Weekend Events for the Whole Family in Berlin, November 17th - 19th

Sunday - Memorial Day

German Memorial Day is on Sunday and is one of two days (the other one is next Sunday) that are declared "Days of Mourning", where public fests are not allowed (the exact term is Tanzverbot). The meaning for most Berliners or visitors is that flea markets are closed on Sunday. There are also no other public fairs, for example, the Winterworld in Potsdamer Platz. 

If you're interested in official events, there will be ones in most military cemeteries. 

Furthermore

• More Funfairs and Street Parties

• Christmas and "Seasonal Markets" - The Winter World is not a Christmas Market (at least officially, which, why it opens so early). Unofficially, it is exactly what it is - a Christmas Market without Christmas, but with winter sports, decorations, stands and typical seasonal food. Lots of fun, free admission. Potsdamer Platz, until Dec 31st . As mentioned before, not on this Sunday, though (Saturday - open) 

• Another non-Christmas-Market event, is the Chrismas Garden in the Botanical Gardens. This is the second year of this special event, featuring special light installations and all kinds of attractions, in the Botanical Gardens. The admission is rather on the pricey side, but the event is so spectacular, that I would recommend it. Open also on Sunday. 

• The Spaeth Nursery also opened a pre-Christmas event: The Christmas Village is open between Tuesday and Friday and features all kinds of activities for the whole family. The weekends will be enriched with a Christmas Market, but also from December 2nd. 

• The Bakers Association of Berlin invites the public to a Stollen Fest on Friday in the Mall of Berlin. Leave some for me, will you? 

• Another not-Christmas-Market-at-all is taking place in the Nikolai Quarter, under the name Die Feuerzangenbowle (after a classic German film, that will be also shown). Starting this Friday, expect the regular Christmas-Market fare as well as movie screening in the open air, including this Sunday 

• Last but not least for the weekend Christmas Market list, is the market in the Holzmarkt 25, with plenty of cool stuff to do . 

• Open Day at the Tempelhof Airport Building, including guided tours. Kids can enjoy the Cabuwazi Circus, Saturday, from 12:00 

• Museums and Casltes

• Every Saturday: workshops for children (from 2:30 onwards) at the Museum of Technology; Every Sunday, 11:00 and 3:00 - guided tour (in German) in the museum. On this Sunday: also a tour in English, at 3:30 

• A guided tour for families in the Königs Wusterhausen Castle, on Saturday, 5 pm 

• Workshop for families, in the Bauhaus Archive, Sunday, 11:00 - 2:00 

• Workshops for families in the Bröhan Museum, Sunday 11:00 

• A guided tour through the German Historical Museum, for families with kids aged 8 and over, Sunday, 2:00 

• A guied tour for children with the "Castle Dragon" in the Marmorpalais (Marmor Palace) in Potsdam, Sunday 2:30 

• Music: 
• Every Saturday , 12:00, the "Mighty Wurlitzer" in the Musical Instruments Museum

• Musical instruments workshop at the Klingeldes Museum, Saturday, 3 pm 

• Prelude Concert, for the whole family, on Saturday, 4:30 

• Peter and the Wolf, in Fontane-Haus Märkisches Viertel, Sunday 4 pm 

• Markets and Food: 
• Breakfast Market in Markthalle IX, with the theme of Dia de Muertos. 

Hebrew / Israeli / Jewish Heritage 

Later in the week...

Thanksgiving

American expats (and friends) may celebrate Thanksgiving this week 

• at the Hard Rock Cafe , with a special menu

• In a private exclusive dinner in Schoenberg

• A Turkey buffet in the Wartenberger Hof near S-Wartenberg 

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, November 10th - 12th

St. Martin's Day

For those of you unfamiliar with German traditions: the German tradition for St. Martin's Day includes two major elements : one is lantern parades around the neighbourhood, with or without a person dressed as St. Martin leading the event on a horse; and the other one is eating geese (or at least ducks) with red-cabbage and knoedel. 

