Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, April 28th - May 1st

May Day

Reminder - May Day is on Monday, it means a longer weekend and no shops on Monday. 

MyDay is huge street festival in the area around Kreuzberg-36 (Between Koti, Oranienstrasse and Mariannenplatz) , which is intended, among other goals, to contain potentially violent riots. The party goes on all day , including lots of music, shows, stands - some political, some very much commercial, some in between. 

Kreuzberg on a typical May Day

This is not the only street festival this weekend. In fact, it seems that they will be all over the place. Another large festival will take place in the Straße der 17 Juni, where the DGB (German Federation of Trade Unions) will celebrate in a "family festival". 

Another traditional May Day celebration will take place in the Schloßpark in Buch, organised by the SPD . 

Walpurgisnacht

April 30th is the night of the witches. So obviously, you must dance around a bonfire, or so is the German custom. E.g., a huge party in the Kulturbrauerei (see picture); in Mauerpark, the events will start at 4 pm 

For those looking for something scarier, after all, dealing with witches and such, the Filmpark Babelsberg provides (details)

Reading in Bebelplatz

Bebelplatz will turn this weekend into a huge reading area, with books placed all over the place and cosy seating for those interested in reading them. Except for the free reading, there will be two notable events. 

The first will be on Friday, where migrant-writers will be welcomed to read their work (in their mother tongue) to the audience. 

The second is Sunday - the "family day" with reading children books aloud, etc. 

Reading in Bebelplatz (dpa)

Furthermore

• Except for May Day, there are several other festivals

• The Spring Funfair in Hasenheide includes rides, stands and many attractions for kids. Open every day (for free - the rides costs a hefty sum), and on Saturday evening, fireworks. Until May 21st 

• The "Orange Fest" in Oranienburg Castle is on April 30th, approximately the same time as the Dutch national holiday of Kings' Day. Come dressed in orange... 

Orangefest

• A small street party (or actually, a pond party), will take place in the "village pond" of Lichtenrade in southwestern Berlin, the Lichtenrader Dorfteich. Under the title "when art meets wine" they will celebrate on Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday 

• Renaissance themed party between Saturday and Monday in Stadtpark Lichtenberg  

• Family party in the children farm in UFA Fabrik on May Day 

• An opening party for Holzmarkt25 on May Day 

• Another spring party in Yaam next door, Friday through Monday, with a flea market on Sunday

• Fairy Tales Weekend in the Museum Village in Düppel, including fire show on Sundaz night (Sat through Mon, details)

•  An evening guided tour in the Berlin Zoo, Friday at 7 pm

• Museums: 
• Experience synthesizers , in "Welcome to the Electronic Sound Garden!", at the the Musical Instruments Museum, Saturday, 3-5 pm 

• Children theatre at the Jagdschloss Grunewald, Sunday 3 pm (details)

• Throughout the week: The exhibition "Kaboom! Comics and Games", at the Computer Games Museum ( Karl-Marx Allee 93A 10243 Berlin )

• Music:
• Children disco, on Friday afternoon/evening in about//blank in Ostkreuz. Younger children can enjoy a bouncy castle, make up etc. from 2 pm; 10 year olds can join from 6 pm (details)

• children concert at the Philharmonie, Sat., 3 pm and Sun., 11 am (details)

• Markets and food: 

• The Falafel Burger Bao Club (Saturday/Sunday) by "Elements of Food" will offer this amazing fusion: handmade falafel in handmade baos, with all kinds of yummy additions, all homemade. (details)

• Brotzeit on Sunday, in Markthalle IX - a bread festival with many independent, small, bakers. 

• Bite Club hasn't started officially yet, but already there is a party, and what a party, aptly titled "Disco Brunch"... two magical words that convey all that is important to know. Sunday, from 11:00 (info here)

• The Designer Outlet Centre in Elstal has an open shops day on Sunday (1 pm - 6 pm) and this includes many activities for children, e..g kiddie train (details) 

• And as usual, the weekend flea markets and the street food market in the Kulturbrauerei

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, April 21st - 23rd

Fairs and Festivals

Domaene Dahlem will have classic (small) fairground attractions, as well as stands and "historical fair" aroma, on both Saturday and Sunday

Historical Fair in Domaene Dahlem

Another interesting festival will take place on Saturday/Sunday in Potsdam, the Tulip Festival. The festival, concentrated in the Dutch Quarter, will feature artists and artisans from the Netherlands, among other things. 

