Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, Sept 30th - October 3rd 2016

Unity Day: October 3rd

On October 3rd Germany will celebrate Tag der Deutschen Einheit , Day of German Unity. The largest festivities will be in the Brandenburg Gate. 

Of course, kitas, schools, shops and government offices will be closed on this day. 

Rosh Ha-Shanah

Jewish New Year is this year almost at the same time as German Unity Day, on October 3rd and 4th. Unfortunately, not many non-religious organisations offer any type of activity this year. 

On Friday, October 30th, you can join "Movement with Taeera". On this session "We will be moving, dancing and singing, reading stories, learning and having fun together! We will learn about the Jewish holidays, the seasons, family and friends, and of course different topics that will rise from the children, parents and me. For children ages 3-6 years, 8 euro per session, 4 sessions card for 30 euro.

You are more than invited to the first session in the series, which is about Rosh Ha'Shana, the autumn and more. That will be on the 30.09.16 at 16:00-16:45." (details)

Furthermore

• The "Berlin Leuchtet" festival, a sort of an appetiser for the Festival of Lights, will start on Friday. Various buildings will be beautifully lit. 

Berlin Leuchtet

• Saturday in BUGA Park in Potsdam: Apple Festival (details)

• Sat/Sun in Schoeneberg: Pumpkin Festival in the Akazienstr and Belziger Str. (transport: U7 Eisenacher Str. ; S to Julius-Leber-Bruecke)

• Sat/Sun : Makers Faire, a huge science fair event with inventions, innovations and hands-on attractions (details)  

• Sunday at 3pm - a guided tour for children in the Charlottenburg Palace 

• Sunday at 3:30 pm - a guided tour in English in the Technische Museum (details)

• Monday: Kite festival in Wartenberg, Hagenower Ring, 13059 Berlin 

• Monday at 1pm  - workshop/guided tour for families in the Berenice Abbott exhibition in the Martin Gropius Bau 

• Sat through Monday in Oranienburg: Gauklerfest, a medieval/Renaissance Fair (details)  

Culinary Events

• Street Food Market in the Kulturbrauerei, Sunday 

• Street Food also in the Brunnenmarkt, Brunnenstr./ Bernauer Str on Sunday 

• Sat/Sun/Mon: Stadt Land Food Festival in the Markthalle IX

About Me

I offer tours in Berlin as well as write about the city as well as published several books and articles in general. I am always free for writing gigs - travel writing or any other types of writing and research - or of course to show you the wonderful city I live in. 

Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, Sept 23rd - 25th 2016

Marathon Weekend

The Berlin Marathon, one of the five largest marathons in the world, will take place on Sunday. Famous runners will participate, as well as Regular Joes who make an effort for themselves, for charity, for the sports. 

On Saturday, the track will be mostly for kids (and skaters): there are several "Bambini" races you can take part in (details)

Furthermore

• Saturday from 11:00 - All about wood, in an event for the whole family in the Jagdschloss Grunewald (details)

• Saturday/Sunday, potato festival in Domaene Dahlem

• Also on Saturday/Sunday: a party at the Späth’schen Baumschulen, with activities for the whole family (Späthstraße 80/81 . 12437 Berlin, details)

• Staying with agricultural autumn festivals, another festival in Milchhof Mendler, one of the only private farms in Berlin (Lettberger Straße 94 12355 Berlin-Rudow) on Saturday/Sunday

• Sat/Sun - public days at the Innotrans, a fair dedicated to all things moving but especially to trains, at the Messe (details)

• Sunday at 1pm  - workshop/guided tour for families in the Berenice Abbott exhibition in the Martin Gropius Bau 

• Sunday at 2:30 - guided tour for families in the Peackock Island Palace

• Sunday from 3pm - Pirate Party in the Frei Zeit Haus in Weissensee (details) 

• Street Food Market in the Kulturbrauerei, Sunday

In Brandenburg

• Sat: International kite festival in the Volkspark Potsdam (details)

About Me

I offer tours in Berlin as well as write about the city as well as published several books and articles in general. I am always free for writing gigs - travel writing or any other types of writing and research - or of course to show you the wonderful city I live in. 

Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, Sept 16th - 18th 2016

International Children's Day in Potsdamer Platz

The "Weltkindertag", International Children's Day, is taking place with a big party in Potsdamer Platz, which will include shows, stands and other attractions, a lot of free ones. 

Sunday, Potsdamer Platz

The Kindertag will be also celebrated

• On Sunday, all day, at the Dueppel Medieval Village Museum: Children Festival, with medieval games etc. 

Elections

The Berlin "State" (Abgeordnetehaus) and "local" (Bezirkrat) elections are on Sunday. Every adult German citizen registered is allowed to to vote in both, EU citizens are allowed to vote only in the latter - please use your vote.