Since November 11th is on Saturday this year, there are a few events : 

• In the Museumsdprf Düppel ( Clauertstraße 11, 14163 Berlin , in Dahlem ) , there will be an event starting at 2 pm on Saturday 

Lampions in Museumsdorf Dueppel

• In the Britzer Garten, starting at 4:30 

• And at the same time, 4:30 in the afternoon, also in the Alte Fasanerie in Luebbars

• Obviously, many parades from churches all over Berlin

• The one from the UFA Fabrik leaves at exactly 5:17 (17:17, sounds much better in German)

• Domäne Dahlem will celebrate on both Saturday and Sunday, in combination with its textile market

• The Bizim Kiez Parade will take place only next week, on the 16th, and will have political messages against the gentrification of the neighbourhood. 

Furthermore

• More Funfairs and Street Parties

• The Winter World in Potsdamer Platz is the first market to open. Officially, it is not a Christmas Market (hence, why it opens so early), unofficially, it is exactly what it is - a Christmas Market without Christmas, but with winter sports, decorations, stands and typical seasonal food. Lots of fun, free admission. Potsdamer Platz, until Dec 31st 

• The FEZ will host a Fairy-Tale Festival at the weekend 

• And later this week: the fabulous Christmas Gardens in the Botanical Gardens will open next Thursday 

• Museums and Casltes

• Every Saturday: workshops for children (from 2:30 onwards) at the Museum of Technology; Every Sunday, 11:00 and 3:00 - guided tour (in German) in the museum. On this Sunday: also a tour in English, at 3:30 

• "Family Sunday" at the Maerkisches Museum 

• Music: 

• Every Saturday , 12:00, the "Mighty Wurlitzer" in the Musical Instruments Museum

• The Carnival of Animals, Saturday, 4 in the Philharmonie 

• Peter and the Wolf in German and in ... Yiddish, as part of the Jewish Cultural Festival. Sunday, 2:30, the Jewish Community Centre on Fasanenstr 78  

• Markets and Food: 

• An evening flea-market at the YAAM, on Friday from 7 pm

• A wine festival in the Alte Münze (Molkenmarkt 2, 10179 Berlin) Sat+ Sun

• The Heldenmarkt is a fair dedicated to sustainable products, and next to it, there is a Vegan market, on Sat and Sun, in Station-Berlin (Lückenwalder Str., near the Technological Museum, U-Gleisdreieck) 

Heldenmarkt

• A musical family brunch on Sunday in Prenzlauer Berg (details)

• Children flea market, Sunday from 12:00, in Markthalle IX 

• Street food market in the Kulturbrauerei , on Sunday

Hebrew / Israeli / Jewish Heritage 

Later in the week...

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, November 3rd - 5th

Furthermore

• More Funfairs and Street Parties: 

  
  

• Museums and Casltes

• Every Saturday: workshops for children (from 2:30 onwards) at the Museum of Technology; Every Sunday, 11:00 and 3:00 - guided tour (in German) in the museum

• Music: 
• Every Saturday , 12:00, the "Mighty Wurlitzer" in the Musical Instruments Museum

• Sports

• Markets and Food: 

• The Cheese Berlin Festival will take place this weekend in Markthalle IX, with workshops (Fri , Sat) and a big market on Sunday 

• Street Food Market in Europa Centre, on Fri/Sat/Sun, which goes well with the following event: 
• This Sunday is an Open Shopping Sunday , shops in shopping centres or big department stores are open

• Street food market in the Kulturbrauerei 

Hebrew / Israeli / Jewish Heritage 

Jewish Culture Days Festival starts on Saturday, and on Sunday, the Jewish Community organises the Balagan Day in the JCC in Fasanenstr. The event will feature all kinds of Jewish food vendors, as well as local Jewish artists. Free admission 

Balagan Day
Sunday, November 5th, 12:00 - 6:00 
Fasanenstr 78 

Many of the other events would be of little interest unless you're into a very niche type of things : 

• the opening concert (Sat, 8pm) is in Rykestr. Synagogue, featuring David D'Or (A Jimmy Sommerville soundalike, who was sort of a  few-hit-wonder singer something like 20 years ago); 

• another concert is a Leonardo Cohen tribute in the Wintergarten (Monday, 8 pm); 

• and then there is maybe the most intriguing concert: Orphand Land, but unplugged (Monday, 8pm). 

Later in the week...

