Events for the Weekend, December 28-30 and NYE!!

The Top Events for the Weekend

In no particular order of importance

• Visit whatever is left of the Christmas Markets 

• Enjoy a cool New Year's Eve (Silvester in German) with your family! Fireworks are available for sale from the 27th, and if you're not much into this (or rather your pets aren't), make sure you book somewhere calmer, asap.

• You can celebrate NYE in the Figurentheater in Treptower Park, which will hold fairy-tales by the fire, in a special Silvester edition (in DE) 

• The German Symphonic Orchestra and Roncalli join forces in a NYE concert in the Tempodrom

• Tommy Tobewelt, the large indoor playground in Weißensee, is having a children Silvester Party until 2 am on Monday (details)

Happy 2019!

• Make a New Year's Resolution to enjoy more of the cultural opportunities in Berlin, including weekend workshops in museums, listed in the map below. 

• If you're New Year's Resolution is to live healthier, look no further than the Silvesterlauf on December 31st (in Grunewald, the "Last Fun-run of the Year") and the New Year's Fun-Run (Jan 1st , Brandenburger Gate) 

Silvesterlauf

• Make sure that you have enough stuff for the long weekend: Shops are closed  (as usual) on Sunday, opened half a day on Monday and closed on Tuesday. Museums are mostly closed on Monday and most will open late on Tuesday. 

More events and ideas for the weekend in the map : 

Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, November 30th - December 2nd

First Advent! Christmas Markets are Here!

I am going to list here only special weekend markets, assuming you can find the big ones on your own (however, here's a map) 

• Only on Saturday: Advent events in shops around the Boxi-Kiez in Friedrichshain

• A weekend market in the Swedish Church (Sat/Sun) in Wilmersfdorf (Landhausstraße 26, 10717 Berlin) and also in the Danish Church (Sat/Sun) in the same neighbourhood (Brienner Str. 12, 10713 Berlin) 

• Doggie Christmas Market in the Forsthaus Paulsborn in Grunewald 

• Light installations in Park am Südgelände Sat + Sun 

• Around the Buckower Dorfteich on Sat + Sun 

• Also in Potsdam: A Bohemian Christmas Market in Weberplatz, Babelsberg, Fri through Sun ; "Adventgarten" in Alexanderovka as well as in Schloss Belvedere Pfingstberg

Every Weekend

• Activities and a market at the FEZ 

• A special Christmas in Markthalle Neun (Fri + Sat, and on Sunday: Naschmarkt) 

• Christmas at the Späth’sche Baumschulen in Treptow 

• The Weihnachtsrodeo in the Kuehlhaus (near Park Gleisdreieck) is indoors and dedicated to funky design, Sat + Sun 

• A Vegan Christmas Market in Winterfeldplatz

Furthermore Christmasy Stuff

• The Nicholas Fun-run (including a Bambini Race) on Saturday, in Zehlendorf, everybody gets a chocolate-Nicholas as a prize! 

• Children activities (Christmas related) in Knoblauchhaus on Sunday 

• On Wednesday, the Coca Cola Truck will come to Mercedes-Platz in Friedrichshain, an appropriate place for such an action 

Furthermore... 

• Museums and Castles: 

• Every Sunday/Saturday, workshop on the archeaology exhibition, for kids aged 6 to 12, at 2:30 , Martin Gropius 

• Every Sunday, 12:30 - guided tour (DE) in the Pergaon; at 3 pm : guided tour through Maerkisches Museum's (DE) collection of interesting musical instruments 

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

• Food and Markets: 

Jewish Traditions and Hebrew Events

It's not only Advent, also Chanukkah, and there are many activities: 

• Hashomer Hatzair start the party on Sunday at 15:00, and will also light candles, near Alexanderplatz. Details dikla@hashomer.de 

• First Candle in Fraenkelufer, on Sunday at 4 pm 

• Chabad will light the candles on Sunday, at 6:30 pm in Brandenburg Gate 

• The Monday Candle will be lit at 5:30, in Breitscheidplatz

• Chabad will then light a Tuesday Candle in KaDeWe, at 5:30 ; and there will be also a concert by Walter Rothchild and the Minyan Boys, in Fraenkelufer

• Wednesday: Candle lightning in the Jewish Museum, 5 pm ; Also on Wednesday: in Forum Adlershof  at 5:30 pm 

• Thursday, a crazy Chanukkah party in Monster Ronson's , for adults of course (and if you like your entertainment a little more Orthodox, Bleiberg's are having a Klezmer evening on Thursday ; Traditional lightning the Candles at 7pm in the Mall of Berlin 

Later in the week...

There are over 60 markets in the city, so brace yourself! 

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. 

