Activities for Families and Kids on the 24th - 25th of May

Saturday: The Long Night of the Families 

We haven't recovered from the "Long Night of the Museums", and there is yet another Long Night, this time with activities for children and their families. Many of the activities are either free of charge or very cheap, but there are way too many activities, for me to even recommend. Just browse their website: you can filter activities by age, categories and district (Bezirk). 

Another "Long Night" is the "Long Nights of the Books", in and around Oranienstrasse in Kreuzberg. This Long Night is mostly for adults and all about book readings, signing, etc. However, there are a couple of activities for kids as well. 

Street Fairs, Block Parties, Fairs - I think you get it: this weekend is full of them! 

The Britzer Mühle will open its doors to anyone interested to see how the mill works, see how the flour is being used etc. On both weekend days, for free. 
Where: Buckower Damm 130 12349 Berlin 

Österreichpark, a park located at the southern end of  Sömmeringstraße in Chatlottenburg is celebrating its first birthday with a picnic, animals, music and more. For free. 
Place: Sömmeringstraße 
Transit: Mierendorffplatz (U7)

In Schöneberg, the Primavera Fest will take place on Akazienstraße, with the regular mixture of food, music, bouncy castles and other activities to celebrate spring. 

On Saturday only, the district of Treptow will celebrate the "Fest für Demokratie und Toleranz mit 15 Bands" near Bahnhof Schöneweide. 

On Sunday, on the other hand, the Pfefferberg Biergarten will celebrate 170 years, from 12:00 
Place: Schönhauser Allee 176 
Transit: Senefelderplatz (U2) 

There is also a big fair starting this weekend: the Steglitzer Festwoche, There are rides, food, music and more. Entrance is free, rides cost money (50% off on Wednesdays). On Saturdays, there will be fireworks. 
Place: Bäkestraße 1, 12207 Berlin
Transit: ca. 10 minutes walk from Lichterfelde Ost (S25) 

Steglitzer Festwoche in the olden days 

Also on Sunday: Don't forget to vote! 

If you're EU citizens, you can vote in the EU elections this Sunday. In addition, German citizens can also vote on the future of the Tempelhofer Feld. It is not clear to me why only Germans and not all legal residents of Berlin, but if you have this right - use it! 

Not sure which party to vote for? Try the Wahl-o-Mat. 


And after you cast your vote

Go fight ---  I mean, water fight. On Sunday, in the Lustgarten, at 3 pm. Bring only environmentally friendly containers (bottles, buckets, water guns - no "water bombs" for example. 

Or meet fairies - The Britzer Gardens have a fairy event on Sunday, from 2 till , including many activities for fans of the winged creatures. 

And Just a Kind Reminder...

Next weekend is a four-day-weekend, again! Yippie (unless you work on Friday and have to find arrangement for the kids). 

And also Shavu'ot is in the next two weeks, I promise to write about events there


A Sad Farewell... 

Bambinim has been running their Kabalat Shabbath for a year now. Unfortunately, money has dried out - and unless they find new support, this Friday was the last event. Thank you Bambinim for the nice Friday!!! 

Here is the farewell note. 

Let's hope we'll see them again! 

Events for Families on May 17th-18th, including Lag BaOmer

Footy on Saturday

You might have noticed the yellow masses storming through Berlin. One example, here:

They came all the way from Dortmund, to cheer Borussia Dortmund on the German Cup Final against Bayern Munich. Football is all over the city, in beer gardens, restaurants and other public viewing places.

Long Night of the Museums

On the night between Saturday and Sunday (and in fact - from Saturday afternoon), museums all over the city will offer all kinds of interesting activities (and sometimes very special stuff, e.g. access to places that are usually closed to the public). There are also some children-oriented activities. You can find those by filtering the activities on the Long Night website by "Do something with children".

The Long Night

One of the places that will be open (all day) on Saturday will be the Classic/Antique Car Depot of the Technical Museum. 

Address: Monumentenstraße 15 10965 Berlin (U Yorckstr)

Free admission 

Also on Saturday : Mass Picnic in Wuhlheide

A mass picnic will take place in Wuhlheide, to celebrate 100 years of the Wasserwerk Wuhlheide (waterworks Wuhlheide). It will include lots of activities for kids, including games, music and more. Information on the website

Wuhlheide's Wet Party

The FEZ, meanwhile, will celebrate Berlin's Turkish party and also young-non-Turks are warmly invited. 

Water on Saturday? Fire on Sunday! 

Lag BaOmer is on Sunday, and it's a great opportunity to celebrate in all kind of events. The major event is organised by Chabad. Even people slightly reluctant do Chabad things participate on this one - it is just too awesome. 

