Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, December 1st - 3rd (First Advent)

Christmas Markets and Other Events for the First Advent

The big Christmas Markets are out and open daily. The last of them, the one in Landsberger Allee (near the IKEA) is opening today, with 180 booths and rides. 

Landsberger Allee

There are, however, a few small markets that are open only at this weekend: 

• The Japanese-Korean Christmas Market features stands with design articles, food and more from Japan and Korea. It is located in Karl-Marx-Allee 93, 10243 Berlin (the former Kosmos near the Computer Games Museum, in U5 Weberwiese), on Sat/Sun, 12:00 - 10:00pm; entry for EUR 3 . A nearby more permanent market worth mentioning is the Historic Market in the RAW Tempel 

• If you're planning to go to the famous market in the Old City of Spandau, consider also visiting the fire brigade further north (on Triftstraße 8, 13585 Berlin; walking distance, says Google) , the fire-fighters are holding a small fair of their own, with option to see the engines and fulfil all of the Christmas wishes of Friends of Sam. Sunday, 12:00 - 6:00 

• The Weihnachtsrodeo is an indoor designer Christmas market, with plenty of quality street food and DJs , Sat/Sun in the Kühlhaus (Luckenwalder Str. 3, near the Technical Museum and not far from Gleisdreieck). There are probably admission fees, but the organisers haven't revealed that secret info yet. 

More markets just for the weekend: 

• In the Späth’sche Baumschulen : the big tree-nursery in Treptow is running a small market on all weekends, including kids activities (Späthstraße 80/81, 12437 Berlin, bus 170 from S-Baumschulenweg or from U7 Blasckkoallee) 

Furthermore

• Museums and Casltes

• Every Saturday: workshops for children (from 2:30 onwards) at the Museum of Technology; Every Sunday, 11:00 and 3:00 - guided tour (in German) in the museum. On this Sunday: also a tour in English, at 3:30 

• Music: 
• Every Saturday , 12:00, the "Mighty Wurlitzer" in the Musical Instruments Museum

• Musical instruments workshop at the Klingendes Museum, Sat 2;30 

• Nature: Special light activities in the Naturpark Südgelände, Sat + Sun afternoon 

• Markets and Food: 

• All of the regular flea markets and the addition of the Christmas Markets doesn't make the choice easy... but there are also 

• The Naschmarkt in Markthalle IX is dedicated to sweet Christmas goodies, including a Christmas bakery for kids and many options to try the stuff out. Sunday, from 12pm 

Hebrew / Israeli / Jewish Heritage 

Later in the week...

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, November 24th - 26th

Sunday - Another Mourning Day

Flea markets will be closed on Sunday, due to "Totensonntag", Sunday of the Dead. 

Christmas Markets and other Seasonal Events

Officially Christmas Markets will only open from Monday, November 27th, and this is also due to the abovementioned day of mourning . But a few fairs and markets exist already. 

• The Winter World is not a Christmas Market (at least officially, which, why it opens so early). Unofficially, it is exactly what it is - a Christmas Market without Christmas, but with winter sports, decorations, stands and typical seasonal food. Lots of fun, free admission. Potsdamer Platz, until Dec 31st - closed on this Sunday 

• Another non-Christmas-Market event, is the Chrismas Garden in the Botanical Gardens. This is the second year of this special event, featuring special light installations and all kinds of attractions, in the Botanical Gardens. The admission is rather on the pricey side, but the event is so spectacular, that I would recommend it. Open also on Sunday. 











The Spaeth Nursery also opened a pre-Christmas event: The Christmas Village is open between Tuesday and Friday and features all kinds of activities for the whole family. The weekends will be enriched with a Christmas Market, but also from December 2nd. 

Another not-Christmas-Market-at-all is taking place in the Nikolai Quarter, under the name Die Feuerzangenbowle (after a classic German film, that will be also shown). Starting this Friday, it is a tiny thing featuring 5-6 stalls with mulled wine and of course - movie screening in the open air, including this Sunday 

• Domaene Dahlem also have a market at the weekend. 

There is a small traditional Finnish Bazaar in the Finnish Cultural Centre in Kreuzberg on Saturday/Sunday  

Last but not least for the weekend Christmas Market list, is the market in the Holzmarkt 25, with plenty of cool stuff to do . 

Thanksgiving

American expats (and friends) may celebrate Thanksgiving this week 

• at the Hard Rock Cafe , with a special menu

• In a private exclusive dinner in Schoenberg

• A Turkey buffet in the Wartenberger Hof near S-Wartenberg 

And if we're into American traditions, what about Black Friday? There are some sales (in most shopping centres and on Amazon), but basically, don't expect the level of hysteria or violence that this date is notorious for. Nobody cares, and das ist auch gut so. 

