Events for the weekend, 16-18 August

Open Doors with the Federal Government

Every year, the different ministries of the Federal Government open their doors, with activities and introductions - for children and adults who want to know more. This year, on Saturday and Sunday, you can visit the different offices, learn about what they do, enjoy some entertainment and maybe even pose for a selfie with your favourite politician ... 

I can personally recommend: I was surprised how interesting the programme for the kids was, in the past times. 

Don't forget to bring Ausweis / passport / etc. 

Sat / Sun 10:00 - 6pm - all over the city
Programme in German

Angie, Angie
When will those dark clouds all disappear
Angie, Angie 
Where will it lead us from here

Eating, Shopping etc.

Birgit will be all "black is the new orange" on Sunday - and will present a food festival all dedicated to black food. 

No colours anymore I want them to turn black

• Saturday night: designer and flea market in the Spandau Citadel 

• Sunday shopping (1-6 pm) in the Schultheiss Quartier in Moabit with many children activities. And : on Thursday they celebrate Eid... (happy Eid, if you're also celebrating) 

SOVD Run

This fun run and event is all dedicated to inclusion. There will be also a place for visitors to see how it is to use a wheelchair, reps of the Special Olympics, etc

SOVD Inklusionslauf

Sat 10:00 Tempelhofer Feld 

It doesn't matter what you wear Just as long as you are there

The Map

Events for the Weekend , July 9 - 11th

So... Summer holidays are over! 

But there are still many events in Berlin 

Food and Markets

The weekend starts with a  "biteclub" party in the Arena in Treptow. It will continue with the re-opening of the former Stone Brew in Mariendorf, under the new name/management of Dogtap (Sat/Sun) and there are plenty of markets and food festivals, e.g. : 

• Italian Spritz party (Fri/Sat) in Osthafen (details)

• Craft beer festival at Domaene Dahlem (details) 

• street food markets, e.g. Kulturbrauerei or the Mauerpark 

• later in the week: joint dinner by Meir Adoni and Gal Ben Moshe (details)

Street Fairs etc

Animal lovers have a vast choice at the weekend and especially on Sunday. There's a Bat Festival in the Spandau Citadel (details) ; an open day at the Tierheim Berlin (info) and on top of that, a "Pony Festival" in Domaene Dahlem , the early birds gets the horse, in this case. 

There's also the Sultan Festival in the Gardens of the World. Frankly, I can't tell you much more than the regular deal: a bit of folklore, a bit of food, and the beautiful gardens, which are worth a visit in any case. 

Mother Earth

• Sustainability Festival for the whole family at FEZ on Sat / Sun 

• A demonstration : block vehicles on Sonnenallee, Saturday afternoon (details) 

The Map

Events in Berlin , April 26-28

Street Parties , Fairs etc

Fans of photography should consider visiting Teltow at the weekend (train: Lichterfelde Süd with the S25). The Hanami Festival will take place in the former Wall path

If Teltow is way too JWD for you (JWD = Berlinerisch for janz weit draußen), there's another Japanese culture festival , more geared on the partygoers, in Birgit und Bier, with a Sushi Festival on Sunday, and a non-stop party from Friday through Sunday. 

And this is not the end of the cherry blossom parties: there's also a small street party in Käthe-Niederkirchner-Straße in Prenzlauer Berg 

If you're looking for more "cultural" activities, but still love the outdoors - there's a Reading Festival in Bebelplatz

There's also the VELO Berlin bike festival (in Tempelhofer Feld), open shops in Forum Koepenick and Bite Club on Sunday... 

May Day

Reminder: Wednesday (May Day) is a free day - no shops, no schools/kitas! 

Many demonstrations around the city, Berlin being Berlin, the line between a street-party and a demonstration is quite grey, so you have the Fest in Brandenburg Gate which includes rides and food, as well as demonstration ; you have the MyFest in Kreuzberg and in Lichtenberg you have a mixture between a Linke May Day celebration and a Renaissance Fair. Only in Berlin... 

