In the evening, the Festival of Lights transforms the city into a canvas for light art, while during the day, Berlin Food Week attracts gourmets to Bikini Berlin. So you're guaranteed a feast for the eyes and the palate this weekend, but will there also be something for the ears? Of course. This time, the berlied festival at Kühlhaus am Gleisdreieck is on the list, or would you prefer an illuminating ambient set at Berlin Cathedral?
Tip 1: Enjoy the play of lights and ambient music in Berlin Cathedral
Every year, the city shines in a unique spectacle of light and colour during the Festival of Lights. Monuments, museum buildings and sights become a canvas for elaborate light projections by international artists this weekend in Mitte. One of the magnificent buildings taking part is, of course, Berlin Cathedral - and this year it promises you not only sugar for your eyes, but also acoustic delights: On a total of five evenings, you can experience an immersive light art show as well as a musical highlight in the historic cathedral building. Monika Krause, Alle Farben, Chris Bekker, Schwarz & Wesseltoft and Parra for Cuva present the Festival of Lights IN CONCERT: an ambient DJ programme that will crown the light show.
When: Friday at 19:30 and 21:30, Saturday at 20:30 and 22:30 and Sunday at 20:30
Where: Berlin Cathedral, Am Lustgarten, Mitte
Tip 2: Go on a lightseeing tour with Original Berlin Walks
There is also plenty to see outside the Berlin Cathedral on this light-flooded weekend as part of the Festival of Lights. Original Berlin Walks has created a very special city tour for the occasion, ensuring that you don't miss the most important highlights amidst all the dazzling flashes of light. Experienced city guides will lead you safely through the sea of lights and entertain you with exclusive stories about the illuminated sights. The two-hour tour starts at the Brandenburg Gate and then takes you past the TV Tower, the Humboldt Forum and Museum Island. Here you will experience Mitte in a new light in the truest sense of the word!
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 7 pm
Where: Berlin Tourist Information at the Brandenburg Gate, Pariser Platz 1, Mitte
Tip 3: Get to know the latest food trends at Berlin Food Week
Cooking, baking, discovering new recipes or simply feasting. No matter which of the above activities drives your love of food the most - at Berlin Food Week, you can indulge your passion for delicious food to the full. Since 2014, the festival has been transforming numerous Berlin event locations and restaurants into a playground for culinary innovation. At workshops, networking events and conferences, you can come into contact with numerous stars of the catering industry - and at the popular food tastings with the delicacies served up by these exceptional chefs. The annual public highlight of the festival, the House of Food, will once again be held at Bikini Berlin this year. On Friday and Saturday, local manufacturers and international start-ups will present what's new on the food market!
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Where: Various locations throughout Berlin
Tip 4: Experience chamber music in new realms
When it comes to chamber music and art song, few people think of poetry readings, ambient sounds, electronics, jazz, crossover or video installations. After a visit to the berlied festival this weekend, however, I think that's about to change. The poetic depth and musical timelessness of the art song led to the organisers' idea of dedicating an entire festival to it. But unlike conventional performances of the genre, interdisciplinary approaches take centre stage here. On a total of four festival days at the Kühlhaus am Gleisdreieck, you can expect moving concerts that expand traditional chamber music conventions even in their titles. These include London Fog, Sea Fever and Sing Nature Alive from my Insides.
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Where: Kühlhaus am Gleisdreieck, Luckenwalder Str. 3, Kreuzberg
Tip 5: Think about a better future at the Nova exhibition
This weekend, the Nova exhibition at Tempelhof Airport is making its European debut. Here, the organisers are creating a framework to commemorate the civilian victims of war and terror two years after the Hamas attack on the Nova music festival on 7 October 2023 and the subsequent Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip. The exhibition offers a space for remembrance and reflection and sends a moving signal of global solidarity. At the centre of the exhibition is the ability of music to promote empathy, cohesion and emotional healing. This exhibition invites reflection and calm. Share the hope for a better world with your fellow human beings!
