Events for the first Advent Weekend, November 25-27

Christmas Markets

Christmas markets have already started this week, and there are dozens all over the city! It is really hard to choose where to go. I have here a map of all of the Christmas Markets in Berlin - big and small, permanent throughout the season or only at the weekend, traditional and quirky. In the blog, I am not going to list them all, because that would take you the whole weekend to read, instead of going out there. However, a few recommendations: 

• Personal favourites for beauty, atmosphere and/or stalls: Lucia in the Kulturbrauerei (location/website), Charlottenburg Palace (location/website) and the smaller ones by private initiatives and charities. I haven't tried yet the new location of the Gendarmenmarkt market this year - on Bebelplatz (location/website) - so I can't really vouch for it, but I used to love it in the past. The one in the Zitadelle Spandau (location/website) is new, but is supposed to be wonderful and is adjacent to the other famous Spandau Old City Markets. All of these are also open on weekdays. 

• If you (or your kids) love rides and a funfair atmosphere, go no further than the Winterzauber (location/FB presence) on Frankfurter Allee (near the Magdalenenstr Station).  

• The Christmas Gardens (location/website) and the Weihnachten im Tierpark (location/website) are for quite a fee but are great if you're into the wow effect and the instagramable moments. 

• If you're visiting Berlin, this list should be more than enough. No need to go to all kinds of exotic markets in faraway neighbourhoods. However, if you have the time, I encourage you to explore other parts of the city, and integrate a coll unique market from the list there, or even take a ride to one of the small markets in Brandenburg. 

All of these (and much more) are available in the map : 

• And now, for markets unique for this weekend 

• The Qweer Winter Market in the Alte Münze offers a certainly different atmosphere than usual. There is an entrance fee of €5, Sat+Sun from 1pm (location/FB Event). 

• The Späth'schen Baumschulen is running a Christmas Market on the first three Advent weekends, with about 100 stalls, children's activities and music. And of course, many decorated trees, given that this is a huge tree nursery (location/website) 

• Further down JWD in Treptow, you'd find the Waldgaststätte Hanff`s Ruh, in the middle of the forest in Grünau. It hosts a market only at this weekend (location/website)

• Meanwhile, in Neukölln, you can visit the Nordic Fairytale Christmas Market (location/website), in the Britz Estate (Schloss Britz). If you like the Historic Market in the RAW (location/website), which is open daily, you'd also like this one. 

• The "Environmental" Christmas Market is on Sophienstr in Mitte, and if this backdrop is not dramatic and beautiful enough, most stalls are of small handmade gifts and snacks. On all Weekends (location/website)

• Another market integrating local manufacturers and beautiful settings will be in the Schloss Schönhauser in Pankow this weekend (website/location)

• The Japan Christmas Market in Festsaal Kreuzberg (website/location) on Sunday promises Japanese-style atmosphere. There is an admission fee (EUR 12). 

• There is  also a "vegan" Christmas Market listed for Sunday in Fehrbeliner Platz. I hesitate to recommend this one since there is no web presence and it might be a mistake but feel free to check it. 

Other Christmas events: 

• If you're up for a bit of an excursion and for an interesting event: Members of the communities in Kladow and in Groß Glienicke sound their bells and sing to each other from the two banks of the Glienicke See on Saturday, from 5:30 pm, in the Badestelle Pferdekoppel (location/more information)

• On Sunday, fans of retro trains can enjoy a ride with a classic steam engine, from Lichtenberg throughout the Ring. The price is not cheap, but true love never is (location/website). It should be also mentioned, that since the train rides on the Ring, you might get lucky and see it on its ride, in one of the Ring stations, for free (so is it love for sale or for free?) 

• December 1st is the first day of the Advent Calendars! And in Pankow, there's a "living" Advent Calender, that promises activities every day in another part of the neighbourhood. On December 1st, it would be in the Rathaus Centre , with music, presents for kids and much more. 

Black Friday

You might want to ask, but no real big events related to Black Friday have been registered. It makes me somehow happy, hard to explain :-)

There are several clothing exchanges happening in the city, which might be interesting (on the general events map at the bottom of the page), as well as a Punk and Rockabilly market in the Wild at Heart in Kreuzberg on Sunday (location/FB event)

Music 

Lots of music for the whole family at the weekend, and not only in the Christmas Markets. 