A special May Day event for kids will take place at FEZ (info)

The night before May Day is Walpurgisnacht, the witches night, and the Filmpark Babelsberg are having an event... (details) and there will be a special ride in the Wuhlheide Train (info)

The Map

Events for the weekend , April 5th - 7th

Top Events

• The spring fair in the Zentraler Festplatz on Kurt-Schumacher-Damm continues this week as well. It is joined by the Britzer Baumblüte , which also includes rides, huge Easter Bunnies and lots of fun. If you're in the southwest, also check out the funfair in Potsdam , in the Neue Lustgarten ; in addition to all of that, a "Spring Festival" also in Pinke Panke and if you prefer trains to animals, the Bahnbetriebswerk Berlin-Schöneweide will celebrate spring on Saturday and Sunda

• Not only that - on Sunday, Domäne Dahlem will hold the Bratwurst Championship 

• Which brings me to sports... This weekend , apart from eating Bratwurst, you can also see (and even take part) in the Berlin Half Marathon. The running event will be on Sunday, the skaters will start on Saturday and there will be also events for hand-bikes (sports-wheelchairs) and other types - including two children events (running and skating). 

• Britz is not the only place where you can see early Easter Eggs. There is an Easter Ralley (egghunt?) at the Waldschule Plänterwald at the weekend ; the trees in the Britzer Gardens will be decorated with eggs. 

Events Map 

Events for the Weekend, March 29th - 31st

Five Tips for this Weekend

• A couple of decades ago, a Japanese TV channel planted cherry trees all over the former Wall path. This is the time that the cherry trees start to blossom.  Serious blossom will be in mid-April, but you can already see a little of that along the Wall Path, e.g. in Bornholmer Str. Curiously enough, there is blossom on the trees leading to Schönhauser Allee, but not the ones leading to Pankow. Perhaps different types. 

• Due to the spring, there are also new festivals. The Spring Fair in Kurt Schumacher Damm provides a somewhat generic mixture rides, food stalls and general fair atmosphere, with fireworks on Saturday (open daily, free entrance; payment for the rides) ; the Dueppel Museum will "chase winter away" in a traditional Medieval event (Sat + Sun) 

• Also: nature activities, e.g. at the Ökowerk in the Grunewald Forest, or in the Britzer Muehle

• A music festival in FEZ, hiphop for children in Radialsystem and many more music / theatre activities ; as well as museums, on the map

• And a kind reminder : there is a BVG Strike on Monday. Bike, walk or use the S Bahn (it is working) 

Events for the weekend, March 22-24

Several recommendations for this weekend

• Spring is here! And for a change, not only the calendar is changing, there is actually a warm weekend. You can already enjoy such events as Domäne Dahlem's Spring Fair (Sat + Sun) . If you're looking into something that feels a little more rural and excursion like, the Vierfelderhof in Gatow is also holding a Spring Festival on the grounds (where? Have a look at the map!) . Besides that - plenty of food and flea markets at the weekend, including one for vegetarians/ vegans in the Kuhlhaus  . Another place that opens the season is Prinzessinengarten

Domäne Dahlem

• Museum lovers, do not despair, in fact - celebrate! While the sun is out, you can still enjoy many interesting activities in the different museums at the weekend, the highlight of which is the re-opening of Martin-Gropius-Bau, with (ta-da!) free admission! (Sat + Sun) 

• Music fans can, among other things, visit the Philharmonie for a children concert (both Sat and Sun) 

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Weekend Events, March 1 - 3

Berlin wears a costume

The Karneval is on in the rest of Germany and while Berlin is not a classic Karneval city (the carnival is a Catholic thing, originally), there are numerous events. Add the proximity of Purim, and hilarity ensues : 

• Make up artists will offer their services in the Galeria Kaufhof on Saturday and Friday 

• A Fasching party in the Schoeneberg Pool on Saturday - in the price of regular admission 

• Mask making in Klax in Prenzlauer Berg, on Saturday

• Fasching party in the Pearl Club on Sunday 

• If you want to experience "real" carnival parade, take the Sunday train to Cottbus, where the largest pageant in the East takes place: info

•  Purim: this Sunday in Chabad House Alexanderplatz, from 1 pm 

Reminder: Next Friday is off!

