Events in Berlin for this Weekend, 20 - 22 June

Friday

Today in the afternoon, you can join Hebrew/German afternoon activity at Bambinim West (Brandenburgische Str), with Inbar Yemini.

Also on this Friday, the "Kinderfest" at the Humboldt University. The event includes all kinds of "academic" activities for children, including a robot stand, a place where you can learn how animals talk and much more.
HU Children Fest, Friday from 3 pm. Main Building, Unter den Linden 6 (Bus 100/200: Staatsoper ; S/U/Tram to Friedrichstrasse)

Saturday: CSD Berlin

Christopher Street Day is the German name for the Pride Parade demonstration for LGTBI rights (after the name of the street where the Stonewall Riots started). The Parade in Berlin has never been blamed of being too prude or modest, so it is left for your consideration, whether or not to participate with your kids: it might has an education value.
CSD Parade, Saturday, from 12:30 from Olivaer Platz to the Victory Column.

Besides, have you seen the nice Google dedication to the day?

Saturday: Fete de la Musique

However, there is another huge event this Saturday! The Fete de la Musique is originally a French event, but Berlin also celebrates it in the past 20 years. Artists - some of them well known like the Element of Crime - perform for free from Saturday afternoon. There is also a specific programme for children, although kids can of course also come to all other gigs. The full programme can be searched by venue, Bezirk or type of event (e.g., for kids)

Also on Saturday

• A street fair on Eosanderstr. 13, to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the local puppet theatre. 

• Summer fair also at the Archenhold Observatory, with children programme that includes rocket building and other cool activities. 

• The Victoria Football Club organises a tournament for children. Anyone can join, but has to register in advance (details) 

• The Open Day at the Tagesspiegel newspaper includes lots of children events, like a scavenger hunt, crafts, and more. 

Sunday

• Cooking  class for kids at Bambinim West 

• A swim of 750 m between Gatow and Schildhorn in Grunewald, based on a Medieval Legend. 
• Also on Saturday: crafts for the whole family and building puppets at the Figurentheater Grasshüpfer in Treptow. 

German French Fair 

The fairgrounds in Kurt Schumacher Damm host this funfair, which includes a Ferris Wheel, rides, stands and lots of crepes with Nutella. 

Fair: from June 20th till July 20th, every day. Wednesday is family day with reduction on the rides. 

Events for Families this Long-Weekend, June 6th - 9th

Is it only me, or are there more long weekends since I have started this blog?

Today - 20th Anniversary of the Children Adventure Playgrounds

There are several dozen specially supervised playgrounds in Berlin, called, Abenteuerspielplätze, where staff offers children activities, sometimes also operates a small children club or a kiddie farm. One of the associations of such places, AKIB, is celebrating its 20th anniversary in the Tempelhofer Feld with activities for kids.
Place: Temperlhofer Feld (U Platz der Luftbrücke, Paradenstr etc)
When : Friday, 3-6 pm
Further details: free, AKIB's website


Today/Tomorrow: Last Chance to See the Terracotta Army

Who knew? Few artefacts from the Terracotta Army were brought to the Gesundbrunnen Shopping Centre, and are on display there, for free, until Saturday.

Friday - Monday: Carnival of Cultures

The main events of the Carnival of Cultures (Karneval-der-Kulturen-der-Welt) are divided into three:

First, there is a big street party (Friday-Monday) on Blücherplatz in Kreuzberg, which includes lots of music and dance acts from different cultural heritages, food stands and even a few rides.

The second main event is a Children Procession (Saturday) from Mariannenplatz in Kreuzberg to Görlitzer Park, followed by a special children event in the park.

The third event is the largest, a huge carnival procession (Sunday), from Hermannplatz to Yorckstraße.

If you have never been to the carnival, I recommend. However, please note - this might be the most crowded event in Berlin. Lots of people come to see the procession, and seriously - mind your belongings (wallet, mobile phone etc) and your kids (not in that order), both will easily get lost or trumped by the crowds.