The "Jewish Parade for Peace and Tolerance" will start on Sunday at 2 pm in Olivaer Platz, and will continue in Münstersche Str from 3 pm. Participation and admission free

But that's not all! The family events team at the Rykestrasse Synagogue organises a fun Lag BaOmer event, with bows, arrows and even a (small) bonfire. This event will take place between 11 and 2 pm, so theoretically, you can make it to both. 

Bambinim also organises an activity (in Hebrew and German) in their Fürstenwalder Str. branch, from 3 pm. And there will be quite a bonfire there as well. 

Also on Sunday 

To make the choice even more difficult, there are three children concerts on Sunday. One, in the Jagdschloss Grunewald (Hüttenweg 100 14193 Berlin); one at the Philharmonie and one at Radialsystem V. 

And in Brandenburg, both on Saturday and Sunday, you can visit the Drachen Magie Spektakel, in Gut Hobrechstfelde, not far from Buch in Northern Berlin.

And if all of this is not enough: Keren's Shiloh is offering a  Jachnun Sunday Brunch.

Events for Kids and Families in Berlin, May 9-11th 2014

This weekend is full of interesting events, so take a deep breath and...

Friday: Kabalat Shabbat for Families 

As usual, there are two Kabalot Shabbath - one in Bambinim (Fürstenwalder Str, at 4 pm) and one in Rykestr. (at 6 pm). 

Homemade Challah @ Bambinim 

Also on Friday, a street party in Treptower Park to commemorate the "Soviet" V-Europe Day, and "Israel Day" in Wittenbergplatz with some sort of an entertainment programme organised by the Deutsch-Israelische Gesellschaft. 

Saturday/Sunday 

Lots of street parties and fairs will take place at the weekend. In the "Fest der Nationen" in Prager Platz, you can enjoy some regional and ethnic specialities and also see the big firework show on Saturday at 10:30 PM (U9 Günzelstr., Fr. from 2 pm; Sat-Sun all day). 

Fest der Nationen (credit: Berliner Woche)

The spring fair in Hasenheide continues this week as well, with rides and food stands and other fair elements. Fireworks on Saturday at 10 pm (Neuköllner Maientagen, Hasenheide, U7 Südstern or U7/U8 Hermannplatz, admission free, rides for a fee). 

Neuköllner Maientagen

Another party is first and foremost for kids: In Washingtonplatz, organised by Radio Teddy, again both for Sunday and Saturday. The Hits4Kids party will include Maya the Bee and Vickie the Viking (Hauptbahnhof, admission free). 

 

Korea, Roma/Sinti and also the Fire Brigade on Saturday (and many other activities) 

There are also some recommended events on Saturday only. There are, apparently, two religious holidays in this multicultural city. The first one is the Korean Lotus Lantern Festival (연등회 연등축제 in Korean, Lotuslaternenfest in German). The Gardens of the World celebrate it with traditional music, shows and much more, on Saturday from 6pm. The actual parade will be at 9:30 pm. (Sa from 6 pm, Gärten der Welt , Eisenacher Straße 99, 12685 Berlin; Bus 195 from Bahnhof Marzahn or 194/195 from S Mahlsdorf; Admission fee: €6/2.5)

Lotuslaternenfest

Not only the Koreans celebrate this weekend. The Roma and Sinti of Berlin celebrate Herdelezi (St. George's Day). The street party will take place in Boddinstraße near Rathaus Neukölln on Saturday from 2 pm (free admission). 

But for some toddlers, real excitement is neither Korean culture nor Roma festivals - it is the fire brigade! The Berlin Fire Brigade will have its annual run up the stairs of the mighty Park Inn Hotel in Alexanderplatz, all 41 floors of it. The actual race starts at 11:00, but there will be engines and gear in the square long before that. 

The Fire Brigade Run (source: Morgenpost)

Comics fans can also rejoice on Saturday, the "Free Comics Day". Participant stores will give away copies of comics and some will also hold events. Further Details

The Spandau Citadel will hold its Children Museum Day: Free admission and all kinds of cool activities for kids aged 4 and up. Cool pictures from previous years

Further events on Saturday

Re-Opening party of the Prib Art School in Mitte (U Bernauer Str), including craft activities, etc. 

Plants, music and more in the Regenbogenfabrik on Saturday afternoon. 

The Kaffeeklatsch in Markthalle IX will dedicate itself to Mother's Day

Sunday: Mother's Day 

Mother's Day is a bit of an invented holiday, mostly for those who sell chocolate and flowers, but who cares. 

