Whatever your mood this weekend, there’s something for you in Berlin. Check out our guide to this weekend’s best events.
Thursday
Gelato Week
It’s that wonderful time of year again! If you’re not already sold after seeing the words ‘Gelato Week’, we’ll explain the (absolutely brilliant) concept to you: From Thursday 18th through Wednesday 24th, over 150 of Berlin’s best Italian ice cream spots will be serving their very special signature flavour for just €1.50 per scoop. Let the ice cream adventure begin!
- Gelato shops across the city, through Wednesday 24, details.
Workshop of the World
Join John Merrick and Harry Stopes at Hopscotch Reading Room as they discuss Raphael Samuel’s collection of essays, The Workshop of the World, following its recent launch. The book brings the full range of Samuels’ writings on nineteenth century Britain to the fore, with a strong dedication and focus on uncovering the stories of ordinary people.
- Hopscotch Reading Room, Kurfürstenstr. 14/Haus B, Schöneberg, 19:00, details.
Sound System Culture: As It Sounds Conference & Festival
A four-day, totally free event, Sound System Culture is hosting an event packed with workshops, lectures, live performances, exhibitions and DJ sets, all focused on celebrating the legacy of sound systems in contemporary club communities. As It Sounds is about putting the spotlight on the people behind the PA systems, including the crew, musicians, technicians, but also the clubbers who make up these communities and cultures.
- Kunstquartier Bethanien, floor 1, Kunstraum Kreuzberg, Mariannenpl. 2, Kreuzberg, through April 21, details.
Fantasy Film Festival
This long-running film festival has been sending shivers down Berliners’ spines for 38 years. With a programme that transcends style and mood by subverting genre, here the term ‘fantasy’ is a loose jumping-off point to explore all kinds of provocative cinema. Pairing horror films with memorable thrillers, obscure sci-fi tales with heart-wrenching dramas, this festival gives viewers the chance to see some of their favourites (as well as discover new hidden gems).
- Zoo Palast, Hardenbergstr. 29A, Charlottenburg, through to Apr 21, details.
Friday
Free Flash Tattoo Day
Whether you have to find a space on your already tatted skin or it’s your first time getting inked, this event is for all those who’d like a new addition to their skin, and better yet, it’s free! Hosted by die deutSCHule (@die_deutschule), you can choose a flash design or get your favourite German word tattooed by some talented tattooists, including Linea Cruda (@lineacruda), Afina Boitsova (@afinatattoo), and Ninaro (@ninaro_s).
- die deutSCHule, Karl-Marx-Str. 107, Ganghoferstr. 11-12, Neukölln, details.
Caspar David Freidrich: Infinite Landscapes
Experience the ‘Infinite Landscapes’ exhibition at Alte Nationalgalerie, showcasing Caspar David Friedrich’s masterpieces on the occasion of his 250th birthday. Delve into Friedrich’s role in modern art at the National Gallery’s groundbreaking showcase, celebrating his contribution to German Romanticism and his influence on modernism.
- Alte Nationalgalerie, Bodestr. 1-3, Mitte, through 4th August, details.
OXInacht- FreeEntry Fundraiser
Come support OXI’s FLINTA* and queer community fundraiser, with music from treasured Berlin-based DJs like DJ Autumn, Katiusha and Temple Rat. Substituting the entry fee with a fundraiser, come help support Jugendnetzwerk Lambda Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.- an association dedicated to representing the interests of young LGBTQI* people in the public and political arena and is committed to providing education, information, advice and leisure activities for LGBTQI* youth. Make sure you secure a ticket through Resident Advisor as there will be a limited number available at the door.
- OXI, Wiesenweg 1-4, Friedrichshain, starts 23:00, details.
Saturday
Record Store Day
Celebrate Record Store Day this Saturday as independent record stores worldwide (including Berlin’s vinyl and indie music specialists) open their doors. Originating in 2007 to spotlight independent record stores and their unique culture, Record Store Day has expanded globally, with over 3,000 participating stores worldwide, including 15 in Berlin. Experience in-store gigs, parties, and club events alongside exclusive limited editions of Record Store Day releases, offering collectors a unique opportunity.
- Various store locations, opening times differ from store to store, details.
Sicilian Street Food Festival
Experience the diverse flavours of Sicilian cuisine at Sage Beach in Berlin-Kreuzberg at the Sicilian Street Food Festival. Sample a range of Sicilian delicacies, including arancini and cannoli, prepared by Sicilian companies based right here in Berlin. There will be lively entertainment with tarantella groups showcasing traditional folk dancing and Sicilian melodies for those interested in the unique music culture, while culinary enthusiasts can join cookery workshops led by experienced chefs to delve deeper into Sicily’s culinary heritage.
- SAGE Beach, Köpenicker Str. 18-20, Kreuzberg, details.
Feminist Book Fair Berlin
Graphics via @febume_berlin
Have an aching desire to participate in some lively feminist discussion and debate? The Feminist Book Fair is taking place this weekend and boasts a programme focused on fostering encouragement, discussion and organisation within Berlin’s feminist community. Discover inspiring books, engage in thought-provoking conversations, and explore new perspectives on revolutionary feminism.
- Aquarium, Skalitzer Str. 6, Kreuzberg, through April 21, details.
Sunday
Kinky Market
Long gone are the days of wondering what to drink when you opt out of a boozy bender with your friends. These days, alcohol free alternatives are abundant, and this year’s edition of the Prosit Drinks Market showcases a huge selection of them! Held at Markthalle Neun in Kreuzberg in conjunction with Mindful Drinking Club, visitors will have the opportunity to browse the options of non-alcoholic beverages that go beyond your regular sodas and spritzers. These include kombucha, non-alcoholic cocktails, kefir, single-origin juices, verjus, fruitseccos, wine proxies, spirits, oxymels and many other exciting alternatives to alcoholic drinks. There will also be workshops, tastings and round-table discussions on all aspects of conscious drinking culture.
- Markthalle Neun, Pücklerstr. 34, Kreuzberg, 11am to 6pm, details.
Walking Tour: Riots in Kreuzberg
Feel like you need to brush up on your history knowledge before hitting the streets on May 1st? Join this walking tour that takes you through the ‘Revolutionary May Day’ uprisings, while also covering the riots of 1987, the last three decades of protest culture, the struggles against rent rises, the symbolic meaning of the Berlin Wall and the stories of three occupied houses. For two hours, walk around and absorb interesting facts and pieces of information you would have otherwise missed out on.
- Kreuzberg, meet at Kottbusser Tor, at the corner of Admiralstr. at 2pm, details.
Spring Urban Foraging & Ecology Tour
The long-held belief that Berlin is just a concrete jungle may be turned on its head after a day exploring the city’s natural wonders with this immersive nature awareness and ecology tour hosted by Edible Alchemy. Rain or shine, you’ll explore the delicious herbal delicacies that are found in and around Berlin while learning about various trees and plants, and collecting healing ingredients for future use. Meet at the Edible Alchemy Lab and come prepared with curious tastebuds and weather-appropriate attire. Don’t miss this opportunity to forage, taste, and connect with the natural environment.
- Edible Alchemy Lab, Moosdorfstr. 7-9, Treptow, 12:00 – 15:00, details.
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