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, October 27th - 31st (including Halloween in Berlin)

Halloween and a Long Weekend

Halloween is on the coming Tuesday, and Germany celebrates! No, not really. Many Germans, even in this age and day of Hollywood movies and candies everywhere, have no idea what's Halloween is. There is, however, a holiday on Tuesday (including a day off in schools, kitas, etc. - the shops are also closed) , because of the Reformation Day - celebrating 500 years to the Lutheran Reformation. 

This opening paragraph is not meant to depress you, but to prepare you, that while there are quite a few nice Halloween activities I have collected, Halloween here is nothing like you might expect/remember from home. 

Most importantly, in some neighbourhoods, people (especially older ones) have not heard of Trick/Treating, and are pretty surprised to see the kids coming, and the kids, on their behalf, also don't come as often as one might expect. In other neighbourhoods, there is a more regular pace of trick-and-treating. 

In Berlin, things are actually more vivid in the 18+ Halloween scene - because no single self-respecting club will pass on the opportunity to have a nice (or a scary...) fancy dress party, right? 

A few of the activities for the whole family: 

• Every day till Monday (except Sunday of course): scavenger hunt, spooky activities, crafts and light installations in the Das Schloss Shopping centre in Steglitz 

•  Halloween crafts in Klax , Prenzlauer Berg - on Saturday

• Not far from there, the Black Dog comics shop will run its Halloween event on Saturday 

• One of my favourite Halloween events in Berlin is the party in the Botanical Gardens, on Sunday, between 11:00 and 6 pm. The event features stations with mildly scary (not really) tricks played by our flora-and-fauna-friends, food, pumpkins and a lot of hillarity. 

• The Hard Rock Cafe on the KuDamm will run their "Lil Monsters Ball", a Halloween-themed brunch for the whole family, on Sunday, 9:30 - 11:30 

• Children make up in the  Hagendubel on Wilmersdorfer Str on Monday, 3 - 6 pm 

• The Schönhauser Arcaden Shopping Centre (near the Schönhauser Allee Station) runs crafts and games activities on Friday, Saturday and Monday. On Monday evening, at 6pm, a Halloween Parade, with bands and lots of customised children, will leave the centre and walk through the neighbourhood to Helmholzplatz, where there will be fireworks. 

• The Bergwerk adventure centre  offers activities on both Monday and Tuesday, including scary route and a scavenger hunt ; on Monday evening, also for adults. 

•  The Pearl club offers "grownup" parties throughout the weekend, but on Tuesday they will have an event for kids, starting at 2 pm  

• On Tuesday, the big Radio Teddy Halloween Party in Stralau 1, with a lot of surprises for the kids. Admission fees apply 

• Halloween in the Tierpark, Tuesday from 5 pm 

• And in the FEZ on Tuesday from 7 pm 

• Adults with or Without Children: 

• The Rope Course in Jungfernheide is organising a fun-run on Tuesday, the Halloween-Run, which features scary stuff as well as a children course. 

• No Kids: 

• Every self-respecting club throws a Halloween Party, not necessarily on Tuesday, though. 

• Berlin's largest Halloween party (according to the organisers, but I believe them) is in the Kulturbrauerei, on Friday and Saturday 

• The Insel in Treptow will open a spooky weekend with a party on Friday , also in the Duncker

• Saturday will see parties at Cafe Moskau, the Weekend, Kino International , Birgit, and many other venues. 

Birgit's Halloween Party

• At least some places respect tradition: the new craft brewery, Two Fellas, in Pankow, will run a Halloween party on Tuesday, with pairing of candies and beers and costume competition. If Berlimama was not a mama Trick-or-Treating with her kids on that day, I think you'd find her there... 