• Atze Theater will present the show "Bach, the Life of a Musician" on Saturday (location/details) 

• In the Philharmonie, you can listen to the family concert "Das Zauberflötchen" (location/tickets) 

• In the Komische Oper you can enjoy Smetana's Moldau for kids (location/tickets)

Furthermore.. 

• Gluehwein Shabbath with HIllel Berlin on Friday evening (info)

The event map

Events for the Weekend in Berlin, November 18-20

(almost) Starting: Christmas Markets 

Christmas markets officially start only on Monday (and Sunday is a day of mourning, like the previous week, more on that in the next item). But really, you're in Berlin, so why not start ahead of time if possible?

Last week I already described several markets that have already started, among them:

• The market with the snow slide in Potsdamer Platz (see the map at the bottom of the entry)

• The largest market/fair in Berlin, the Winterzauber on Frankfurteralle, with a huge amusement park (see the map at the bottom of the entry)

At the weekend, several markets will be added: Ones that, as mentioned, could not wait for the official start of the period...

• Another market that is an amusement park in the Zentraler Festplatz, called Berliner Winterpark

• The medieval market at RAW opens already on Thursday (November 17), and includes performances with a historical atmosphere, photogenic installations and, of course, food stalls (map, website)

• The Spandau district is known for the variety of amazing markets in the Old Town area, and this year is no exception. There are no less than four central markets in Spandau, starting from the mall area next to the train station and continuing right up to Spandau Citadel. The first of them will open this Saturday, "Family Wonderland", a market that, as you can understand from its name, is family-oriented (map / website)

• The Christmas Gardens - in the Tierpark and the Botanical Gardens - both opened this week and are going to provide us with a spectacular light display that blends beautifully with the magical scenery of the Tierpark or the Botanical Gardens. There is quite a hefty admission fee(the botanical gardens: map / website; the shooting park: map / website)

There are also markets that take place only at this weekend, so if they look interesting to you, you should live the moment, for example the Finnish Christmas Market at the Finnish Cultural Center in Kreuzberg (map). If handicrafts and Finnish folklore are not exciting enough for you, the Tegel prison store also holds a Christmas fair on Saturday, of course with rehabilitative handicrafts by prisoners (map/information)

(again): No Flea Markets on Sunday (but don't worry about a too full wallet!)

Also this week there is a national day of mourning on Sunday, which means there are no traditional flea markets this week either. The flea markets of June 17th Street, the "Mouerpark" and similar markets, are all closed. Some of the Christmas markets mentioned in the previous section are also closed (for example the one in Spandau).

However, there are also quite a few special market events for the weekend:

• Stone lovers? The "Mineralis" fair (in Hall 17 of the Messe, map / website) naturally focuses on the collection and research of proper stones, crystals and minerals. Friday-Sunday, entrance fee.

• Art book fair, every day of the weekend, in Bethanien (map / website)

There are quite a few clothes swapping events in the city during the weekend (see map at the bottom of the page), the main one is probably in Haus der Statistik (map), the MAKE SMTHNG Kleidertauschparty Berlin swap market on the first (details)

• Another Sunday market, is at the Vegabund Brauerei (map) in Wedding: flea markets, craft beer and all kinds of other surprises (details)

• The Italian pasta week is ending, and you can still manage to eat a fine Italian dish for only 15 euros (details)

(a few more) Interesting Things

• Last week there were many lantern parades around Berlin, this week there is one particularly interesting lantern parade - on Saturday there is a procession in Kreuzberg 36 under the title "widerständiger Laternenumzug gegen Verdrängung". It starts at Rio Raiser Square (map) at 3:30pm (event). 

• A-Propos activism, the Jewish movement Hashomer Hatzair is celebrating a decade with a celebratory action on Saturday and before that, on Friday - the laying of Stumbling Stones for the activists of Hashomer Hatzair who were murdered by the Nazis, as part of the movement's history project (details).

• Another decade is being celebrated: Shabbat Together of the Frankelufer Synagogue. On Saturday of course, in the synagogue (details)

• November 24th is the American Thanksgiving Day. So far, not many events have been announced (even compared to previous years), but there is, for example, a dinner at Bräugier Ostkreuz (details).

