Thursday 24 November 2022

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




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