Furthermore

• More Funfairs and Street Parties: 

  
  

• Museums and Casltes

• Every Saturday: workshops for children (from 2:30 onwards) at the Museum of Technology; Every Sunday, 11:00 and 3:00 - guided tour (in German) in the museum; And because the the Reformation Day, there will be children activities also on the 31st 

• Tour for children in the Charlottenburg Castle, Sunday, 3 pm ; and at the same time (Sun, 3pm), children fairy-tales theatre in the Grunewald Mansion 

• Free admission and activities in the German Historical Museum, which celebrates its 30th Anniversary on Sunday 

• Workshops for kids ages 8 and up in the Martin Gropius Bau on Sunday, with the Wenzel Hablik exhibition , Sunday, 1 pm 

• Music: 
• Every Saturday , 12:00, the "Mighty Wurlitzer" in the Musical Instruments Museum

• Sports: 
• A cross-country fun run, including a children course, on Sat/Sun in the area between Potsdam and Berlin

• Markets and Food: 

• Fri / Sat / Sun: Wine Festival on Breite Str. in Pankow

• Market with produce from the community garden "Himmelbeet" on Saturday

• Message in a Bottle is a new hummus/gallery joint, and on Saturday, there is a Masabaha / Shashuka Brunch. Knaackstr., near the Kulturbrauerei. 

• Flowmarkt in Maybachufer, on Sunday 

• Street food market in the Kulturbrauerei 

Hebrew / Israeli / Jewish Heritage 

Later in the week...

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, October 20th - 22nd

Furthermore

• Museums and Casltes

• Every Saturday: workshops for children (from 2:30 onwards) at the Museum of Technology; Every Sunday, 11:00 and 3:00 - guided tour (in German) in the museum

• Guided tour for kids and families at the Marmorpalais in Potsdam, Sunday, 2:30 and on Sunday at 3:00, there is a guided tour for kids at the Oranienburg Castle

• Music: 
• Every Saturday , 12:00, the "Mighty Wurlitzer" in the Musical Instruments Museum

• Markets and Food: 
• Good Food Market, in the Bikini Berlin, Saturday

• Sat : Georgian food special in Markthalle IX (Georgia like the country, not like the US State) 

• Sunday: Flowmarkt in the Prinzessinnengarten

• Street food market in the Kulturbrauerei 

Later in the week...

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, October 13th - 15th

IGA's Last Weekend

All good things must come to an end, and in this case, this is the last weekend of the IGA. All kinds of special events are planned for the weekend, but most importantly, on Sunday, adults will pay EUR 10 the whole day. 

Goodbye, IGA

IGA - open every day until Oct 15th 

U5 Kienberg - Gärten der Welt
Bus 197 or 195, Hellersdorfer Str./ Gärten der Welt and Gärten der Welt)
Tram: M6 to Brodowiner Ring

Furthermore

• More Funfairs and Street Parties: 

• This is also the last weekend to catch the Oktoberfest in the Zentraler Festplatz, which ends on Sunday. Octoberfest is not only all about beer, it is also about rides, stands and other funfair stuff. The funfair is open daily, from 3 pm, for free (the rides cost money, of course). Wednesday is half-priced day and there are fireworks on Saturday.Transport: Bus X21 or M21 from the U7 in  Jacob-Kaiser-Platz 

• Another Oktoberfest near the Spandau Citadel, only on Friday and Saturday. 

• Museums and Casltes

• Evening torchlight tour in the Zoo Aquarium, Friday 6:15 pm 

• Every Saturday: workshops for children (from 2:30 onwards) at the Museum of Technology; Every Sunday, 11:00 and 3:00 - guided tour (in German) in the museum

• Discover the Peacock Island with Tana the pixie, Saturday, 3 pm 

• Children tour through the Charlottenburg Castle, Sunday, 3 pm 

• Music: 
• A world music festival for the whole family on Saturday and Sunday in the ufa Fabrik in Tempelhof, free admission

• Musical carousel, with an opportunity to try different instruments, at the Klingendes Museum on Saturday, 10:00 - 12:00

• Every Saturday , 12:00, the "Mighty Wurlitzer" in the Musical Instruments Museum

• Fairy-tales concert with works by Astrid Lindgren and baking together, at the Urania, Saturday from 2:00 pm  

• Sports
• Saturday: a fun-run in Zehlendorf, including special courses for kids 

• Markets and Food: 

• Breakfast Market in Markthalle IX, on Sunday 

• Nowkoelln Flowmarkt, in Maybachufer, on Sunday 

• Street food market in the Kulturbrauerei , also on Sunday

• Also in shopping: a Shopping Sunday in the Forum Köpenick mall (Bahnhofstraße 33 - 38, 12555 Berlin, near the Köpenick train station), with the Stars of Radio Teddy there to entertain the youngsters

Jewish Heritage: Simchat Torah

Simchat Torah is on Friday, and there will be events in all of Berlin's synagogues on Thursday (eve) and on Friday. 

