What’s up in Berlin – July – September 2017
That was one amazing spring in the German capital. Although – the best is yet to come: summer in Berlin! There are countless events waiting for you and there is hardly a week without a major highlight. We’ve put together the best events in Berlin for the next three months, so you are all ready and set to experience an unforgettable summer in Germany. Here are all the dates you must not miss by any means:
Under the sunny sky
Campfire potatoes, yes. Couch potatoes? No way! When the asphalt is melting under your feet, Berlin is best enjoyed under the open sky. Berliners are sun-lovers and spend most of the hot season on many a street festival or open air party. As legendary Love Parade’s official successor, Zug der Liebe turns the entire city into one big techno dance floor on July 1. For a full week a huge rainbow of pride will embrace the German capital when Lesbian and Gay Stadtfest (July 15 – 16) and Christopher Street Day (July 22) take place in Berlin. More traditional delights await you at the Berlin International Beer Festival, when Karl-Marx-Allee becomes the world’s longest beer garden on August 6. But just in general, make sure to give those itchy feet some beats to dance to. There are numerous open air parties happening every week. Berlin-based blog Stadtkind has a great overview here.
Summer culture
Not only the sunflowers are blooming, the creative scene on the Spree river is flourishing, too. Mainstream and indie art alike, the cultural world of the capital runs at full speed. A magical summer night full of music, lights, mythical creatures, and natural wonders is the Botanical Night (July 22) at Berlin Dahlem’s Botanical Garden. Long-running Berlin Music Week goes by the name Pop-Kultur 2017 now and offers a vast program of concerts, workshops and opportunities for exchange from August 23 through 25 at Kulturbrauerei Prenzlauer Berg. In a world of overproduced mainstream music, Pure & Crafted Festival is all about truly handmade indie and rock music; August 26 and 27 at Postbahnhof. In September international top artists hit the stage, when Lollapalooza Festival goes into the third round (September 9 – 10). If you are more into classical music, Musikfest Berlin from August 31 through September 18 is the most important festival for orchestral music in the capital. You should never judge a book by its cover, but Berlin International Literature Festival (September 6 – 16) is just as big as it sounds – some of the world’s best contemporary prose and poetry! And don’t forget that Berlin is an art hotspot, too. Two dates to remember: cozy Open Air Gallery on Oberbaumbrücke (September 3) and, of course, Berlin Art Week (September 12 through 17).
(Not only) time’s running
Can you feel that summer heat running through your veins? Time to do some sports! Not a single big riding tournament was held in Berlin for a couple of years, but this year Global Jumping Berlin (July 28 – 30) is set to change that, when the world’s best show jumpers compete in the German capital. Fans of trotting wait for Deutsches Traber Derby every year. In 2017 the multi-day tournament will be held from July 28 through August 6. Kurfürstendamm is Berlin’s most popular shopping boulevard, but on July 29 it’s all about running, skating, and wheelchairing. Adidas Runners City Night is a mass sports event with the atmosphere of a romantic street festival. A midsummer night’s run, so to say. And since we seem to have a good run here, let’s not forget about the sports calendar’s big yearly highlight: Berlin Marathon on September 23. Time for another world records, isn’t it?
They’re putting on quite a (trade) show for you
There can be no talk of a summer break when it comes to the many trade shows in the capital. One of the highlights of the next few months surely is YOU, Europe’s biggest youth exhibition. From July 7 through 9, music, sports and lifestyle as well as education, career, and future are on the agenda. One of the most influential trade shows in town is annual IFA Consumer Electronics, this year between September 1 and 6. Fashion show Bread & Butter is not part of Fashion Week anymore, but stands on its own fashionably soled feet now. The Zalando-bought event will happen at the same time as IFA from September 1 through 3. Another highlight: German Comic Con, the biggest convention for American and Asian-style comic and manga culture will be held on September 30 and October 1 in Berlin.
Musical summer
What a musical summer this is! Amazing artists from all around the world have announced shows in Berlin. July comes with Pet Shop Boys (July 1), Damian Marley (July 5), Elton John (July 7), Jean-Michel Jarre (July 11), U2 (July 12), Norah Jones (July 17), Céline Dion (July 23 & 24), and Feist (July 24). Strong women make August special in Berlin with shows by P!nk (August 11 & 12), Patti Smith (August 15), and Kate Nash (August 19). September has a lot of German-language music with Silbermond (September 3), Die Fantastischen Vier (September 3), and Westernhagen (September 5), but there is also Moderat (September 2), Michael Kiwanuka (September 8), Dispatch (September 19), Beth Ditto (September 21), and John Legend (September 30).
As you can see, it will be a hot summer in Berlin – not only temperature-wise. Book your stay at Industriepalast Hostel Berlin and experience an unforgettable summer in the German capital.
Simon
Blogger @IndustriepalastHostel
Picture: Datei: #133535602 | Urheber: william87 – fotolia
