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