Last festival for the weekend, the Koepenick Wine Festival will take place between Friday afternoon and Sunday evening, including music, family activities and of course, wine (details)

Furthermore

• Guided tour through the Tierpark on Friday, 6:30 PM (details)

• Train fans must-do this weekend includes a classic steam engine event at Betriebshof Schoeneweide (details)

• The OrankeCamp is a camping/trekking event in the Orankesee lakeside (Saturday 10 am - 6 pm). The event features workshop for adults and a market for things like tents and canoes, but also activities for kids (details) 

• Record Store Day is taking place in selected record stores around the city, mostly independent ones, on Saturday

Record Store Day

• Museums and Casltes: 

• Night walk in the Grunewald Forest, with the Waldmuseum , Friday 8 pm (details) 

• Family workshop at the Haus am Waldsee, Saturday 2 pm 

• Children tour in the Peacock Island, Saturday, 3 pm (details)

• Saturday afternoon: workshops for the whole family at the Museum of Technology, 3:30 

• Guided tour for children in the Charlottenburg Castle, Sunday 11:00 (details)

• Throughout the week: The exhibition "Platz da! Kinder machen Stadt", at Labyrinth Museum ( Osloer Straße 12 13359 Berlin) ; Kaboom! Comics and Games, at the Computer Games Museum ( Karl-Marx Allee 93A 10243 Berlin )

• Gardening market in Markthalle IX on Saturday;

• and as usual, the weekend flea markets and the street food market in the Kulturbrauerei

Jewish Heritage

• On Friday, The Fraenkelufer Synagogue will ran a children service with Challah Baking, from 4:30 PM (details)

• Yom Hashoah is from Sunday Evening and until Monday Evening this year. There are several events, which are also partially available to English speakers: 

• Memory in the Living Room - meeting with a Holocaust survivor and a discussion (testimonial in German, discussion in English), details here

• Habait are organising a screening of "Compartments", followed by a discussion in English with the creator about the Holocaust in Israeli animation, Sunday, 7:30 PM in Moviemento 

From "Compartments"

• If you prefer a more intimate activity, there is the initiative to light a candle/put a flower near Stolpersteine (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 and Easter Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, April 14th - 17th

International Garden Show (IGA), Marzahn

Marzahn is celebrating the opening of the IGA on Thursday. The International Garden Exhibition is a gardening show, taking place this year in Berlin. Past garden shows have left us with the Gardens of the World in Marzahn and the Britzer Gardens in Neukölln, as well as the wonderful BUGA Park in Potsdam. 

This year the show is huge and very international, in the sense that the Gardens of the World area in Marzahn has been extended (it is ca. 104 ha) and will include many new gardens from different corners of the globe or with other themes. The exhibition will also feature many cool attractions, such as a bob run and a funicular. There will be also playgrounds, with one central theme being the classic German children book "The 35th of May, or Conrad's Ride to the South Seas" (unfortunately Erich Kästner is not as popular in the English speaking world, but I recommend getting translations of his books or read them in the original German - despite being from the 1920s and 1930s - they are just as exciting today). 

The IGA funicular 

The admission prices are not exactly modest: an adult will pay €20, whereas a child will pay €5, which means a family of four will cough up €50 ... 

Having said that, there will be really many attractions. On Thursday, the IGA will offer many activities including shows ; and at 8 PM, there will be fireworks. The show will be open daily until mid October, and then will be transformed to a public park.  

The Bob Run

The first such events would be the Cherry Blossom Festival on Sunday/Monday, in the Gardens of the World section. The festival will also feature shows by East Asian artists, cosplay and more (details)

IGA 2017 

Open Daily from April 13th

Transport: U5 from Alexanderplatz to Kienberg (Gärten der Welt) or bus 195 to Gärten der Welt

Easter in Berlin

First of all, a kind reminder - shops will be closed on Good Friday, April 14th and on both Easter days (Sunday, April 16th and Monday, April 17th). Unless you have some emergency (in which case, you can always find the shops in the train stations), enjoy the many events at this long weekend.  

Easter Fire , Britzer Gardens

• Easter Fire events, among others: 

• The HOWOGE Easter Fire will start on Saturday in the Park am Fennpfuhl, Paul-Junius-Straße , at 3 pm

• Another fire will take place in Zeltinger Platz in Frohnau, Saturday from 4 pm 

• Britzer Gardens will offer a lakeside fire with musical entertainment on Saturday evening, from 6 pm 

• The programme in the Insel in Treptow starts already at 12:00 with Easter Egg Hunt, there will be also some Easter Fire, a live concert and if the weather is fine, even canoe rental.  

• On Sunday,  April 16th, from 4pm, in the Yaam , including reggae and grill. 

• Also on Sunday, at 6pm, in the Strandbar Weissensee 

Spandau Citadel - Renaissance Fair

• Renaissance Fair in the Spandau Zitadelle, Saturday through Monday (see details in the ad above) and in Chorin (Brandenburg), starting on Thu, April 13th and until Monday, 17th. 

