Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, Sept 16th - 18th 2016

International Children's Day in Potsdamer Platz

The "Weltkindertag", International Children's Day, is taking place with a big party in Potsdamer Platz, which will include shows, stands and other attractions, a lot of free ones. 

Sunday, Potsdamer Platz

The Kindertag will be also celebrated

• On Sunday, all day, at the Dueppel Medieval Village Museum: Children Festival, with medieval games etc. 

Elections

The Berlin "State" (Abgeordnetehaus) and "local" (Bezirkrat) elections are on Sunday. Every adult German citizen registered is allowed to to vote in both, EU citizens are allowed to vote only in the latter - please use your vote.

In Westend (Preussenallee) there will be even an Elections Party (any excuse for a street party..., details)

Furthermore

• Saturday: Children Day also in the Rathaus Centre in Pankow (details) 

• Saturday: "Chilean Fair" in YAAM , starting at 11:30 (details) 

• Saturday afternoon : family run in Weissensee, and another one in Karow 

• Saturday : Poetry festival, including kids activities in the Kulturbrauerei (details)

• Street parties on Saturday: Hornstrasse (Kreuzberg) and Rigaer Str (Friedrichshain), both from 2pm 

• Saturday late afternoon (5:30 pm) and onwards: "Moon Fesitval" in the Gardens of the World in Marzahn. (details)

• Throughout the weekend: Thanks to Josh Davidowitz I have learnt that there is a steam-engine festival near Betriebshof Schoeneweide this weekend (details) 

• Sunday at 1 pm - workshop for families with kids over 6 at the Martin Gropius Bau, in the Thomas Struth exhibition

• Sunday at 3pm - a guided tour for children in the Charlottenburg Palace 

• Street Food Market in the Kulturbrauerei, Sunday; a pumpkin festival in the Britzer Garten; the Apple Festival of Oranienburg in the palace ; and the Oktoberfest in Hauptbahnhof (until September 18th) 



Oktoberfest in Hauptbahnhof (foto: the organisers)

Jewish Heritage Events

The Israeli Film Festival Seret will take place in several cinemas between September 18th and 20th, with several intriguing new movies. 

Seret Film Festival

Seret Festival

Later this Week: Understanding the Mysteries of the Kita

Are you Berlin newcomers who are not really sure how to get creche / daycare / kindergarten / nursery school for your child? Maternita thought of you and are offering a workshop on choosing a nursery school, registration process and formalities. 

About Me

I offer tours in Berlin as well as write about the city as well as published several books and articles in general. I am always free for writing gigs - travel writing or any other types of writing and research - or of course to show you the wonderful city I live in. 

Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, Sept 9th - 11th 2016

Open Day in Listed Buildings

This title may not sound so exciting for families, but believe me - any history/ architecture/ culture/ nature buff, big or small, will find a lot to do on the  Tag des offenen Denkmals. The day features events and guided tours in listed buildings and historical sites, and many hold special programme for children. E,g

• In the Regenbogenfabrik in Kreuzberg (Lausitzer Str. 22, 10999 Berlin), which will hold a courtyard party on Sunday 
• Also in the Water Tower on Kopischstr. 7, 10965 Berlin (XBerg)

Furthermore

• Friday through Sunday: Fest der Nationen in Prager Platz ; Also: Harvest festival in Alt Marzahn and in the Dorfteich Alt Lichtenrade (see below)

• Saturday: Kites Festival in Tempelhofer Feld

• Saturday: Open Day at Schloss Bellvue, the residence of the President of Germany

• Another open day: Saturday from 12:00 at the Otto Bock Museum for medical engineering, on the occasion of the Paralympics, where many amputees who use their prostheses will take part. 

• And yet another one in the Musical Instruments Museum, on Sunday

• If your child starts the first grade today - first of all, congratulations! The FEZ offer Zuckertuete children a ride on its park kiddie-train (details)

• Saturday in Rixdorf: the straw-ball festival , in and around Richardplatz (train U7 Karl-Marx-Str), from about 2pm 

• Saturday afternoon - street party in Scharnweberstraße in Friedrichshain ; another street party on Düsseldorfer Str in Wilmersdorf (details)

• Sat/Sun - Kidsapalooza is the children version of Lolapalooza. Admission fees apply 

• Sat/Sun - Citadelle Festival, with knights etc. - in the Spandau Citadelle 

• Sat/Sun : Like in "The Englishman who went up a Hill" (great film!), the lack of real mountains brings the Berliner spirit to the height of its innovation. This time, the Arkenberge, an artificial hill which is currently the highest peak in Berlin, and celebrates a "Peak Festival" at the weekend, details