Furthermore

• Puppet Theatre Festival throughout the weekend at the FEZ

• Museums and Casltes

• Every Saturday: workshops for children (from 2:30 onwards) at the Museum of Technology; Every Sunday, 11:00 and 3:00 - guided tour (in German) in the museum. On this Sunday: also a tour in English, at 3:30 

• Workshop for children in the Werner Hablik exhibition in Martin-Gropius-Bau, Sunday, 3:00 

• Music: 

• Every Saturday , 12:00, the "Mighty Wurlitzer" in the Musical Instruments Museum

• Peter and the Wolf at the Philharmonie, Saturday, 3:30 

• The "Town Musicians of Bremen" is a children-opera, after the famous fairy-tale. At the Komische Oper, Sunday 11:00 and 4pm , libretto in German and Turkish 

A donkey, a dog, a cat and a chicken: Town Musicians of Bremen

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, November 17th - 19th

Sunday - Memorial Day

German Memorial Day is on Sunday and is one of two days (the other one is next Sunday) that are declared "Days of Mourning", where public fests are not allowed (the exact term is Tanzverbot). The meaning for most Berliners or visitors is that flea markets are closed on Sunday. There are also no other public fairs, for example, the Winterworld in Potsdamer Platz. 

If you're interested in official events, there will be ones in most military cemeteries. 

Furthermore

• More Funfairs and Street Parties

• Christmas and "Seasonal Markets" - The Winter World is not a Christmas Market (at least officially, which, why it opens so early). Unofficially, it is exactly what it is - a Christmas Market without Christmas, but with winter sports, decorations, stands and typical seasonal food. Lots of fun, free admission. Potsdamer Platz, until Dec 31st . As mentioned before, not on this Sunday, though (Saturday - open) 

• Another non-Christmas-Market event, is the Chrismas Garden in the Botanical Gardens. This is the second year of this special event, featuring special light installations and all kinds of attractions, in the Botanical Gardens. The admission is rather on the pricey side, but the event is so spectacular, that I would recommend it. Open also on Sunday. 

• The Spaeth Nursery also opened a pre-Christmas event: The Christmas Village is open between Tuesday and Friday and features all kinds of activities for the whole family. The weekends will be enriched with a Christmas Market, but also from December 2nd. 

• The Bakers Association of Berlin invites the public to a Stollen Fest on Friday in the Mall of Berlin. Leave some for me, will you? 

• Another not-Christmas-Market-at-all is taking place in the Nikolai Quarter, under the name Die Feuerzangenbowle (after a classic German film, that will be also shown). Starting this Friday, expect the regular Christmas-Market fare as well as movie screening in the open air, including this Sunday 

• Last but not least for the weekend Christmas Market list, is the market in the Holzmarkt 25, with plenty of cool stuff to do . 

• Open Day at the Tempelhof Airport Building, including guided tours. Kids can enjoy the Cabuwazi Circus, Saturday, from 12:00 

• Museums and Casltes

• Every Saturday: workshops for children (from 2:30 onwards) at the Museum of Technology; Every Sunday, 11:00 and 3:00 - guided tour (in German) in the museum. On this Sunday: also a tour in English, at 3:30 

• A guided tour for families in the Königs Wusterhausen Castle, on Saturday, 5 pm 

• Workshop for families, in the Bauhaus Archive, Sunday, 11:00 - 2:00 

• Workshops for families in the Bröhan Museum, Sunday 11:00 

• A guided tour through the German Historical Museum, for families with kids aged 8 and over, Sunday, 2:00 

• A guied tour for children with the "Castle Dragon" in the Marmorpalais (Marmor Palace) in Potsdam, Sunday 2:30 

• Music: 
• Every Saturday , 12:00, the "Mighty Wurlitzer" in the Musical Instruments Museum

• Musical instruments workshop at the Klingeldes Museum, Saturday, 3 pm 

• Prelude Concert, for the whole family, on Saturday, 4:30 

• Peter and the Wolf, in Fontane-Haus Märkisches Viertel, Sunday 4 pm 

• Markets and Food: 
• Breakfast Market in Markthalle IX, with the theme of Dia de Muertos. 

Hebrew / Israeli / Jewish Heritage 

Later in the week...

Thanksgiving

American expats (and friends) may celebrate Thanksgiving this week 

• at the Hard Rock Cafe , with a special menu

• In a private exclusive dinner in Schoenberg

• A Turkey buffet in the Wartenberger Hof near S-Wartenberg 

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, November 10th - 12th

St. Martin's Day

For those of you unfamiliar with German traditions: the German tradition for St. Martin's Day includes two major elements : one is lantern parades around the neighbourhood, with or without a person dressed as St. Martin leading the event on a horse; and the other one is eating geese (or at least ducks) with red-cabbage and knoedel. 