About the Blog

I try to upload it regularly and aim for publishing on Wednesday evening, If you want me to include something (or think that I have forgotten), contact me; if you want to follow and plan to weekend, visit the blog on Wednesday nights or Thursday mornings... And finally, if you want to support me and the blog, you can do it in three ways: ordering tours in Berlin from me; Paypaling me or just removing the adblock and clicking one of the ads. 

Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, 23-25 November

The Advent! Christmas Markets are Here!

Formally, November 25th is Totensonntag a religious mourning day, and therefore the Christmas Markets open a day later. On this date, in fact, there are no public celebrations, including no flea markets. 

However, there are a few small private Christmas Markets already at this weekend!

• 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 January 6th

• Another Early- Christmas Market will join those who cannot wait for the official opening on the 26th! The Medieval Festival on the RAW will feature a mixture of regular Christmas Market stuff with the fun medieval fair atmosphere, from Thursday 

• The Market on Holzmarkt 25 is open every weekend (Fri through Sun)  

• The Finnegan Irish Pub in Steglitz (Bergstraße 8 12169 Berlin ) will hold an "Irish Christmas Market" on Sunday 

• Birgit und Bier will hold an "Asian Christmas Market" on Fri through Sun 

• Finnish Christmas Market in the Finland Centre, Sat/Sun. They probably mostly sell rakes, which is the greatest, a HUGE, Christmas present 

Furthermore... 

• Museums and Castles: 

• Every Sunday/Saturday, workshop on the archeaology exhibition, for kids aged 6 to 12, at 2:30 , Martin Gropius 

• Every Sunday, 12:30 - guided tour (DE) in the Pergaon; at 3 pm : guided tour through Maerkisches Museum's (DE) collection of interesting musical instruments 

• Sunday Brunch + workshops at PalaisPopulaire (Unter den Linden 5) , Sunday from 11:30 

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

• Food and Markets: 
• No flea markets on Sunday due to the Totensonntag, but plenty of other markets

• Flea market in Klunkerkranich on Fri/Sat 

• The Green Market for vegan etc. products, Sat/Sun in the Alte Münze

• Children flea on Sunday in Yaam 

Jewish Traditions and Hebrew Events

Hashomer Hatzair will start this year's activities on this Saturday, 12:30, near Alexanderplatz. Details dikla@hashomer.de 

Later in the week...

The Christmas Markets around town will open on Monday (and we will be also offering small tours through the markets). 

There are over 60 markets in the city, so brace yourself! 

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. 

About the Blog

I try to upload it regularly and aim for publishing on Wednesday evening, If you want me to include something (or think that I have forgotten), contact me; if you want to follow and plan to weekend, visit the blog on Wednesday nights or Thursday mornings... And finally, if you want to support me and the blog, you can do it in three ways: ordering tours in Berlin from me; Paypaling me or just removing the adblock and clicking one of the ads. 

Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, 16-18 November

Fairy Tale Festival

The Berlin Fairy Tale Festival continueד until November 25th. The shows are spread all over town, including in less traditional venues like embassies, public buildings etc. Most is in German, a few tales in other languages

Fairy Tale Festival, until November 25th

Christmas-y Stuff

• 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 January 6th

Furthermore... 

• If you missed the St Martin Parades last week, there are a few light processions at the weekend. On Saturday, in Heinrichplatz in Kreuzberg (at 5pm): a procession against gentrification with dragons, lamps etc (details) 

• Space weekend at the FEZ (SAT/ Sun) 

• Museums and Castles: 
• Activity day at the Technical Museum on Saturday 

• Every Sunday/Saturday, workshop on the archeaology exhibition, for kids aged 6 to 12, at 2:30 , Martin Gropius 

• Sunday, 1 pm, workshop for children in Martin Gropius for the Lee Bul exhibition 

• Every Sunday, 12:30 - guided tour (DE) in the Pergaon; at 3 pm : guided tour through Maerkisches Museum's (DE) collection of interesting musical instruments 

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

• Carnival of Animals, at the Philharmonie, Saturday 4:00 

• The Wizard of Oz, a children opera at the Komische, Sunday at 11:00 

• Food and Markets: 
• No flea markets at the weekend due to the Volkstrauertag, but plenty of other markets

• Tea festival in Heilig Kreuz Kirche on Zossener Str in Kreuzberg (Sat, info)#

• Heldenmarkt, a fair for sustainable products on Saturday and Sunday in the Station (details)

• Sunday breakfast market in Markthalle IX 

Jewish Traditions and Hebrew Events

Later in the week...

Another Early- Christmas Market will join those who cannot wait for the official opening on the 26th! The Medieval Festival on the RAW will feature a mixture of regular Christmas Market stuff with the fun medieval fair atmosphere, from Thursday 

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. 

About the Blog

I try to upload it regularly and aim for publishing on Wednesday evening, If you want me to include something (or think that I have forgotten), contact me; if you want to follow and plan to weekend, visit the blog on Wednesday nights or Thursday mornings... And finally, if you want to support me and the blog, you can do it in three ways: ordering tours in Berlin from me; Paypaling me or just removing the adblock and clicking one of the ads. 

Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, 9-11 November

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 Sunday this year, there are a few events : 

• In the Museumsdprf Düppel ( Clauertstraße 11, 14163 Berlin , in Dahlem ) , there will be an event starting at 10 am on Saturday , with the parades at 3pm, 5pm and 7:30pm 

• 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

Fairy Tale Festival

The Berlin Fairy Tale Festival starts at the weekend and will continue until November 25th. The shows are spread all over town, including in less traditional venues like embassies, public buildings etc. Most is in German, a few tales in other languages

Fairy Tale Festival, until November 25th

Furthermore... 

• 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 January 6th

• Model railway fair in FEZ Friday through Sunday ; 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 

• Museums and Castles: 
• Every Sunday/Saturday, workshop on the archeaology exhibition, for kids aged 6 to 12, at 2:30 , Martin Gropius 

• Sunday, 3pm, vernissage for children, through the 100 year to the November Revolution, in the Berlinische Galerie

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

• Felix Mendelssohn for children: concert at the Urania, Saturday at 3:00 

• Food and Markets: 

• Wine festival in the Alte Münze Fri + Sat 

• Sat + Sunday in Birgit: Asian Hot Noodle Festival 

• Rausch Chocoletier are celebrating their 100th anniversary as well as an extension of their "Chocolate House" on the corner of Charlottenstr and Mohrenstr with many events in the store. 

• Flea markets and a street food market in the Kulturbrauerei 

Jewish Traditions and Hebrew Events

November the 9th marks the Jahrzeit of the November Pogrom. There will be events around the city and the DHM will be open for free

Later in the week...

The Christmas Gardens in the Botanical Gardens will open on Thursday. 

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. 

About the Blog

I try to upload it regularly and aim for publishing on Wednesday evening, If you want me to include something (or think that I have forgotten), contact me; if you want to follow and plan to weekend, visit the blog on Wednesday nights or Thursday mornings... And finally, if you want to support me and the blog, you can do it in three ways: ordering tours in Berlin from me; Paypaling me or just removing the adblock and clicking one of the ads. 

Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, October 26th - 28th with Halloween in Berlin

Halloween

Halloween is not as a big deal in Germany as it is in the English-speaking world, and most people hardly go trick or treating and/or know about it. So if you live in a neighbourhood that is relatively very "German" you might mostly find surprised faces among your neighbours and/or people just remembering it's Halloween because you came... 

Of course there are many events, among which: 

• The Zombie Walk will start on Saturday, at 5 pm, in Klosterstr. All are free to join, bring your favourite zombie look with you and arrive on time - the event is free . 

• Unless you like Little Shop of Horrors (like me!), you might forget that plants may be very evil indeed. At least this is what the Botanical Gardens are doing in their annual Halloween event, which is a lot of fun: some "scary" plants, a little edu-tainment and lots of fun with pumpkins. Sunday, from 11:00 (am) , Botanical Gardens (S Botanische Garten or bus from Steglitz / Dahlemdorf) 

• Saturday + Sunday: pumpkin carving at the Hirschhof on Oderberger Str (Prenzlauer Berg)

• On the 31st : 

• Probably one of the main events for this night, for families, is the Halloween evening in the Tierpark. The zoo will open at 12:00 on this day, and from 5pm on (but also before that) will feature all kind of scary stuff. So if the flesh-eating-plants from the Botanical Gardens didn't get you, let the crows of the Tierpark scare you out of your mind! Highly recommended to purchase tickets before, the events is very popular 

• from 5pm, a ride in a spooky children train, in Wuhlheide 

• The Halloween Run in Jugfernheide, including children course, on the 31st, from 4pm 

• Scary night at the FEZ! From 6:30 pm 

• RadioTeddy's traditional Halloween Parade starts on Wednesday at 6:00 pm from the Schoenhauser Allee Arkaden and will end in Helmholzplatz 

• The Babelsberg Filmpark is having its horror nights for adults at the weekend, and on the 31st they have an event also for children 

• There are so many parties for adults that I feel really silly listing them all , I would recommend checking in ResidentAdvisor 

Furthermore... 

• Friday/Saturday/Sunday : Pankow wine festival on Breite Straße (near M1 Pankow Kirche)

• Museums and Casltes
• New cultural centre in Berlin, the Palais Populaire, where the Deutsche Guggenheim used to be. On Saturday, children workshop in digital art, from 11:00 

• Sunday, 2 pm: textile workshop for families, at the Museum Europäischer Kulturen ; children tour in the Gemaeldegalerie 

• Sunday, 3 pm, fairy tales for children in Jagdschloss Grunewald, and this time "Julia and the Vampire" (in German) 

• Music: 
• A new children opera premiers on Sunday, the Wizard of Oz, at the Komische Oper 

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

• Food and Markets: 

• Sunday Flowmarkt in Maybachufer 

• Open shops Sunday (1 till 6 pm) : Rathaus Center Pankow and also at Forum Steglitz and Gropius Passagen

• Flea markets and a street food market in the Kulturbrauerei (this week with cheeseburgers!) 