Friday-Monday: Street party in Blücherplatz in Kreuzberg  (U Mehringdamm or U Hallesches Tor), all day long, for free
Saturday: Children Procession, begins in Mariannenplatz at 1:30 pm (U Kotbusser Tor or S Ostbahnhof), continues to an event in Görlitzer Park from 3 till 6 pm.
Sunday : The Main Carnival Procession, a big parade from U Hermannplatz through to Yorckstrasse, including the whole street between. Parade begins at 12:30, but it is so huge, last trucks will probably arrive to the Yorckstrasse station by 6 or 7.

Further Fairs and Street Events

There are several other fairs and street events in Berlin this weekend.

Steglitzer Festwoche 

This fair will close on Monday, with fireworks on Saturday. Open every day, for free.

Where: Krahmerstraße 12207, Berlin (S Lichterfelde Ost or bus M85 to Krahmerstr./Stockweg )

Steglitzer Festwoche

The Happy Helle Mitte 

Open Fri - Mon, all day, for free.

Where: Alice-Solomon-Platz (near S/U Hellersdorf)

Hellersdorf Celebrates

German Russian Festival

This festival has all kinds of music and folklore acts, as well as food , On Fri-Sun, for free.

Where:: Pferdesportpark Karlshorst, Treskowallee 129 10318 Berlin (S Karlshorst)

Pankow Jazz Festival

Mostly Jazz acts, on Sat - Mon, admission fee  is EUR 5 for adults

Where: Bürgerpark Pankow  (M1 till Bürgerpark Pankow).


Malzwiese

Crafts activities, shows in an old malt factory, just behind Ikea Tempelhof, for free - on Saturday only

Where: Malzfabrik, Bessemerstr. 2-14 12103 Berlin (S Südkreuz)

Tinti Pool Party

A heat wave is expected and perhaps the pool is the best place to be on such a day. The Tinti bath products company will run its pool party for kids in the Humboldthain Summer Pool (admission fee: to the pool)

Where: Humboldthain Summer Pool (S Humboldthain)

Monday: Open Mill Day

Have you always been curious, to see how meal and other milled products are being made? The Open Mill Day enables you to visit the Marzahn Mill, the Britz Mill and other traditional mills, e.g. in the Technical Museum.


Further Activities and Events

In Oranienburg and in Potsdam, you will find two medieval fairs (both with admission fees).

You can also see the events suggested by the wonderful Berlin For All The Family Blog, which has a slightly different selection than mine. Next week, if I may already reveal, they are running a family picnic in Friedrichshain...

This Weekend in Berlin: Passover and Much More

Friday: Kabbalat Shabbath

Like every week, there are family-oriented Saturday-Eve activities at the Rykestrasse Synagogue and in the Bambinim Centre on Fürstenwalder Straße.

Passover

Seder night is officially on Monday (14th), but until then, you can enjoy Bambinim's children Seder on Sunday. More Seders in Berlin

Saturday: Opening of the Sandmännchen Shop and other Shopping "Experiences"

Not a huge fan of shopping myself and even less so when my kids tag along, but there are so many shopping "events" this weekend, some may of interest.

If your kids are fans of the Sandmännchen show, the RBB TV are opening a special shop only for Sandmännchen merchandise at their HQ in Charlottenburg, and for the grand opening on Saturday you can take your picture with the Sandmännchen taken.

Sat, 10:00-16:00
Where: Kaiserdamm 80, 14057 Berlin-Charlottenburg
Getting There: U Theodor-Heuß-Platz

Another shop is opening only on this Saturday: The International  Popup Store @ Driss am Wunderland

Also on Saturday, Naschmarkt will organise a "Kaffeeklatsch" market for Easter, with special stuff (not kosher for Passover, I guess... :-) 

Naschmatkt in Markthalle IX 

Sunday: Bratwurst Championship

The Domäne Dahlem runs on Sunday the "12th Berlin Championship in Bratwurst-Making". Not a place for vegans...

Es geht um die Wurst!