When: Friday from 11am to 6pm and Saturday from 11am to 8pm
Where: Tempelhof Airport, Platz der Luftbrücke 2, Tempelhof
Tip 6: Dedicate yourselves to freedom of expression at The Possibility of Unreason
Jan Böhmermann & Gruppe Royal have chosen the perfect location for their third and most extensive exhibition to date to address the political, social and legal issues of the present day: The House of World Cultures, right next to the Chancellery. The exhibition The Possibility of Unreason is dedicated to freedom of expression and other achievements of democracy, which, especially in times like these, must be defended with diplomacy and open dialogue. There will also be a three-week supporting programme ofshows, TV recordings, performances, concerts, film screenings and talks. The perfect combination of art, entertainment and politics in one of Berlin's most impressive cultural buildings.
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 7 pm
Where: House of World Cultures, John-Foster-Dulles-Allee 10, Mitte
Tip 7: Take a look back at the 1920s with Ben Zimmermann
Music is also an important historical record that gives us exciting insights into the past. In the case of Berlin, the chansons and art songs of the 1920s and 1930s are particularly suitable. For his show Höchste Eisenbahn - Doku Chansons der Goldenen 20er, actor and cabaret artist Ben Zimmermann has collected the most controversial of them and invites you to WABE in Prenzlauer Berg this Saturday, where a musical journey through time awaits you. Between humour, foxtrot and concert atmosphere, the city of the 1920s comes alive and is skilfully placed in historical contexts by the host. Neither Zimmermann nor his audience will fail to notice the obvious connections between then and now... An evening that will make you think in a musical way.
When: Saturday at 8 pm
Where: WABE, Danziger Str. 105, Prenzlauer Berg
Tip 8: Look the atomic bomb in the eye at the Uranium Film Festival
Eighty years after the first nuclear explosion in the New Mexico desert, the danger of nuclear weapons has still not been averted. In recent decades, tragedies such as those in Nagasaki and Hiroshima have not led to the complete disarmament that many had hoped for: Over 12,000 nuclear weapons are still in the possession of nine countries. The Uranium Film Festival has set itself the task of warning of the devastating extent of nuclear warfare and is bringing parts of this documentary educational work to Berlin this weekend. Numerous film screenings and disturbing insights into the nuclear age await you in the cinema hall of the Zeiss-Großplanetarium.
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday at various times
Where: Zeiss-Großplanetarium, Prenzlauer Allee 80, Prenzlauer Berg
Tip 9: Spend a long night with the whole family
A singing bowl meditation journey, a child-friendly printing workshop, a dance adventure for the whole family or an evening with the Frog King - all these things are just the beginning on Saturday evening. For this year's Night of Families, countless institutions and educational establishments have joined forces to present you with a programme that will enchant every child in its diversity. From 5 pm until late at night, you can take part in workshops in your neighbourhood or at the other end of the city , enjoy theatre performances or take part in exciting city tours. Depending on the event, the programme is aimed at children aged 0 to 18 - and accompanying adults are guaranteed not to get bored either!
When: Saturday from 5 pm to midnight
Where: Various venues
Tip 10: Immerse yourself in Van Gogh's universe at VINCENT
Vincent van Gogh is still regarded today as one of the most outstanding painters of modernism, who went down in history with works such as Starry Night, Sunflowers and Café Terrace in the Evening. There are still many stories about him today - not least about how he severed his own ear at the age of 35. Since the end of September, the legendary artist has also been the star of the new exhibition Vincent - Between Delusion and Wonder at the New Media Art Centre. At the immersive exhibition, you can admire his greatest masterpieces in impressive 360° degree projections and discover the man behind the art at interactive stations. Experience the whole of Vincent, including the highs and lows that characterised his short life!
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m
Where: New Media Art Centre, Revaler Str. 99, Friedrichshain
Tip 11: Cruise into the evening on the Spree
Want to marvel at autumnal Berlin in the evening light with a hot cup of tea in your hand without having to walk a single step? The evening sightseeing tour on the Spree fulfils this wish this weekend. For an hour, you can make yourself comfortable on the deck of one of Berlin's passenger ships and sail past Museum Island, Berlin Cathedral and the government district. The drinks menu includes hot drinks, beers, long drinks and savoury snacks. The tour starts at Reichstagsufer and shows you Berlin from perhaps its most beautiful side: relaxed in the glow of illuminated windows and lanterns. And the best thing? This weekend, you're sure to catch a glimpse of one or two of the Festival of Lights light installations.
When: Friday and Saturday at various departure times
Where: Friedrichstraße landing stage (Reichstagufer), Reichstagufer 19, Mitte