• Sat/Sun: The Pyramidale Festival is dedicated to Contemporary Music. As part of the festival, a concert in a tram going from Hackescher Markt (Sat, 6pm) 

Tramphonie: A concert in a tram

• Sunday morning - a run in the Tierpark (also for kids), details

• Sunday at 12:00 - metalwork crafts workshop at the Oranienburg Palace 

• Sunday at 1pm  - workshop/guided tour for families in the Berenice Abbott exhibition in the Martin Gropius Bau 

• Sunday at 3pm - a guided tour for families at the Marmorpalais in Potsdam ; as well as kids event in the Museum of Musical Instruments 

• Street Food Market in the Kulturbrauerei, Sunday ; BiteClub on Friday in Arena Treptow; and starting the Oktoberfest in Hauptbahnhof (until September 18th) 



Oktoberfest in Hauptbahnhof (foto: the organisers)

About Me

I offer tours in Berlin as well as write about the city as well as published several books and articles in general. I am always free for writing gigs - travel writing or any other types of writing and research - or of course to show you the wonderful city I live in. 

Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, Sept 2nd - 4th 2016

A Musical Weekend

Several musical events for the whole family at the weekend. Most importantly is "Singt Mit!". This festival, organised by the FEZ and the Landes Musikakademie, features choirs, singalongs and other musical activities. 

Singt Mit! . Sat/Sun 12:00 - 6PM,
FEZ, on Straße zum FEZ 2, 12459 Berlin 
Public Transport: take the S3 to Wuhlheide or trams 27, 63 or 67 to Freizeit- und Erholungszentrum. Admission fees apply. 

Singt Mit!, Sing-a-long! 

Other music-related events at the weekend:

• Saturday at 11:30 : Peter and the Wolf, in German with author Cornelia Funke, at the Rudolf-Steiner-House in Dahlem (Bernadottestraße 90, 14195 Berlin)

• Saturday, from 3pm: Opening the season in the Deutsche Oper with an open house

• Sunday, all day, in the Komische Oper: opening the season for kids, with a special event and the premier of the Peter Pan Opera

Peter Pan at the Komische Oper

Furthermore

• Thu through Sun: Street party in the Old City of Spandau

• The annual street fair by the water authority, Saturday in Neue Juden Str 

• Also on Saturday: The Suarezstr. Street Party, with participation of the many antique stores on that street; from 2pm, in the Veteranenstr. in Mitte (details) ; and from 3:30pm in Mierendorffplatz in Charlottenburg

• And the "Good, that you're here" festival for the newcomer asylum seekers in the Tempelhofer Feld, Sat. (details)

• Saturday from 1pm: the Seenfest in Orankesee in Hohenschoenhausen (M4, M5, 12 and M13, details)

• Saturday afternoon: Family fun-run in Reinickendorf (details) ; A different run on Sunday in Lichtenberg (details)

• Sat/Sun: Medieval Festival in the Domane Dahlem 

• Sat/Sun: street party in Freie Scholle  (Bus 222 to the stop with the same name); and another fest in the ufaFabrik on both days (details)

• Sunday on Florastrasse in Pankow (S/U Pankow); Street party 

• Sunday: the HOWOGE party in the Tierpark, with many children activities

• Sunday: the AWO Fest in the Düppel Museum (details) 

• Sunday at 1 pm - workshop for families with kids over 6 at the Martin Gropius Bau, in the Thomas Struth exhibition 

• Sunday at 3pm - a guided tour for children in the Charlottenburg Palace ; and also in Charlottenburg: an open day in the Villa Oppenheim Museum 

• Sunday at 3:30 pm - a guided tour in English in the Technische Museum (details)

Food Events 

• Coffee Festival in Markthalle IX, Fri through Sunday 

• Honey and Beekeeping Day at Prinzessinnengarten, near U-Moritzplatz (details) 

• Street Food Market in the Kulturbrauerei, Sunday 

• Not far from there on Sunday, a street food market on Brunnenstr/Bernauer Str (details)

• Starting this weekend : Oktoberfest in Hauptbahnhof (until September 18th) 

Oktoberfest in Hauptbahnhof (foto: the organisers)

All week long

• "Makunaima 2016 – Bauen und Spielen mit Lehm", is a project which involves games, crafts and other loam-related activities, as well as music. Tue-Fri 10 - 5pm, Sat/Sun 1 - 6pm , until September 2nd. On September 4th, there will be a big event to mark the end of the project. Britzer Garten, Sangerhauser Weg 1, 12349 Berlin 

Jewish Culture and Heritage Events

• The Rykestraße Synagogue will hold a special event for the beginning of Elul, the last month of the Jewish year, on Sunday (details) 

About Me

I offer tours in Berlin as well as write about the city as well as published several books and articles in general. I am always free for writing gigs - travel writing or any other types of writing and research - or of course to show you the wonderful city I live in. 

Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, August 26th - 28th 2016

Long Night of the Museums

The night between Saturday and Sunday will be filled with activities in museums and cultural institutions, many also for the whole family. 

Information and planning:
http://www.lange-nacht-der-museen.de/en/

For example:

Saturday at 6pm: children aged 10 and up can build water-rockets in the Sternhold Observatory (details)

Superhero-Mania in the Museum of Communication

Philharmoniker Open Air

The Berliner Philharmonie opens its 2016/17 season this weekend, and grants the general public the opportunity to enjoy it for free, in an open air concert. 

Saturday, Kulturforum, from 6 pm (recommended to arrive there well before that)

The Family Sports Festival

An annual sports festival for the whole family in the Olympic Park, that features representatives of different sports (and an opportunity to try some of them), lots of fun etc. 

Sunday, August 28th, Olympic Park

Furthermore

• The historical festival in Nikolai Quarter features a lot of fun with people hanging around in costumes, this time the focus is on Steampunk.

Sat/Sun: Steampunk in Nikolai Quarter

• Weekend events at the Military Airforce Museum in Gatow, with all kinds of interesting offers for aviation enthusiasts 

• Sat + Sun 12 - 6pm: Circus Workshops, activities and more at the FEZ 

• Saturday from 12:00 - Bat event in Fort Hahneberg (details)

• Saturday at 3pm: fairy-tales (in German) in the Botanicsche Volkspark Pankow (details) 

• Sunday at 10:00 - creativity in English for children in the Friedrichshain Park (details) 

• Sunday at 11:00 - guided tour for families in the Natural History Museum 

• Sunday at 1 pm - party in the intercultural garden in Gleisdreick (details) 

• Sunday at 1pm  - workshop/guided tour for families in the Berenice Abbott exhibition in the Martin Gropius Bau 

• And in Brandenburg: A street festival in Henningsdorf, just next door (S Henningsdorf of course, further info)

Culinary Delights

• Friday from 7pm: Spanish wines and delicacies from Elements of Food at the Media Kantine (details)

•  Saturday at 2:30pm - Cocoa and its cultural connections, a guided tour for children in the Ethnological Museum in Dahlem ( Lansstraße 8 14195 Berlin ) 

• Saturday/Sunday: healthy-food event as part of the Urban Fit Days fair , in the Postbahnhof (admission fees apply, info)

• Sunday: Hummus Festival in Birgit&Bier (S Ostkreuz or Treptower Park, details)

• Street Food Market in the Kulturbrauerei, Sunday 

Hummus Festival

All week long

• "Makunaima 2016 – Bauen und Spielen mit Lehm", is a project which involves games, crafts and other loam-related activities, as well as music. Tue-Fri 10 - 5pm, Sat/Sun 1 - 6pm , until September 2nd. On September 4th, there will be a big event to mark the end of the project. Britzer Garten, Sangerhauser Weg 1, 12349 Berlin 

About Me

I offer tours in Berlin as well as write about the city as well as published several books and articles in general. I am always free for writing gigs - travel writing or any other types of writing and research - or of course to show you the wonderful city I live in. 

Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, August 19th - 21th 2016

Straw all Over: Buckower Strohballenfest and More

A festival dedicated to straw balls takes place in Bauer Mette, one of the only existing farms in Berlin, every year. There are many children activities, music, etc. Free entry between Friday and Sunday

Strohballenfest - Fri/Sat/Sun 

Bauermette

Gerlinger Str/Buckower Damm

Bus: M44, 172 or 736 till Buckower Damm/Ringslebenstr.

In the Tempelhofer Feld, the activity will feature making straw figures and other crafts
Saturday, 2 - 4 pm, in the main northern entrance near Columbiadamm 

Furthermore

• Rococo Festival on Saturday in the Tierpark (admission included in the zoo ticket), with lots of stuff for kids to do  

• All evening long, on Saturday, the Potsdam Night of the Castles, with events in and around the Sanssouci Gardens and Castles (details) 

• Sat + Sun 12 - 6pm: Circus Workshops, activities and more at the FEZ 

• Sunday really early (8:15 am), a children run in Steglitz (details) 

• Sunday at 11:00 - guided tour for families in the Natural History Museum 

• Sunday at 1 pm - workshop for families with kids over 6 at the Martin Gropius Bau, in the Thomas Struth exhibition 

Food and Markets

• Vegan fair in Alexanderplatz, Fri through Sun 

• Sat/Sun : Market for regional and organic products from Brandenburg in Domaene Dahlem 

• The breakfast markt in Markthalle IX is dedicated this week to Japan. Sunday 10 till 4pm. 

