Friday 30 November 2018

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. 

Friday 23 November 2018

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 
    • 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
      • 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. 

    Friday 16 November 2018

    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. 

      Friday 9 November 2018

      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 


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

      • Food and Markets: 

        • 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.