The weekend is knocking and beckoning you outside. Staying at home is not an option in Spring in Berlin, because we have some top-class tips for you. For example, the queer community's Qweer Spring Fest, excursions into the world of music and spirituality, a whole night dedicated to saving textiles and two renowned film festivals. And if you'd rather take it easy, you can make yourself comfortable on one of the Spree boats and take a relaxing cruise through the city. Ahoy!
Win a spring weekend in Berlin:
The cherry blossoms are in full bloom, and the first warm rays of sunshine are inviting you to explore the city and enjoy the beautiful parks and cafés. With a bit of luck, you could win a magical spring weekend for two in Berlin - including an overnight stay at a top hotel.
Tip 1: Celebrate the Qweer Spring Fest with the LGBTQIA+ community
On Sunday, it's that time again: The queer community in Berlin is organising and celebrating itself with the Qweer Spring Fest. The colourful festival focuses on love, joie de vivre and support for queer people in the capital. Join us at the Manifesto Market at Potsdamer Platz and experience drag performances, tattoo pop-ups and a wealth of opportunities to upgrade your wardrobe with exciting, stylish clothes and accessories. Admission is free, a donation is appreciated!
When: Sunday from 12 noon
Where: Manifesto Market, Potsdamer Platz, Mitte
Qweer Spring Fest
Tip 2: Enjoy music and spirituality at The Gardens of Babylon
In order to enjoy the Gardens of Babylon, you actually have to travel to Amsterdam - but now, for the first time, you have the opportunity to experience the magical gardens in Berlin. You can expect a whole day (and night) full of music, spirituality and deep connection with others. It's best to leave the outside world where it belongs: outside. Because a world full of wonders awaits you here. What starts in the afternoon as an inviting market with handmade favourites, massages and delicious food turns into an exuberant rave party at a later hour. Let yourself go, let yourself drift, let yourself be seduced and come to the Gardens of Babylon in the Sage Club Berlin.
When: Saturday from 1pm
Where: Sage Berlin, Köpenicker Straße 18-20, Kreuzberg
The Gardens of Babylon
Tip 3: Shoot impressive selfies at the Balloon Museum for the last time
This weekend is your last chance to float through the wonderful worlds of inflatable art. We're talking about the Balloon Museum at Arena Berlin, which will be open until Sunday. You can expect living works of art to touch, immerse yourself in and, of course, share on social media. Because impressive selfies in front of unusual backdrops are part of the Pop Air Museum's concept. So put on your best selfie outfit and plunge into the billowing worlds of colourful balloons with your smartphone at the ready.
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Where: Arena Berlin, Eichenstraße 4, Alt-Treptow
Tickets for the Balloon Museum
Tip 4: Join the Long Night of #TextileSavers
On Friday evening, Berlin will be all about surviving your favourite clothes. Because sustainable fashion is on trend and has long since arrived on the catwalks of the world as a counter-movement to fast fashion. But even better than buying new sustainable clothes is not throwing them away in the first place. And that's exactly what the #textile saviours are all about on Friday. Whether it's worn jackets, broken zips or those nasty little holes on your knees that are getting bigger and bigger. Here you'll learn how to breathe new life into your favourite items and do something good for the environment at the same time.
When: Friday from 6 to 10 pm
Where: Various locations throughout Berlin
Long night of the #Textil Saviours
Tip 5: Get to know up-and-coming film talent at Sehsüchte
Cinema fans take note: Sehsüchte, one of the largest international student film festivals, awaits you this weekend. From Friday to Saturday, over 100 films by up-and-coming filmmakers will be screened at the Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf. Of course, there is also an extensive supporting programme with panel discussions, workshops and parties. So there's more than enough programme for you to sit comfortably in a cinema seat from Friday to Sunday and simply enjoy.
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Where: Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf, Marlene-Dietrich-Allee 11, Potsdam
Tip 6: Cruise around the city for two hours of fun
Sunshine, light breeze and you just give up the wheel and let yourself sail through the city. At the weekend, you can treat yourself to this little luxury again and board one of the ships operated by Reederei Winkler. With a cool drink in your hand, you can experience the city from the water for two hours and learn about some of Berlin's important sights from an unusual perspective. There's guaranteed to be something new even for long-time Berlin connoisseurs!
When: Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Where: Reederei Winkler Landing stage: Charlottenburg/Schlossbrücke, Charlottenburger Ufer 1, Charlottenburg
Ticket for the 2-hour boat tour
Tip 7: Discover the GRIPS theatre during the Easter holidays
Even at the end of the Easter holidays, there is still time for the finer things in life - going to the theatre, for example. How good that the Children's and Youth Theatre GRIPS at Hansaplatz has put together a packed full programme for the holiday season. You can look forward to the plays Vier zurück about freedom, self-empowerment and community, Woche - Woche about the diversity of families and the difficult search for one's own place or the reading theatre Fuchs & Söhne.
When: see programme
Where: Hansaplatz, Altonaer Straße 22, Mitte
Tip 8: Immerse yourself in immersive installations at IKONO Berlin
At IKONO Berlin, you can become part of the art yourself - because touching and participating is expressly encouraged at the immersive museum at Alexanderplatz. 14 unique rooms full of creativity, entertainment and lots of games await you and your smartphone. That's right, your smartphone is allowed in the exhibition and is even part of the concept. Here you can take selfies with yourself and your loved ones to your heart's content and share them directly on social media. So focus your camera lens and get ready for total immersion!
When: Friday and Saturday from 9.30am to 10.30pm, Sunday from 9.30am to 10pm
Where: Rathausstraße 4-6, Mitte
Tip 9: Visit the international football film festival 11 Millimeter
11 metres, 11 friends:inside, 11 millimetres - our next tip is all about King Football. The International Football Film Festival 11 Millimeter is bringing the best films about football to the Colosseum Filmtheater Berlin for the 20th time. If you're wondering whether there are even enough football films for a festival of its own, we can reassure you. The organisers actually had to choose and will be presenting the best films from Thursday to Sunday, from the local league to the Champions League.
When: Thursday to Sunday
Where: Colosseum Berlin, Schönhauser Allee 123, Prenzlauer Berg
Football Film Festival 11 Millimetres
Tip 10: Learn all about the world of small trees
Planting in a bowl - this is the translation for the Japanese word bonsai. Large plants are kept small by pruning and reflect the big world in miniature. This originally Japanese and Chinese art form will also be the focus of the Spät'sche Baumschulen at the weekend. Hobby gardeners can get everything they need for bonsai cultivation here. In addition to the material and suitable young plants, there are also workshops where you can learn the rules of bonsai design.
When: Saturday and Sunday
Where: Spät'sche Baumschulen, Spätstraße 81, Treptow
Tip 11: Stroll through the Britzer Garten with musical accompaniment
Botany also plays an important role in our last tip - but not the only one! The Britzer Garten is celebrating its 40th anniversary and invites you to the season opening with musical accompaniment. Just in time for the spring awakening, you can expect live music from the band Sweet Music Collective, a hip-hop dance performance and lots of participatory activities for children. You can also take part in one of the guided tours of the garden and learn all about the history of what is probably the most beautiful park in the south of Berlin.
When: Saturday from 2 to 6 pm
Where: Britzer Garten - fairground by the lake, Sangerhauser Weg 1, Neukölln