• Street Food market in the Kulturbrauerei, Sunday 

All week long

• "Makunaima 2016 – Bauen und Spielen mit Lehm", is a project which involves games, crafts and other loam-related activities, as well as music. Tue-Fri 10 - 5pm, Sat/Sun 1 - 6pm , until September 2nd. On September 4th, there will be a big event to mark the end of the project. Britzer Garten, Sangerhauser Weg 1, 12349 Berlin 

About Me

I offer tours in Berlin as well as write about the city as well as published several books and articles in general. I am always free for writing gigs - travel writing or any other types of writing and research - or of course to show you the wonderful city I live in. 

Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, August 12th - 14th

Running Away with the Circus, at FEZ

• Sat + Sun 12 - 6pm: Circus Workshops, activities and more at the FEZ 

Furthermore

• Sunday in the Gardens of the World in Marzahn, "Sultan Festival" (which is placed in the Oriental Garden. This is not some ironic pun or me being cynical. I am sure that if you're one of those postmodernist cultural analysts, you'll have lots of fun there). This is the picture they chose for the event.   

• More on Saturday in Marzahn: children event with Benjamin Blumchen and Radio Teddy

• Saturday from 11:00 : Bat Festival in the Spandau Citadel

• Saturday from 1pm: The Hanf Parade to legalise cannabis , starting in Hauptbahnhof 

• Saturday from 2pm : Water games with kids in the Britzer Garten (details) 

• Saturday from 5pm: "Long Night of Astronomy" in the Tempelhofer Feld (details)

• Streetfood market in the Kulturbrauerei, Sunday 

Jewish Heritage Events

Tisha B'Av takes place between August 13th in the evening and August 14th. All Berlin Synagogues will offer services. 

In Rykestrasse there will be a discussion on ""The Jewish Voice" What is the role that the worldwide Jewish communities should, or should not, play in Israeli national politics. What brings us together and what set us apart?" 

All week long

• "Makunaima 2016 – Bauen und Spielen mit Lehm", is a project which involves games, crafts and other loam-related activities, as well as music. Tue-Fri 10 - 5pm, Sat/Sun 1 - 6pm , until September 2nd. On September 4th, there will be a big event to mark the end of the project. Britzer Garten, Sangerhauser Weg 1, 12349 Berlin 

About Me

I offer tours in Berlin as well as write about the city as well as published several books and articles in general. I am always free for writing gigs - travel writing or any other types of writing and research - or of course to show you the wonderful city I live in. Contact Me. 

Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, August 5th - 7th

Food and Drink Events 

The main food and drink event this weekend is the International Berlin Beer Festival on Karl Marx Allee. It consists of over a kilometer of stands of breweries, mixed with food and the usual Straßenfest fair. It is loud, big and crowded (with people who just had their upteenth beer), so might not be ideal to all types of people. 

Karl-Marx-Allee (between Strausberger Platz and Frankfurter Tor) , Friday through Sunday, free admission 

Other food events: 

• Streetfood market in the Kulturbrauerei, Sunday 

Furthermore

• Berlin Lacht, a street theatre festival, until August 8th, in Alexanderplatz





• Friday at 7pm: Evening tour in the Zoo

• Saturday in the Altstadt of Spandau: A "Bavarian" street party 

• Sat + Sun 12 - 6pm: Circus Workshops, activities and more at the FEZ 

• Saturday from 11 to 2pm, in Haus am Waldsee: "Family Saturday" (details)

• Saturday at 2pm: children aged 10 and up can build water-rockets in the Sternhold Observatory (details)

• The "Rewe Family Party", in the Zentraler Festplatz , Saturday, free admission 

• Sunday at 11:00 - guided tour for families in the Natural History Museum 

All week long

• "Makunaima 2016 – Bauen und Spielen mit Lehm", is a project which involves games, crafts and other loam-related activities, as well as music. Tue-Fri 10 - 5pm, Sat/Sun 1 - 6pm , until September 2nd. On September 4th, there will be a big event to mark the end of the project. Britzer Garten, Sangerhauser Weg 1, 12349 Berlin 

About Me

I offer tours in Berlin as well as write about the city as well as published several books and articles in general. I am always free for writing gigs - travel writing or any other types of writing and research - or of course to show you the wonderful city I live in. Contact Me.