Dragons Included, in Chorin

• Medieval Easter event will also take place at the Museumsdorf Düppel  on all days (Fri through Mon) 

• Easter Market in Breitscheidplatz (near the Europa Centre), from April 15th, every day until April 23rd 

• The Easter Funfair at Britz (Fullhamer / Parchimer Allee) , every day , with this huge Easter Bunny and many other rides and surprises 

Huge Easter Bunny in Britz

• The Spring Funfair in the Zentralen Festplatz ( Kurt-Schumacher-Damm) , will continue throughout until April 17th; fireworks on Saturday April 15th, at 10 pm . Closed only on Good Friday (April 14th). Arrival: U7 Jakob-Kaiser-Platz and from there, busses  X21 , M21 ; or U6 Kurt-Schumacher-Platz and from there, busses M21, X21 or 128

Furthermore

• Museums and Casltes: 

• Saturday afternoon: workshops for the whole family at the Museum of Technology, 3:30 

• Heinrich von Schwann, the puppet, will guide the kids through the Oranienburg Castle, Monday 3 pm (details) ; at the same time in Jagdschloss Grunewald: children theatre followed by an Easter Egg Hunt (details)

• Throughout the week: The exhibition "Platz da! Kinder machen Stadt", at Labyrinth Museum ( Osloer Straße 12 13359 Berlin) ; Kaboom! Comics and Games, at the Computer Games Museum ( Karl-Marx Allee 93A 10243 Berlin )

• Musical instruments workshop in the Klingendes Museum, Saturday 3 - 5 pm 

• Breakfast Market in Markthalle IX , Sunday 10:00 - 5:00 

• And a street food market in the Kulturbrauerei 

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, April 7th - 9th

Easter

FEZ will celebrate the Easter Holidays with many offers, from Saturday on : crafts and egg hunting, spring walking tours, flying with the Easter Bunny to space and much more

Der große Ostereierkrach in Hasenhausen - From Saturday, the 8th and throughout the holiday until Easter Monday 

FEZ, on Straße zum FEZ 2, 12459 Berlin 

Public Transport: take the S3 to Wuhlheide or trams 27, 63 or 67 to Freizeit- und Erholungszentrum. Admission fees apply 

FEZ Easter's Bunny

The Easter Funfair at Britz (Fullhamer / Parchimer Allee) , every day , with this huge Easter Bunny and many other rides and surprises 

Huge Easter Bunny in Britz

 And also - 

• Easter crafts at Bubbly , Propststraße 11, 10178 Berlin, on Saturday

• Egg dyeing t Freiladlabor Britz, Sangerhauser Weg 1, 12349 Berlin, on Sunday (details)

• 
  

Passover

It's not only Easter, it's also Pessach! 

• The Jewish Museum offers the guided tour "In der Mazzebäckerei", which includes baking your own bread, I was there last year, it was fun. Sunday, 11:00 

• A fun Seder at Hashomer Hatzair on Sunday afternoon (dikla@hashomer.de )

• Tuesday (Second Seder) , 4:30 , children Seder in the Rykestrasse Synagogue

Food, Markets and Fairs 

• The Spring Funfair in the Zentralen Festplatz ( Kurt-Schumacher-Damm) , will continue throughout until April 17th; fireworks on Saturday April 15th, at 10 pm . Closed only on Good Friday (April 14th). Arrival: U7 Jakob-Kaiser-Platz and from there, busses  X21 , M21 ; or U6 Kurt-Schumacher-Platz and from there, busses M21, X21 or 128

• Food and Arts market in Willner Brauerei, Berliner Str 82, on Saturday from 1 pm 

• The Urban Spree Gallery will open it's season this Saturday, with street food stands, DJs etc. 

• The regular weekend markets, including the Street Food Market at the Kulturbrauerei

Furthermore

• Museums and Casltes: 

• "The Alchemist Kitchen" workshop for children in the Kulturforum, Saturday, 2 pm (details)

• Saturday afternoon: workshops for the whole family at the Museum of Technology, 3:30 

• "Queens are not Sad", guided tour for children in the Schoenhausen Palace, Sunday 11:00 (details)

• Guided tour for children in the Marmorpalais, with the "Castle Dragon", Sundya 2:30 (details)

• Throughout the week: The exhibition "Platz da! Kinder machen Stadt", at Labyrinth Museum ( Osloer Straße 12 13359 Berlin) ; Kaboom! Comics and Games, at the Computer Games Museum ( Karl-Marx Allee 93A 10243 Berlin )

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