The event map

Events for the weekend, November 11-13th

 Lantern Parades

You have probably received the memo from the Kita, but just in case: In this time of the year lanterns parades take place all over Berlin. The origin of the tradition is for Sy. Martin's Day on November 11th, but in secular Berlin, there are many non-religious parades. 

Most of the lantern parades take place on Friday: 

• Treptow-Köpenick: In Strandbad Wendeschloss (info / map) 

• Tempelhof-Schöneberg: In Café Eule in the Gleisdreieck Park (info / map) 

• Steglitz-Zehlendorf: In Domäne Dahlem (info/map) 

• Pankow: In the Heinrich Böll Library in Prenzlauer Berg (map), at 5pm, with a parade in the Mühlenviertel

• Potsdam: in the Volkspark, in the Remisepark (map/event) 

• Neukölln: In the Britz Gardens (info / map) and in the Wutzky Einkaufcenter (info/map) 

On Saturday: 

• In Medaillonplatz in Rummelsburg (info/ map)

• In the Schultheiss Quartier shopping centre in Moabit (info/map) 

• How to create light and fire like in the Middle Ages, on Saturday (2pm) in the Waldschule Zehlendorf (info / map) 

Diwali

I think it's the first time I see a public Diwali party in Berlin, so yippy-multikulti!  If you don't know it, some Wiki-Info. It is, Indeed, another light-oriented festival, because that's what we humans do when it's getting darker and colder. 

So, Diwali Berlin on the Sage Beach includes 12 stands with Indian food, DJs, comedy, dance, and lots of fun. 

Sat-Sun, from 2:30pm, on Sage Beach (website / address)

Meanwhile, in Wuhlheide...

The dead are walking around us! No, the Zombie Apocalypse is going to happen elsewhere (I suspect, in BER), it's just a Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) party.

On Saturday, in the FEZ (website / map) 

The Ghost of Christmas Future...

If the theme of the last item was zombies, here we have the good old starship invasion: The streets of Berlin are filling slowly with empty shells, reminding us that Christmas is near. And relatively, many events start way before the official starting time of the Christmas Markets in Berlin (which is the weekend of the 25th, so in two weeks). 

What do we have at the weekend?* 

• The market in Potsdamer Platz, already quite established in the past two weeks (Fr-Sa, Mo-Sa - might be closed on this Sunday due to the mourning day)

• The market in Frankfurter Allee, near the Magdalenenstr U-Bahn, with many rides and what promises to be the largest funfair/Christmas Market in Berlin (Fr-Sa, Mo-Sa - might be closed on this Sunday due to the mourning day)

• The Glühwald on Mercedes Benz Platz (Fr-Sa, Wed-Sa - might be closed on this Sunday due to the mourning day)

• The Vorglühmarkt in Holzmarkt-25 (map, also see the Christmas Market map below) , also on this Sunday (for sure) 

• The Christmas Avenue , aka the "Gay" Christmas Market on Nollendorfplatz, from Friday on 

No Flea Markets this Sunday

There is no shortage of events for this weekend (as usual...) but there is also one notable "regular" event missing: there are no flea markets on this Sunday, as it is the "National Mourning Day". Originally designed to commemorate the fallen of the First World War, it is a day dedicated to people who died in wars and violent incidents. There are usually several interesting ceremonies in cemeteries. 

While the official outdoor markets don't operate, there are several special markets and events. Small exchange (trade off) markets in Friedenau and Prenzlauer Berg are marked on the map at the bottom of the page, but there is also the Fashion Fleamarket in Ballhaus Berlin, on Sunday, which is dedicated only to women's fashion (info/map) 

• Also, a "Vintage and Art" in Brauhaus Neulich (map/FB event)

• A street food festival in Oranienburg (map/FB event) 

• A "Romantic Vintage Market" in Schloss Diedersdorf on Sat and Sun (map/FB event)

Pasta and other important things next week

Apparently, next week is True Italian Pasta Week. For EUR 15, you can get in selected Italian places a fancy pasta dish plus a drink. 

Monday - next Sunday 

In many Italian places around the city 

The event map

Events in Berlin , 4-6 November

 Lantern parades 

First, this is a reminder to all parents of children in kindergartens—the lantern parades are approaching, and you should prepare. It is highly likely there'll be one in your kindergarten as well. For children, this is usually one of the most exciting and central events of the Kita year.