Where: Domäne Dahlem Königin-Luise-Straße 49 14195 Berlin
Getting There: U Dahlem Dorf
Entrance fees apply


Sunday: Cherry Blossom Festival in the Gardens of the World

Trees are blooming all over the place, and the Gardens of the World in Marzahn will organise an Asian themed cherry blossom festival.

Cherry Blossom Festival in Marzahn

Where: Gardens of the World, Eisenacher Straße 99 12685 Berlin
Getting There: Bus 195 from Marzahn or Mahlsdorf
Entrance fees apply



Fr/Sa/Su: Spring Fairs

Three major fairs this week : the Zentraler Festplatz and in Britz have been mentioned last week; on Friday (11th) you can enjoy the fair in Alexanderplatz (till the 27th)

Easter Fair in Alexanderplatz, till the 27th

The Spring Fair in the Zentraler Festplatz continues (until April 21st) and includes rides, food stalls, and general fair fares. Free entrance; Wednesday is family day (with half price on the rides). 

Where Kurt-Schumacher-Damm 207, 13405 Berlin
Getting There  U7 to Jakob-Kaiser-Platz and then X21, M21 or N21



Another spring fair will take place in Britz, not far from the beautiful Britzer Gardens. The fair is on the  Fulhamer Allee and Parchimer Allee and includes "non-stop entertainment", rides and more. Also, a 8.5m high Easter Bunny will be there. 

The mighty Easter Bunny in Britz

Britzer Baumblüte (until April 21st),, Fulhamer/Parchimer Allee (Getting there: U7 Parchimer Allee) 

More Events 

Also on Saturday, an Easter Market at the Museumsdorf Düppel 

Address  Clauertstraße 11 14163 Berlin

Getting There bus 118 from Mexikoplatz or bus  115 from Zehlendorf

Sat/Sun: Block Party in Rheinstr/Walther Schreiber Platz

Sat/Sun: Potsdam Port Party, near Bahnhof Potsdam 

Sat/Sun: LegoFriends Weekend at Lego Discovery Centre 

Events for Families in Berlin, March 4 - 6

Welcoming the Saturday: Bambinim and Rykestrasse

As in every Friday afternoon, there are family Kabalat Shabbath activities in the Rykestrasse Synagogue (from 6 pm) and in Bambinim/East Fürstenwalder Str (from 4 pm). 


Block Parties, Street Fairs and Festivities 

There are many street parties and fairs this weekend. 

The Spring Fair in the Zentraler Festplatz continues (until April 21st) and includes rides, food stalls, and general fair fares. Free entrance; Wednesday is family day (with half price on the rides). 

Where Kurt-Schumacher-Damm 207, 13405 Berlin
Getting There  U7 to Jakob-Kaiser-Platz and then X21, M21 or N21



Another spring fair will take place in Britz, not far from the beautiful Britzer Gardens. The fair is on the  Fulhamer Allee and Parchimer Allee and includes "non-stop entertainment", rides and more. Also, a 8.5m high Easter Bunny will be there. 

The mighty Easter Bunny

Britzer Baumblüte (until April 21st),, Fulhamer/Parchimer Allee (Getting there: U7 Parchimer Allee) 


Street Parties

There are also less "commercial" street parties. One will take place in Mehringplatz (Fri-Sat) and will include crafts activities and lots of plants; another will take place in the UFA Fabrik, and will be dedicated to sustainability, environment and spirituality.

UFA Fabrik - Zukunft Erde Festival 2014 (Sat/Sun) 
Where Viktoriastraße 10-18 12105 Berlin 
Getting There U6  Ullsteinstr 





Saturday: Oh, the Horrors! Pillow Fight in Potsdamer Platz 

On Saturday, between 2 and 5 pm, there is supposed to be a massive (?) pillow fight in Potsdamer Platz. This is in fact the 7th year of this bizarre event, and pictures from last year seem fun enough. 

