Friday 26 November 2021

Events in Berlin, November 26th-28th, including Hanukkah in Berlin

 Christmas Markets

The Christmas markets are open, and enjoy them for a while, given the changes in the regulations. I've prepared a map for you with all Christmas Markets, including ones in faraway, exotic places. However, always try to double-check if there is no last-minute cancellation or change in policies. 



For this weekend, the recommendations may be : 

  • For those who must have as many rides as possible: Definitely the one near the Ikea in Lichtenberg, Winterzauber. Open daily 
  • For those who want something respectable to bring their in-laws to: Gendarmenmarkt is the most suited place in this city
  • And only at this weekend: 
    • Escape to the middle of the forest in Grunau, for the Hanff`s Ruh  Advent market
    • Go to see a different market, the Qweer Market, in the Alte Münze, in Mitte (Sat + Sun) 


    • The "Sustainable Market" in the Schönhauen Palace in Pankow (SPSG)
    • All Advent weekends, but no weekdays, at Subaemarkt in Schöneweide 

    • Also on all Advent weekends: arts market in Mexikoplatz , in Karl-August-Platz  in Charlottenburg, 

Chanukkah

The first candle of Chanukka will be on Sunday, November 28th, and there are already a couple of activities: 

  • Sunday, 4 pm : 
    • the huge (10 meters high) Chabad Menorah in the Brandenburg Gate will be lit ; 

    • Guy Dimenstein of the YouTube channel "The Good Ones" will light the first candle and spread love and Sufganyot at 5 pm in Alexanderplatz
    • A Chanukkah party in Marie Antoinette (details

    • Also on Sunday, a Chanukkah concert with Matan Goldstein and Doron Furman (details)
  • Further Menorahs in the city, for example in the Fraenkelufer Synagogue (Sunday at 5:30, other days 6 pm); in Bayrischer Platz in Schöneberg; and near the Köpenicker Stadtkirche in the Altstadt and on the Marktplatz in Adlershof. They will be lit every day at 5 pm
  • On Monday, November 29th, there is a "car parade" for Chanukkah, leaving the Chabad Centre on Muenstersche Str 6 at 6 pm



  • Tuesday (3rd Candle): candle lightning in Rathaus Schöneberg, at 5 pm (info)
    • Sharon Jaegermann will show us how to make Sufganyot in a Zusammen workshop (registration)

  • The "Shtetl Berlin" Festival for Yiddish Culture will start on Thursday with a Hanukkah concert in the Jewish Museum (info

    • Also on Thursday: "Comic Concert" with Itai Dvorin, in the Fraenkelufer (info)
    • And another concert + candle lightning, in the Pestalozzistr Synagogue 




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Friday 19 November 2021

Events for the Weekend of November 19th-21st, and throughout the week (Thanksgiving!)

Before the event information, some clarifications about the Covid regulations (as of the moment I'm writing), for those who still need it. Currently, there's a G2 policy in places like most of the Christmas markets, restaurants, bars, clubs etc. This means: 

  • Entry only for the vaccinated and recovering (2G) with relevant certificates
  • Unvaccinated / not recovering, can enter if:
    • They have a medical certificate that they are not allowed to get vaccinated, or: 
    • They are children under the age of 6, or : 
    • They people under the age of 18, who come with an up-to-date negative test

Supermarkets, shops, public transport and other essentials - are open to the public. Of course, a mask is needed.


Thanksgiving

Just before the Advent, the US celebrates Thanksgiving, and this year, it's on November 25th (the coming Thursday). 

  • This coming Saturday (November 20th), supporters of the Democratic Party in Berlin will hold a Thanksgiving race to collect donations for their activities. You can also just come and cheer. Saturday, Tempelhofer Feld, 11:00 (details)


Advancing towards the Advent

This Sunday is officially a mourning day (so flea markets will be closed), but there are many activities nevertheless. 

The Advent will officially start on November 28th (and before that weekend, actually, the traditional markets are closed), but in Berlin, we already have numerous markets open for business : 
  • The Berlin Botanical Gardens are opening this weekend their "Christmas Gardens", with truly magical atmosphere and light decorations all over the place. The admission is pretty pricey; every afternoon, till January 9th 



  • There is a similar events opening this weekend in the Tierpark - "Weihnachten im Tierpark", featuring lights, a skating rink and much more. Again, admission is pretty expensive. Every afternoon, till January 9th 


  • For something a bit less expensive, you can visit Karl's in Elstal, featuring the "Schrottis Winterdorf", a trendy "upcycling" themed winter park. Open every day and literally for free. 


  • The Historic Market has also started this week, linked to the same people who operate Renaissance Fairs, and if you like the genre, pack your girdles and codpieces and head your trusted steeds (Tram M10, trains to Warschauer Straße) to the RAW-Gelände. Every afternoon, till Dec 22nd



  • The Japanese Christmas Market in the Festsaal Kreuzberg promises a mixture of Japanese culture, food and design with special Christmas stuff. Sunday, 12:00 till 8 pm 


  • Also in Kreuzberg: The Finnish Cultural Centre is running a small Christmas market at the centre in Kreuzberg (Schleiermacherstraße 24a 10961 Berlin) , on Sat/Sun between 10 am and 6 pm 
  • The people behind the light art exhibition, "Dark Matter" offer a Christmas light experience in Rummelsburg, Winterlights in Rummelsburg. Admission is for EUR 5, you get to see "200 luminous Christmas trees with 80.000 LEDs transform the darkness into a dancing glow of lights. The trees, arranged according to size, are combined with atmospheric music to create an overall audio-visual experience that repeats every half hour throughout the evening" 
  • There is also a small (one-time) "winter" market in Schöneberg, on Karl-Heinrich-Ulrichs-Str. 10 10787 Berlin, not far from the Pride Market . The market is for charity and organised by the CVJM, which is practically the German version of YMCA, (well, the organisation, not the song). Further info
  • In addition, I have already reported the following markets: 
    •  Lichtenberg's Winterzauber, with lots of lights, rides and stalls. Daily till December 19th, on Landsberger Allee 364 (near the Ikea, Tram M6 from Alex). 