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. 

About the Blog

I try to upload it regularly and aim for publishing on Wednesday evening, If you want me to include something (or think that I have forgotten), contact me; if you want to follow and plan to weekend, visit the blog on Wednesday nights or Thursday mornings... And finally, if you want to support me and the blog, you can do it in three ways: ordering tours in Berlin from me; Paypaling me or just removing the adblock and clicking one of the ads. 

Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, October 19th - 21st

Pre-Halloween 

Halloween is in two weeks time but there are already a few activities at this weekend

The FEZ is turning into a haunted castle, Burg Eckstein, in which a variety of "scary" activities can be done. The activities are open throughout the week, thanks to the Autumn Holidays (from October 22nd and until early November) .

FEZ 

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 

Karl's in Elstal is also turning into a scary village for one night (Saturday, from 5pm), and will feature fire acrobatics, witches house and much more. Unlike the usual affair at Karl's, you should purchase a ticket in advance

The Babelsberg Filmpark presents its Horror Nights on Friday and Saturday (for adults and teens, children only on Halloween) 

Furthermore... 

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

• Musical instruments workshop at the Klingendes Museum on Saturday, 3 pm 

• Jazz for kids at Schlott on Saturday (4pm), with Disney tunes 

• Nature: build tree houses in Domaene Dahlem, Saturday (fees for the materials apply) 

• The German Comic Con is coming to town on Saturday and Sunday, which means cosplay, D-List Celebs, and lots of pop culture. Admission fees from age-5 (full details in English) 

• Museums and Casltes: 

• Friday night: a guided tour with torch-light, in the Natural History Museum

• Fairy-tale time in the Museumsdorf Düppel on Saturday (in German), 

• Saturday: design your own exhibition, at the Maerkisches Museum , 11:00 ; and on Sunday, a guided tour in their gramophone collection 

• Printing methods at the Scharf Gerstenberg Museum, on Saturday, 2pm 

• Food and Markets: 

• Friday: art book market in the Hamburger Bahnhof

• Also on Friday: Mexican Fiesta at Mi Buenos Aires in Berlin 

• Satrurday: chili festival at James June (Karl Marx Allee, where it meets Friedenstr) 

• Sunday, 10:00 - 4:00pm: Breakfast Market in Markthalle IX 

• Also on Sunday: The Kreuzboerg Flowmarkt in the Prinzessinnengaerten 

• Flea markets and a street food market in the Kulturbrauerei 

Later in the week...

Monday will see a big festival in the Museum for Natural History, with many surprises and activities for children, 9:30 through 4pm 

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. 

About the Blog

I try to upload it regularly and aim for publishing on Wednesday evening, If you want me to include something (or think that I have forgotten), contact me; if you want to follow and plan to weekend, visit the blog on Wednesday nights or Thursday mornings... And finally, if you want to support me and the blog, you can do it in three ways: ordering tours in Berlin from me; Paypaling me or just removing the adblock and clicking one of the ads. 

Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, October 5-7

Berlin Light Festival(s)

The "light festivals season" is starting this weekend with "Berlin Leuchtet", an illiminations festival on Berlin's famous buildings. This one was now joined by the Festival of Lights until October 14th. The difference is a difference in organisers, nothing that should really trouble you as the audience. Quite recommended, especially for photography lovers

Furthermore... 

• The Schoeneberg Pumpkin Festival will take place at the weekend (Sat/Sun) in Akazienstr 

• The "Gauklerfest" is a renaissance fair in the Spandau Citadel, until October 7th 

• Museums and Casltes: 
• Berlin Graphic Days in Urban Spree

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

• Sunday, 11+3pm, a children (6+) concert in the Konzerthaus

• A children music festival (aged 3 and up) in Bi Nuu on Sunday. 

• And also a kiddie-disco in Maxxim, on Sunday 

• Peter and the Wolf, in the Phiharmonie, on Sunday 

• Food and Markets: 

• Flea markets and a street food market in the Kulturbrauerei 

Jewish Traditions and Hebrew Events

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. 

About the Blog

I try to upload it regularly and aim for publishing on Wednesday evening, If you want me to include something (or think that I have forgotten), contact me; if you want to follow and plan to weekend, visit the blog on Wednesday nights or Thursday mornings... And finally, if you want to support me and the blog, you can do it in three ways: ordering tours in Berlin from me; Paypaling me or just removing the adblock and clicking one of the ads.