Since November 11th is on Saturday this year, there are a few events : 

• In the Museumsdprf Düppel ( Clauertstraße 11, 14163 Berlin , in Dahlem ) , there will be an event starting at 2 pm on Saturday 

Lampions in Museumsdorf Dueppel

• In the Britzer Garten, starting at 4:30 

• And at the same time, 4:30 in the afternoon, also in the Alte Fasanerie in Luebbars

• Obviously, many parades from churches all over Berlin

• The one from the UFA Fabrik leaves at exactly 5:17 (17:17, sounds much better in German)

• Domäne Dahlem will celebrate on both Saturday and Sunday, in combination with its textile market

• The Bizim Kiez Parade will take place only next week, on the 16th, and will have political messages against the gentrification of the neighbourhood. 

Furthermore

• More Funfairs and Street Parties

• The Winter World in Potsdamer Platz is the first market to open. Officially, it is not a Christmas Market (hence, why it opens so early), unofficially, it is exactly what it is - a Christmas Market without Christmas, but with winter sports, decorations, stands and typical seasonal food. Lots of fun, free admission. Potsdamer Platz, until Dec 31st 

• The FEZ will host a Fairy-Tale Festival at the weekend 

• And later this week: the fabulous Christmas Gardens in the Botanical Gardens will open next Thursday 

• Museums and Casltes

• Every Saturday: workshops for children (from 2:30 onwards) at the Museum of Technology; Every Sunday, 11:00 and 3:00 - guided tour (in German) in the museum. On this Sunday: also a tour in English, at 3:30 

• "Family Sunday" at the Maerkisches Museum 

• Music: 

• Every Saturday , 12:00, the "Mighty Wurlitzer" in the Musical Instruments Museum

• The Carnival of Animals, Saturday, 4 in the Philharmonie 

• Peter and the Wolf in German and in ... Yiddish, as part of the Jewish Cultural Festival. Sunday, 2:30, the Jewish Community Centre on Fasanenstr 78  

• Markets and Food: 

• An evening flea-market at the YAAM, on Friday from 7 pm

• A wine festival in the Alte Münze (Molkenmarkt 2, 10179 Berlin) Sat+ Sun

• The Heldenmarkt is a fair dedicated to sustainable products, and next to it, there is a Vegan market, on Sat and Sun, in Station-Berlin (Lückenwalder Str., near the Technological Museum, U-Gleisdreieck) 

Heldenmarkt

• A musical family brunch on Sunday in Prenzlauer Berg (details)

• Children flea market, Sunday from 12:00, in Markthalle IX 

• Street food market in the Kulturbrauerei , on Sunday

Hebrew / Israeli / Jewish Heritage 

Later in the week...

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, November 3rd - 5th

Furthermore

• More Funfairs and Street Parties: 

  
  

• Museums and Casltes

• Every Saturday: workshops for children (from 2:30 onwards) at the Museum of Technology; Every Sunday, 11:00 and 3:00 - guided tour (in German) in the museum

• Music: 
• Every Saturday , 12:00, the "Mighty Wurlitzer" in the Musical Instruments Museum

• Sports

• Markets and Food: 

• The Cheese Berlin Festival will take place this weekend in Markthalle IX, with workshops (Fri , Sat) and a big market on Sunday 

• Street Food Market in Europa Centre, on Fri/Sat/Sun, which goes well with the following event: 
• This Sunday is an Open Shopping Sunday , shops in shopping centres or big department stores are open

• Street food market in the Kulturbrauerei 

Hebrew / Israeli / Jewish Heritage 

Jewish Culture Days Festival starts on Saturday, and on Sunday, the Jewish Community organises the Balagan Day in the JCC in Fasanenstr. The event will feature all kinds of Jewish food vendors, as well as local Jewish artists. Free admission 

Balagan Day
Sunday, November 5th, 12:00 - 6:00 
Fasanenstr 78 

Many of the other events would be of little interest unless you're into a very niche type of things : 

• the opening concert (Sat, 8pm) is in Rykestr. Synagogue, featuring David D'Or (A Jimmy Sommerville soundalike, who was sort of a  few-hit-wonder singer something like 20 years ago); 

• another concert is a Leonardo Cohen tribute in the Wintergarten (Monday, 8 pm); 

• and then there is maybe the most intriguing concert: Orphand Land, but unplugged (Monday, 8pm). 

Later in the week...

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