, after publication, on Monday in the Schlosspark in Pankow (maps, FB event)

• Teens and older can also enjoy the Halloween in the Berlin Dungeon  (details)

• The Halloween Run in the Jungfernheide has a route for younger kids, one for older kids and two for adults (website / location) , on Monday

• Many shopping centres will hold their Halloween party for kids, either on the 29th or on the 31st: Europa Centre (29th, incl Trick/Treat); Tempelhofer Hafen (29th); Allende Center (31st); Alexa (all week long, but the big event on the 31st)

• And for the less commercialised option, many Youth Clubs (Jugendclub) in the different neighbourhoods will hold their own parties, some are also on the map

• Already booked-up, but perhaps you'll be lucky to get a ticket from the waiting list or someone who can't attend: Karl's Gruselnacht (29th); Hard Rock Cafe Monster Brunch (30th); Ghost time in the Museum of Communication (30th); and the Scary Night in the FEZ (31st)

Make Mariah Rich Again

It's this time of the year again! And it is starting earlier and earlier every year: Stollen are in the supermarkets from August and now, a Christmas market will start at this weekend. If the trend continues like this, we'll have candy in July and Christmas markets will fight the Oktoberfest ones for a space in September. 

Anyway, the Winterwelt in Potsdamer Platz – the one with the cool slide – is starting at the weekend! Admission is free, rides/stalls of course for a fee. 

• Winterwelt Postdamer Platz (location), open daily from Fri, Oct 28th till January 1st (except for a few holidays)

Castañada and more good reasons to get a cookie

Cookies are always a good idea, but the Iberian community is celebrating the Castañada this weekend. El Colmado tapas place on Joachimstaler Str will offer festive cookies on Saturday, as well as a workshop with a local Castell group, that will show us how to build a human tower! (location / event on FB)

Other food events and markets: 

• Autumn Market with textiles and handmade products, as well as food and music in the Domäne Dahlem on Sat + Sun (details, location)

• A pop-up market of Ukranian art in the Heeresbäckerei on Saturday (insta, FB location) 

•  The Nowkoelln Flowmarkt in Maybachufer on Sunday (location)

• Not really for the younger crowd and sort of Halloween event: The Halloween flea market at Starke August on Sunday (location) 

Also important to know...

• That daylight saving time ends on October 30, so in the night between Saturday and Sunday, you will "gain" an hour sleep (with 3 am turning into 2 am), but it also means, sundown is much earlier. 

• On Monday, aside from being Halloween, there's also a children's day in the Natural History Museum , with free admission and many activities (info; location)

• Between Tuesday and Friday, you can take party in the "Clean River" kids camp in the Labyrint Museum (info)

• On Wednesday, you can visit the Family Day in the Spandau Citadel (info)

• And on Thursday (also the rest of the week), why don't you head to EastGate in Marzahn for a lego exhibition ; or an AI workshop for kids in Hellersdorf (info, also robotics on Wednesday)

The event map

Events for the weekend : October 21st-23rd and for the Autumn Holidays

 Halloween and autumn

• On Friday/Saturday/Sunday there's a big street party on Storkower Bogen with rides, food booths and music: the Lichtenberger Herbstfest, free admission 

• On Saturday and Sunday, the Figurentheater Grashüpfer in Traptower Park will host "Ghost in Black Light" activities, where you can participate with scare enthusiasts aged four and over. Registration

• "Night of Horrors" at Karl's Strawberry Village in Elstel on Saturday (by pre-registration); All weekend through you can visit and see seasonal entertainment

On Saturday you can also

• Make scary costumes from old fabrics and objects (including ones you bring) at the Haus der Materialisierung

• Carve pumpkins in the Globus Baumarkt Lindenberg in the outskirts of Berlin

And more monsters and costumes...

• Monsters: Are you into Monster Trucks (you or the kids)? At The World of Motorshow you can see all kinds of horrific cars live, on Sunday, in the car park of the Hellweg of Köpenick

• Costumes: The Zentrum Schöneweide shopping centre is celebrating some sort of anniversary and in honour of this, two things are happening that may interest you: First, on Sunday there will be an "open Sunday shopping" (between 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. as usual); And at 18:30 there will also be fireworks. Also, people will walk around there in Star Trek costumes (and you can too, if you have one) and the entire centre will have a Star Trek exhibit. The exhibition is also open during the weekdays of the coming week, so, live long and prosper! 

... and from SciFi to real-life computers and robots

Besides fantasizing about science fiction, you can also participate in various activities of the "Berlin Code Week" at the weekend (which lasts about a month).

• Friday afternoon at Kinder- und Jugendbibliothek ZLB: level design at Mario Maker (details); Saturday "Maker Kids" activity at the same place (details)

• Saturday at the municipal library in Kreuzberg: learn Micro:bit coding (details)

• Saturday/Sunday: At the Futorium - "The City of the Future" (details)

• Starting Saturday and throughout the fall vacation, FEZ will hold the Verrücktes Labor for explorers four-year-old and older: performances, experiments and the possibility of trying out stuff (details)

• Sunday: toothbrush robots in the technical museum (details)

And also...

• For Teens and Young Adults: Queer ZineFest 2022 at Schloss 19 Youth Club on Saturday (details)

Jewish Culture

• "Hashomer HaTzair" will conduct a memorial tour around Berlin for young adults (from the age of 16) and adults. The tour focuses on the history of the movement before the Holocaust and the resistance to the Nazis by the members of the movement in Berlin. The guidance will be in German, but it is likely that if you have difficulty understanding, there will be enough people who can translate. Sunday, 14:00 (details)

• I usually don't post events here that aren't in German / English, which are the languages shared by most readers. However, "Bubables" theatre will show the "Kosher Machine" in Ukrainian on Sunday (details) and you are invited to spread the news among Ukrainian-speaking families you know

Next week: fall vacation, solar eclipse

The public school fall break starts on Monday and will last two weeks.

Some events and activities in the coming week:

• On Monday, a week-long activity will begin at the Spandau field school for children aged 8-10 with lots of autumn nature (details)

• For those who prefer to stay at home, Siva Kids offer an online Scratch course during the first week of the holiday

• But you don't have to be at home to learn to program. On Tuesday/Wednesday and Thursday/Friday there will be programming workshops for children aged 6-9 at Yaam, for free (details)

• On Tuesday, around 12:13, there will be a partial solar eclipse in Berlin. Want to watch it with the kids? Of course, it is enough to stand outside in a place with a clear view (and remember to protect your eyes well and not look at the phenomenon directly!) . However, the three observatories/planetarium of Berlin will also conduct joint observations (information in German), in "Zeiss" and "Archennhold" with creative activities as well (among other things, to create "observation goggles").

A less recommended way to observe an eclipse

• On Wednesday there will also be a computer workshop for children at Haba, with advance registration (details)

• And a reminder to the 4th - 6th grade students who have not yet received a "seahorse" / bronze: free swimming courses during the fall break to obtain the certificate

Thanks to all those who support the blog .... and buy coffee

   

In addition, you can participate in guided tours in Berlin  - all days of the week - a classic tour to get to know the city, an alternative tour (graffiti  , etc.)  and a Jewish heritage tour 

The event map