This year in Potsdamer Platz

Sunday : Crafts for Passover and Easter 

On Sunday, Bambinim will offer Passover-themed workshops and activities for children in their Fürstenwalder Str place. From 3 pm (fee based, EUR 10 per family)

Passover at Bambinim 

The Märkisches Museum will offer Easter activities on Sunday,with crafts (Am Köllnischen Park 5 10179 Berlin), fees apply. 


More Weekend Events 

There are many other events at the weekend. You can also do treasure hunt with a GPS and a compass at the Ökowerk ; the Spuk im Hochhaus, in an abandoned Plattenbau in Pankow, continues (I have to make it to this one before it ends!) ; there are several baby/children flea markets, for example here and the blog Berlin for All the Family has many other ideas


Sidenote on Passover in Berlin

I have assembled a list of public Seders in Berlin for this year (it is in Hebrew, but then again, most of these Seders are in either Hebrew or German/Russian). I am not really sure what to recommend someone who feels lonely and would like to celebrate Passover with others. These public Seders are usually not a highly pleasant experience, being in the same room with 200 other people and paying outrageous amounts for kosher-for-Passover-hospital-cuisine. I am willing to play a matchmaker, being the busybody yente I am: if you want to invite another family over, feel free to use the comments section.

Events for the Weekend , March 28 - 30

Kabalat Schabat

Every week, both the Rykestrasse Synagogue (at 5 pm) and the Bambinim on Fürstenwalder Str (at 4 pm) offer children Friday afternoon meetings, where parents and kids can sing, craft and welcome the weekend together.


Spring Events All Over the Place

So many spring events to choose from!

Throughout the weekend, you can visit the Zentraler Festplatz, near Kurt-Schumacher-Damm, where you can find the "Frühlingsfest" (Spring Fair), including rides, stands with variety of food and other fair fares.... Rides cost money (on Wednesday it's family day, so half-priced), but admission itself is free. On Saturday night (the 29th and April 20th), there are fireworks.

Fruehlingsfest, Until April 21st
Address Kurt-Schumacher-Damm 207, 13405 Berlin
Transportation U7 Jakob-Kaiser-Platz and then Bus X21, M 21, N 21 or U6 Kurt-Schumacher-Platz and then Bus X21, M 21, N 21, 128
Free Admission

Sparfruehlingsfest

The "economical" spring fair opened near Zitadelle Spandau last week, and will close this week. In the meanwhile you can enjoy rides for only EUR 1.
Where: near Zitadelle Spandau

Also at Domaene Dahlem

The educational farm / agricultural museum Domaene Dahlem offers a spring fair at the weekend (Sat/Sun) with lots of home-grown organic products.
Where: Domäne Dahlem , Königin-Luise-Straße 49, 14195 Berlin
Transport: U Dahlem Dorf

Indian Spring Festival at Frei-Zeit-Haus

The Frei-Zeit-Haus, a multigenerational community centre in Weissensee, organises an Indian themed festival this Sunday: Bollywood music, Indian food, a quiz, and much more. EUR 1- 3 .
Where: Frei-Zeit-Haus, Pistoriusstraße 23 13086 Berlin  
Transport: M4, M13 or Tram 12 to Antonplatz
Sunday: 3 - 6 pm 

Free Entrance at the Zeiss Plenatarium

The Zeiss Plenatarium in Prenzlauer Berg is due for renovations, and the farewell party on Saturday will include free admission and events.
When: Saturday, Sunday
Where: Prenzlauer Allee 80 10405 Berlin
Transport: S 41/42 Prenzlauer Allee


FIFA World Cup in Brandenburg Gate

The FIFA World Cup (the actual cup) is on tour this Sunday in the Brandenburg Gate, giving a chance to take a picture with it.

Other Events

* "Schenkemarkt" (gifting market) in Pankow http://schenkflohmarkt-pankow.jimdo.com/
* Saturday: Opening of the Britzer Windmill, including guided tours and food.
* Also Saturday: Carneval of the Animals, concert for children (details)


Important Reminder

On the night between Saturday and Sunday, we switch to daylight saving time - we "lose" one hour.