The main lantern parades take place on November 11th, but this week there are also some cute parades and events for you:

• Lantern parade at the Düppel Museum, Saturday starting at 15:00 (the parade itself starts at 16:30) (site / location)

• On Sunday you can build lanterns in the Britz Gardens, at the Freilandlabor Britz (site / location / you must register in advance!)

• Also on Sunday, making lamps from recycled materials also at the Museum of Communications, as part of Museum Sunday (site / location)

Christmas markets (sorry, "Winter Fairs")

Berlin's Christmas markets only open at the end of November. In fact, there are two Sundays in November, which are days of national mourning and on which the “normal” Berlin flea markets will also be closed (the first of which is next Sunday - November 13).

But in Berlin as in Berlin, there's always a good excuse for a party. Already last week, we welcomed the first Christmas winter market; And the second opened already this week.

• The winter fair (Winterzauber) on Frankfurt Allee is actually a flashy amusement park full of rides and lights and at the same time the biggest Christmas market in Berlin. For the orientation of Berlin veterans: In the past, this Christmas market was behind "Alexa" and last year it was located next to Lichtenberg's Ikea. This is its third stop, also in Lichtenberg, near the Magdalenenstr station. This will not be the last stop in the market wanderings, as the area is actually intended for construction in the coming years. In any case, this market starts already this Friday and will continue until December 25th, closed only on the various days of mourning and on Christmas Eve; On Wednesdays there are discounts on the rides. (location)

• Continues: Winter World in Potsdamer Platz. This fair runs until January 1st and includes, among other things, the snow slide, as well as food stalls and other amusements (location)

• And another little something in Christmas spirit: on Mercedes-Platz the Glühwald starts on Saturday, a few food/drink stalls (with an emphasis on Glühwein of course) and beautiful decorations. Between Wednesday and Sunday from 16:00, until December 30 (location / website)

Science days, legendary days

Many events for the inner knowledge enthusiast in each of us. First, Berlin celebrates two events – the "Children's Fairy Tale Week" (with many reading events) and the "Science Week" (in which most of the events are aimed at adults).

An exciting event for science lovers is the 20th Anniversary of the "Children's University of Lichtenberg". It is also celebrating the beginning of a new "season" of academic lectures for children aged six and older. On Saturday, at the Anna Seghers Library in Lichtenberg (event/location)

• At the same time, FEZ continues with the "crazy laboratory", with experiments and activities for children till to the age of four (until Sunday / details / location)

And if all this is not enough, Sunday is "Museum Sunday", with many museums that are open for free, and activities in the various museums.

Among the many activities:

• A journey following the beginnings of photography at the Museum of Photography (details / location)

• Musical tour at the Düppel Museum (mentioned earlier in the context of the lanterns), (details / location)

• Experiments with light at "Berlinische Galerie" (details/location)

• Not in the context of the Museum Sunday (and for a fee), but in the Botanical Gardens, those of you who suffer from the cold and miss the desert will be able to take a guided tour for families to the “desert” inside the gardens (details/location)

• There are many other events in the dozens of participating museums

Food and more things to put in the shopping bag

• At the Messe the Bazaar Berlin fair is held this weekend. It includes decorative objects and "gifts" (details/location - please note that the complex is huge and at least from their website it is not clear where exactly within the complex the fair is located)

• Street food festival in the IKEA Schoenberg parking lot, Friday-Sunday (FB event / location)

• Brazilian cultural festival, including food, music, children's area and more at Festsaal Kreuzberg on Sunday (details/location)

• Vintage clothing sale this weekend in Kühlhaus Berlin (FB event / location)

• Designer market in Leopoldplatz in Wedding on Sunday (location); And for those who prefer it under a roof - on Saturday in Arminius Halle, designer and handicraft market (website / location)

• Huge flea market at Trabrennbahn Berlin Karlshorst - Saturday/Sunday (location)

November 9

The  German "Schicksalstag" and anniversary of the Novemberpogrom is approaching and there is large event that will be held near the monument on Levetzowstrasse in Moabit, with the participation of Jewish and non-Jewish organisations (including Hashomer Hatzair, FB event, location)

The event map