In Fraenkelufer, there will be a children event, from 5 pm on Thursday 

Education/Schools

An open day at the private, English-language-only, Phorms-Mitte school, Sat. 11:00 - 2:00 , registration in advance recommended

For Adults and Teens Only

The Babelsberg Filmpark starts with a series of horror events in the next few weekend, which will include all kinds of scary interactive fun. Admission is only for 16+ year olds. 

Filmpark Babelsberg

Fri + Sat 

Later in the week...

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, October 6th - 8th

Festival of Lights

The Festival of Lights will start this weekend and will continue until October 15th. Take the kids on one of the evenings, to explore the beautifully-lit buildings 

Furthermore

• The Long Night of the Families features many interesting activities for families in many places, on Saturday from 4 pm and until midnight. The list is endless and very exciting - it includes places with a bonfire, shows, craft activities, and even a place that offers "golf in the dark"!  List of participants, on the website. A few examples

• The Stadtbad Lankwitz will start early with a pool party, that will start at 11:00 and in the Berlin tradition will not end until 22:00 

• In Park Südgelände: What happens in the nature after dark? Saturday from 5 pm 

• Nature rally/scavenger hunt, in the Tempelhofer Feld, Saturday, 5 pm 

• More Funfairs and Street Parties: 

• Kite Festival in the Britzer Gardens, on Sunday (admission fees apply)

• Autumn Festival in the IGA , Sunday (admission fees apply)

• Octoberfest: Alexanderplatz (everyday till Sunday) ; near the Spandau Citadel (Fr/Sat) 

• Museums and Casltes

• Every Saturday: workshops for children (from 2:30 onwards) at the Museum of Technology; Every Sunday, 11:00 and 3:00 - guided tour (in German) in the museum

• The Planetarium in Prenzlauer Berg is celebrating its 30th Anniversary, with free admission on Saturday (1pm - midnight) and Sunday (1pm - 7 pm) 

• Vintage computer days in the Technical Museum, Saturday/Sunday

• Workshop for children aged 6+ about Mexican plants and cuisine, in the Botanical Gardens, Sunday 11:00 - 2:00 

• Falcons and other birds of prey, on Sunday from 12:00 in the Jagdschloss Grunewald 

• Tapestry workshop in the Museum of European Cultures, Sunday 2:00 

• Tour in the Marble Palace in Potsdam with the "Palace Dragon", Sunday, 2:30

• Music: 
• Every Saturday  , 12:00, the "Mighty Wurlitzer" in the Musical Instruments Museum

• Musical workshop in the Klingendes Museum, on Saturday, 2:30 pm 

• Children concerts at the Deutsche Oper, on Sunday 

• Sports
• Does your daughter want to play hockey? The Eisbären, Berlin's main Ice Hockey team, is having an open day for girls on Saturday. Hockey boys, do not despair, on the coming Tuesday (October 10th), there is also an open rink for the boys. The club also runs skating courses, so if your enthusiastic child is less than a polished skater, this shouldn't be a problem. 

• Markets and Food: 

• A cute pop-up store for knitted tops for babies on Saturday with BOBE- Pop Up Store- Ein Herz aus Wolle in Prenzlauer Berg 

• Art and antique market in Schlossstr. 55 in Charlottenburg (Villa Oppenheim), Sa + Su 

• And Flowmarkt, in the Prinzessinnengarten , on Sunday 

• Fruit and vegetable market, with a twist of workshops, etc. - in Markthalle IX, on Sunday 

Hebrew / Israeli / Jewish Heritage: Sukkoth in Berlin

A large Sukkoth party in Fraenkelufer (Sunday, 4 pm), with a Klezmer Band, food, activities and much more. 

•  Another celebration , on Sunday (from 2pm), at the Old People's Home in Charlottenburg 

• And the Chabad Sukkah is in the Rykestr. courtyard. 

Later in the week...

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