In Westend (Preussenallee) there will be even an Elections Party (any excuse for a street party..., details)

Furthermore

• Saturday: Children Day also in the Rathaus Centre in Pankow (details) 

• Saturday: "Chilean Fair" in YAAM , starting at 11:30 (details) 

• Saturday afternoon : family run in Weissensee, and another one in Karow 

• Saturday : Poetry festival, including kids activities in the Kulturbrauerei (details)

• Street parties on Saturday: Hornstrasse (Kreuzberg) and Rigaer Str (Friedrichshain), both from 2pm 

• Saturday late afternoon (5:30 pm) and onwards: "Moon Fesitval" in the Gardens of the World in Marzahn. (details)

• Throughout the weekend: Thanks to Josh Davidowitz I have learnt that there is a steam-engine festival near Betriebshof Schoeneweide this weekend (details) 

• Sunday at 1 pm - workshop for families with kids over 6 at the Martin Gropius Bau, in the Thomas Struth exhibition

• Sunday at 3pm - a guided tour for children in the Charlottenburg Palace 

• Street Food Market in the Kulturbrauerei, Sunday; a pumpkin festival in the Britzer Garten; the Apple Festival of Oranienburg in the palace ; and the Oktoberfest in Hauptbahnhof (until September 18th) 



Oktoberfest in Hauptbahnhof (foto: the organisers)

Jewish Heritage Events

The Israeli Film Festival Seret will take place in several cinemas between September 18th and 20th, with several intriguing new movies. 

Seret Film Festival

Seret Festival

Later this Week: Understanding the Mysteries of the Kita

Are you Berlin newcomers who are not really sure how to get creche / daycare / kindergarten / nursery school for your child? Maternita thought of you and are offering a workshop on choosing a nursery school, registration process and formalities. 

About Me

I offer tours in Berlin as well as write about the city as well as published several books and articles in general. I am always free for writing gigs - travel writing or any other types of writing and research - or of course to show you the wonderful city I live in. 

Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, Sept 9th - 11th 2016

Open Day in Listed Buildings

This title may not sound so exciting for families, but believe me - any history/ architecture/ culture/ nature buff, big or small, will find a lot to do on the  Tag des offenen Denkmals. The day features events and guided tours in listed buildings and historical sites, and many hold special programme for children. E,g

• In the Regenbogenfabrik in Kreuzberg (Lausitzer Str. 22, 10999 Berlin), which will hold a courtyard party on Sunday 
• Also in the Water Tower on Kopischstr. 7, 10965 Berlin (XBerg)

Furthermore

• Friday through Sunday: Fest der Nationen in Prager Platz ; Also: Harvest festival in Alt Marzahn and in the Dorfteich Alt Lichtenrade (see below)

• Saturday: Kites Festival in Tempelhofer Feld

• Saturday: Open Day at Schloss Bellvue, the residence of the President of Germany

• Another open day: Saturday from 12:00 at the Otto Bock Museum for medical engineering, on the occasion of the Paralympics, where many amputees who use their prostheses will take part. 

• And yet another one in the Musical Instruments Museum, on Sunday

• If your child starts the first grade today - first of all, congratulations! The FEZ offer Zuckertuete children a ride on its park kiddie-train (details)

• Saturday in Rixdorf: the straw-ball festival , in and around Richardplatz (train U7 Karl-Marx-Str), from about 2pm 

• Saturday afternoon - street party in Scharnweberstraße in Friedrichshain ; another street party on Düsseldorfer Str in Wilmersdorf (details)

• Sat/Sun - Kidsapalooza is the children version of Lolapalooza. Admission fees apply 

• Sat/Sun - Citadelle Festival, with knights etc. - in the Spandau Citadelle 

• Sat/Sun : Like in "The Englishman who went up a Hill" (great film!), the lack of real mountains brings the Berliner spirit to the height of its innovation. This time, the Arkenberge, an artificial hill which is currently the highest peak in Berlin, and celebrates a "Peak Festival" at the weekend, details

• Sat/Sun: The Pyramidale Festival is dedicated to Contemporary Music. As part of the festival, a concert in a tram going from Hackescher Markt (Sat, 6pm) 

Tramphonie: A concert in a tram

• Sunday morning - a run in the Tierpark (also for kids), details

• Sunday at 12:00 - metalwork crafts workshop at the Oranienburg Palace 

• Sunday at 1pm  - workshop/guided tour for families in the Berenice Abbott exhibition in the Martin Gropius Bau 

• Sunday at 3pm - a guided tour for families at the Marmorpalais in Potsdam ; as well as kids event in the Museum of Musical Instruments 

• Street Food Market in the Kulturbrauerei, Sunday ; BiteClub on Friday in Arena Treptow; and starting the Oktoberfest in Hauptbahnhof (until September 18th) 



Oktoberfest in Hauptbahnhof (foto: the organisers)

About Me

I offer tours in Berlin as well as write about the city as well as published several books and articles in general. I am always free for writing gigs - travel writing or any other types of writing and research - or of course to show you the wonderful city I live in.