Next Friday (March 8th) is International Women's Day , and it's a day off: no schools/kitas, no shops and most workplaces are also closed. 

More in the map... 

Events for the Weekend, February 8th - 10th

Main Events

Still continues: FEZ Magic Castle (information)

The Walking with Dinosaurs show is coming to Berlin, and will set its claws on the Mercedes Benz Arena on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The price is quite dear, but the effects are said to be amazing (any type of commentary on the show is in German, details) 

More events and ideas for the weekend in the map : 

Events for the Weekend, February 1st - 3rd

Main Events

The FEZ is turning in the winter holiday to a magic castle, with many Harry Potter allegories (as many as the copyright holders would allow FEZ without suing them...). The activities are also suitable for younger kids who haven't entered the magical universe of JK Rowling, yet, but obviously, big Hogwarts fans would enjoy it even more. 

FEZ Magic Castle (information)

Speaking of Harry Potter, there is a Harry Potter exhibition in Potsdam, and the winter holidays week might be a good time to visit, since the weekend prices are prohibitive, and at least during the week, the price is somewhat reasonable. My impression of the show? The fans in our families enjoyed every little piece of it, I thought that the price was somewhat excessive (about EUR 80 for the family at a weekend), and on top of it, wardrobe costs extra (and not a few pennies there either) and the exit is through the gift shop. 

Harry Potter Exhibition in Filmpark Beblsberg, 

All aboard the Hogwarts Express! 

More events and ideas for the weekend in the map : 

Events for the Weekend, January 25-27th

Main Events

Like last weekend, also this weekend is marked by the Grune Woche, a huge food and agriculture fair in the Messe. Admission fees apply, but we're taking about an experience for the whole family.   

Gruene Woche

The Grune Woche is also an excuse for Open Sunday in major shops, including most high street and shopping mall places - from 1 to 6 pm 

If you're into Japanese culture, not only the food, the Japan Festival is awaiting for you at the Urania (Sat + Sun), with shows, demonstrations, Manga, Aikido, and of course - also Japanese food. 楽しむ (Tanoshimo!) 

Stay for a while in East Asia, because the Potsdamer Platz Arkaden are celebrating the Chinese New Yaer on Saturday and Sunday. Unfortunately, no fireworks this year, but dragons and dancers are guaranteed. 

More events and ideas for the weekend in the map : 

Events for the Weekend, January 18-20th

A foodie's weekend! 

• The Green Week opens at the weekend. It started as an agricultural fair but is now became Germany's prime food fair, with many opportunities to try new things, learn about food production etc. Also special route for families, admission fees apply

• Breakfast Market in Markthalle IX on Sunday 

• The Street Food Market returns to the Kulturbrauerei on Sunday 

• And on Saturday, a mega-demonstration around Brandenburg Gate "Wir haben es Satt!", against harmful aspects of agriculture

More events and ideas for the weekend in the map : 

Events for the Weekend, January 11-13th

Winter? 

• Winter's the best time to pack your trunks and get in a lake, or at least leave your trousers at home. This is Berlin logic: 

• On Saturday, the Berlin Seehunde will hold its annual "Water Fasching", with swimming in the icy water of the Orankesee and you;re invited. 

• You don't need no trousers for Sunday's No Pants Subway Ride. And by pants they mean trousers (keep your underwear on!) and by subway they obviously mean the U-Bahn 

• If you prefer to spend your winter indoors, you weirdo, The FEZ is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a party, at the weekend (educational playground, indoors, admission fees apply) 

• And on another more traditional winter-y front , the Nut Cracker is not out of the schedule, and there is a family oriented show on Sunday in the Tempodrom, 3 - 5 pm 

More events and ideas for the weekend in the map :