And the archetypical mom, so says Hollywood, is the Jewish Mother. The Jewish Museum has an especially nice offer for this Mother's Day : A family-oriented tour through the exhibition about the Creation of the World, followed by buffet breakfast and creative activity. Registeration: g.struve@jmberlin.de , Further Details, EUR 25 for adults, under 18 for free. 

If you (or your children) understand Hebrew, there is a Hebrew-language children theatre on Sunday, organised by Kumsitz. For children aged 2-9. Registration: yeladim.berlin@gmail.com , Child: EUR 10, Adults: EUR 4. 

On Sunday evening, you can also join a Yom Haatzmaút party on a boat on the Spree. Barak Balistic will provide beats and all seems quite awesome. 

But there are also other cool events on Sunday, for example the Spielfest in Mauerpark (in addition to the regular events that take place in Mauerpark on Sundays), or an open day at the Konzerthaus in Gendarmenmarkt. I think I have warned before: busy weekend ahead! 

Next Week: Lag BaOmer 

Next week will be Lag BaOmer. I know already of three events for kids (a parade by Chabad, an event at Rykestr and one in Bambinim), news will follow. In the meanwhile, enjoy your weekend! 

Events this Weekend for Families and Kids

Friday Night is Alright

I am posting late today, so the Friday night events at both Bambinim (Fürstenwalder Str) and the Rykestraße Synagogue have taken place. Still, just a reminder - perhaps for next Friday, of a nice place to meet other families with some Jewish cultural background. You don't have to be excessively religious (Bambinim is non-religious; Rykestr. is a liberal synagogue) or even have both Jewish parents.


Funfair Season Continues 

We have many street parties this weekend as well. The Easter Markets in Alexanderplatz and in Breitscheidplatz continue, with the regular combination of food stalls, stands selling all kinds of bric a brac and small rides. There is also a small street party in the old city (Altstadt) of Spandau on Saturday.

Easter Market in breitscheidplatz

Nature Activities 

Spring is out there and it's an ideal time to get to Berlin's forests and parks.

On Saturday, the Waldschule (nature education centre) in Zehlendorf organises a bird watching walk, combined with a picnic, from 10:30 to 2 pm. For families and kids older than 5.
Starting Point: Stahnsdorfer Damm 3, 14109 Berlin
Getting There: Not far from the Wannsee Train Station
Website: http://www.jibw.de/veranstaltungen/familien
Further in this area: Ferry service F10, which is part of the BVG public transportation, provides a "cruise" on the Havel for a BVG (AB) ticket fare. If it's warm enough, you can also visit the Wannsee Beach, or the Loretta am Wannsee Biergarten.

On Sunday, a similar event will take place, this time in the Plänterwald not discussing birds, but crawly animals.
Where: Dammweg 1b 12437 Berlin
Getting There: S Plänterwald
Website: http://www.inu-berlin.de/inuws/wspl/aktuell.php
Further in this area: There isn't any special event at the Insel in Treptow this weekend, but the place is always worth a visit. This is also the last weekned of the Spreepark ruins. This place is surprisingly very interesting for kids to visit, you can read some more about it here.

Plaenterwald

Also in Treptower Park 

The Archenhold Observatory will offer lego building activity on Saturday


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Yom Hashoah in Berlin

Monday is Yom Hashoah, and there will be a ceremony, between 9 am and 7 pm, at the Fasanenstrasse JCC. Names of Berlin Jews murdered in the Holocaust will be read.

Events for Families on the Very Long Easter Weekend

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.

International Children Day - 23 Nisan

The International Children Day is the 3-day party in Brandenburg Gate (on Saturday, Sunday and Monday), originating in Turkey (read more background, in German, here). It is a mega-event, with stands and stages from the Brandenburg Gate all the way to Yitzhak Rabin Str. Admission is free.

Easter in Berlin

There are many events especially for Easter in Berlin. Besides the really religious events, this long weekend has many Easter-Fires and events.

The largest Easter Fire in Brandenburg will take place in Basdorf near Wandlitz, on April 19th in the evening. The full event description can be found here, but one thing that might be overly exciting is the option to ride all the way there with an old tank engine. All in all this event end very late (at about midnight!), so despite the trains and fire, this is definitely not for your average 3-year-old Thomas fan.
Basdorf Easter Fire - Saturday, 19th, at 6 pm, in Basdorf bei Wandlitz; ride the train from Wilmhelmsruher Damm. Entrance and train ride for a fee.

EASTER FIRE

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 and in Breitscheidplatz (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) 

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.