    • The Winterwelt  in Potsdamer Platz is also open every afternoon, with its fake snow slide.  


    • The "Pride", LGBTIQ Winterdays takes place till December 23rd near Nollendorfplatz 

Hanukkah 

Chanukah, the holiday with the 1000 spelling-options, will start next Sunday (so the 28th), but there are already some Hanukkah related activities for the kiddies out there. 

  • Chabad Alexanderplatz will offer a pre-Chanukkah event for kids aged 3 to 12 on Sunday (2 - 4 pm)  

  • The Fraenkelufer Synagogue will have Chanukkah activities in their Kids club on Sunday (for kids aged 3-10, in different age groups, details)


  • Also sort of Hanukah related: A Peula (activity) of Hashomer Hatzair (where some pre-Chanukah activity will take place, but only as an appetizer to the real party in two weeks' time, info, for kids aged 7(ist) and up (till 15ish, they are not very strict). 
  • The people of the Fraenkelufer Synagogue are inviting everybody to their Mitzvah Day get together, which will be, this time, a cleaning activity in the neighbourhood. 

The Rest of the Week

Except for Thanksgiving for our American (and feast-loving) readers, there are several other things happening throughout the week. 





  • Well next Friday is Black Friday, and we'll probably have some shopping events


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Friday 12 November 2021

Events in Berlin for the Weekend of November 12th - 14th

 Christmas markets are here!

In principle, Christmas markets start with the First Advent, i.e. the fourth Sunday before Christmas (this year it is at the weekend of November 26th-28th), but since when is Berlin a traditional city? And so, some Christmas markets sneaked up on us - long, long before the holiday.

Speaking of tradition, please note that this coming Sunday (and also the one that follows) are legally considered days of mourning (Trauertag in German). Again, in Berlin it does not mean much, but in principle flea markets and street parties (and Christmas markets) should not be open. Some obey, some less so.

So what's going on this week, for those who do not have the patience to wait until the first Advent with their Glühwein?

  • "Winterzauber" - This is the name of the Christmas market located right next to Lichtenberg's IKEA. This is an old market and known for its extravagance - it has existed (in various locations) since the 1920s and today provides the most (ahm...) baseborn experience (to put it mildly) of Christmas markets: lots and lots of facilities, flashing lights of overpriced plastic toys, hustle and bustle and more  pleasures of life. Until December 19, at Landsberger Allee 364 (right next to IKEA, as mentioned, tram M6 from Alexanderplatz). Open every day. 


  • The first market to be opened (already two weeks ago), and actually one of the last ones to close (on January 2nd), is the Winterwelt in Potsdamer Platz, with its iconic fake-snow slide. This year, no ice skating rink (the slide is still there), but there are stalls with christmas snacks and gifts. Daily, U+S Potsdamer Platz. 



  • In the Nollendorfplatz area, the "Proud Market" opens on Friday (November 12th), which is divided into two - before the Advent it calls itself "The LGBTIQ* Winterdays" and after the Advent - "The Christmas Avenue" and in both cases, takes place until December 23rd, i.e. almost till the holiday. You can expect a gay atmosphere (sorry, this is not even a dad joke, maybe a great-grandfather's one), and in any case a lot of surprises and an entertainment stage. G2 entrance (vaccinated or recovering with relevant documentation). Open afternoons

  • The "Vorglüh-Markt" in Holzmarkt 25 lives up to its name with all kinds of drinks, but given it is Holzmarkt 25, it is fun for all. Fri-Sun, afternoon, free admission. 


  • The "Medieval Market" on RAW will also open on Thursday (the 18th), but since I guess most of us are aiming for the current weekend - it will be reported next week.


Lantern Parades

St. Martin's Day is behind us, but you can still find some lantern parades at the weekend, if you haven't had enough of walking in the cold with that lantern. 
  • On Friday afternoon you can join the Work'n'Kid  bilingual (German / English) parade in Friedrichshain (details / tickets



  • The Museumsdorf Dueppel is offering a traditional parade with a horse, on Sat, 2 pm. According to the website, sold-out, but you can still have a try. Also the parade in the Zoo (Sat, 3:30) is already sold-out, but some of these places hold extra tickets at the entrance. 
  •  The  Bizim Kiez walk is also a protest against the gentrification of the Kiez, Heinrichplatz, Sat 5pm 


  • On Sunday there is an event including a parade in the Vierfelderhof in Kladow, as well as a parade in Mariendorf, at Mariendorfer Damm 342, 12107 Berlin, organised by the local church (2 pm).  


Israeli culture and Judaism

  • The children opera "Das Tierhäuschen" will start on Sun (at 12:00) in the Jewish Community Centre on Fasanenstr., as part of the "Jewish Cultural Days" festival. 
  • An interesting festival of Jewish and Muslim culture and the connections between them, the MuJew - Muslimisch-Jüdisches Festival 2021, will take place this weekend at the Prachtwerk in Neukoelln. In streaming or on the spot itself, Ganghoferstraße 2, 12043 Berlin (Karl-Marx-Str.). Trailer:




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