This weekend, according to Mexican tradition, the dead are honoured with colourful festivities. It goes without saying that an international city like Berlin has a lot to offer in this respect. Horror enthusiasts can shudder one last time at the horror nights in Filmpark Babelsberg. What’s more, the jazz festival starts with "Make some noise", Berlin Science Week presents the most exciting science topics to the public and gamers get their money’s worth at the EGX Berlin. Here are our 11 tips for the weekend.
Tip 1: Jazz festival: "Make some noise"
US composer and visionary Anthony Braxton opens this year's Berlin Jazz Festival with his large-scale project "Sonic Genome". On the occasion of the third global performance, the Gropius Bau transforms into a musical world of experience for six hours on Thursday evening, 31 October. Braxton was one of the key figures of Chicago’s Afro-American avant-garde scene of the 1960s. The tradition that has arisen here of not only making music but also shaping the performance itself in creative autonomy is continued with the festival's motto "Make some noise". Late Night Labs is just as much an experiment as Kiez concerts in hairdressing salons or wine shops.
When: 31 October – 3 November
Where: Locations right across Berlin
Admission: free up to 36 Euro
Tip 2: Long Night of the Hotel Bars
Bartenders always know the best stories: During the Long Night of the Hotel Bars in Berlin you will dive into the city’s world of night owls. In the stylish ambience of Waldorf Astoria, Ellington and nine other traditional Berlin houses you can experience the exclusive world of hotel bars. Enjoy exquisite drinks, entertainment and stories from the best bar managers in Berlin. A shuttle service will be running through the city every half hour.
When: 2 November, from 8 pm
Where: a total of 11 hotels
Admission: 19 Euro (tickets limited to 1,000)
Tip 3: Korea Independent Film Festival
Berlin is celebrating 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, but Korea is still divided. The Korean film festival at Babylon gives an insight into the life and way of thinking of this divided country. Six selected independent films and two documentaries will be shown, including "House of Hummingbird", which was also shown at this year's Berlinale.
When: 31 October – 5 November
Where: Babylon Berlin, Rosa-Luxemburg-Str. 30, Mitte
Admission: 8 Euro
Tipp 4: Berlin Science Week
Berlin Science Week gets underway on the first weekend of November. Renowned scientists from all over the world present their work and give insights into current scientific discourses in over 130 workshops, lectures, slams and creative formats. Topics include the future of digital identity, the relationship between humans and machines, and climate change.
When: 1 – 10 November, from 8 pm
Where: different venues all over Berlin
Admission: Registration and tickets via the website of the individual organiser
Tipp 5: EGX Berlin
Gamers and gaming enthusiasts listen up: The latest gaming trends will be presented at EGX Berlin. Whether retro board game or the latest trends for PC or game console, you can of course have a go at all the games yourself. Other specials include coaching for esports players, the EGX Theatre with live gameplay presentations of Cyberpunk 2077, for example, and of course numerous cosplayers will be here to bring the characters to life.
When: 1 – 3 November
Where: Station Berlin, Luckenwalder Str. 4-6, Kreuzberg
Admission: 10 - 40 Euro
Tip 6: 3 Tage Kunst (3 Days of Art)
The fair "3 Tage Kunst" promotes local artists who work in the district of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf. Selected by an independent jury of experts, works of contemporary art from the fields of painting, graphics, photography, sculpture and objects are exhibited. The Format < 100 is new, giving collectors and art lovers the chance to buy original works for less than 100 Euro.
When: 1 – 3 November
Where: Kommunale Galerie Berlin, Hohenzollerndamm 176, Wilmersdorf
Admission: free
Tip 7: Horror nights at Filmpark Babelsberg
Last chance for horror fans: This weekend will be the last time to get creeped out by zombies, monsters and murderers this Halloween season at Filmpark Babelsberg. By the way, the horror reaches far beyond the mystical film set cemetery. Those who survive the horror can shake their bones at the Monster Party on 2 November.
When: 1 – 2 November
Where: Filmpark Babelsberg, visitor entrance: Großbeerenstraße 200, Potsdam
Admission: from 29 Euro
Tip 8: Mexican day of the dead at Kühlhaus
In Mexico, the dead are traditionally honoured with a joyful celebration. Vibrant colours and exquisite delicacies are to lure the spirits of the dead back to the realm of the living for this day. Pictures of the deceased adorn the altar, the ofrenda. You are also allowed to bring pictures. The Calaca Cultural Center, which has been organising the Day of the Dead for 15 years, is honouring the researcher Alexander von Humboldt with its own altar on the occasion of his 250th birthday. Perhaps he'll even stop by.
When: 1 and 2 November from 8 pm, 3 November from 6 pm
Where: Kühlhaus, Luckenwalder Straße 3, Kreuzberg
Admission: 12 - 15 Euro
Tip 9: Fiesta del Dia de los Muertos in the TAK Theater
The TAK Theater also celebrates the Mexican tradition of the Day of the Dead. Guests from this world and the next are spoiled with Mexican delicacies. The family-friendly play "Interview mit dem Tod" (Interview with death) teaches the audience about the festively arranged encounter between the living and the dead. Parallel to the programme you can also place memorabilia of the deceased on the decorated altar. Younger guests can also get creative at various craft workshops.
When: 2 and 3 November 8 pm – midnight, 4 November 3 pm – 6 pm
Where: Tak Theater Aufbau Kreuzberg, Prinzenstr. 85 F, Kreuzberg
Admission: 5 - 15 Euro
Tip 10: 20 years of stilwerk Berlin
Get out your fringe flapper dresses. stilwerk Berlin is celebrating its 20th anniversary in the swing of the 1920s. The Goodnight Circus will be performing live on the dance floor for Onestep, Charleston and Shimmy. Dr. Hirschfeld will choose which records to play. If you haven't run out of breath yet after the dance interludes, breathtaking acrobatics and burlesque interludes await you. Roulette and Blackjack can also be played – for a good cause, of course.
When: 2 November 8 pm – 3 November 1:30 am
Where: stilwerk, Kantstr. 17, Charlottenburg
Admission: 107 Euro
Tip 11: Pollesch in the Friedrichstadt-Palast
With the "belief in the possibility of the complete renewal of the world" René Pollesch shows that contemporary spoken theatre can also exist between the Grand Shows in the palace. After its premiere in October, the play catapulted overnight to number one on the theatre charts. Pollesch, who is the designated director of the Volksbühne 2021, has managed in this collaboration withwith Fabian Hinrichsto to bring together the best of both stage worlds: "Sprechheater mit Tänzer*innen und Revueelementen" (Spoken theatre with dancers and revue elements). Volksbühne meets Friedrichstadt Palace.
When: Premiere on 9 October
Where: Friedrichstadt-Palast, Friedrichstraße, Mitte
Admission: 12 – 45 Euro
For even more information about what’s on, you can always check our day-by-day tips on Berlin’s biggest event calendar.
