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The Top Festivals to Experience in Berlin
There’s nothing quite like a good festival; mesmerizing music fills the air, delicious food fills our bellies, and happy people fill the streets. Festivals have a way of bringing out the best in us, and they also have a way of bringing cities together. At the risk of sounding a little corny, festivals put the “unity” back in community.
Berlin, Germany is such an awesome city because it hosts tons of festivals each and every year. We’re not talking about small parties with maybe a dozen attendees; we’re talking about dazzling, city-wide spectacles for last for days or even weeks at a time!
Hop online right now and look up “festivals in Berlin”. There are dozens upon dozens of ‘em, right? Well, don’t worry about looking for the best of the best -- we’ve already done that for you. We listed the best picks for the top festivals in Berlin. Stash your stuff with a secure luggage storage service, then enjoy the following festivities.
Berlin Tattoo
The Berlin Tattoo is a military parade hosted by the Bundeswehr, Germany’s armed forces. Bands from all around Europe participate in this epic event. Heck, even bands from foreign countries like the United Kingdom and the United States will join in on the festivities. For the most part, bands play their own renditions of classic military cadences. However, it’s also possible to hear covers of pop songs from time to time. You think you’ve seen it all, do ya? Wait until you hear a military cover of Leonard’s Cohen’s Hallelujah.
Berlin Circus Festival
“They fly through the air with the greatest of ease” indeed! Stylish stunts and pulsating performances are all on display at the Berlin Circus Festival. Trapeze artists, expert jugglers, skilled sword swallowers -- the Berlin Circus Festival has it all. The festivities typically last for 10 days straight and are held at Berlin’s old airport. However, this extravaganza is so contagious that the entire city essentially becomes a circus tent whenever this event is held!
Berlin Laughs!
Nothing puts a smile on our faces quite like Berlin Laughs! It’s an international street festival that’s held at venues like Alexanderplatz. To get more specific, Berlin Laughs! provides a platform for street performers of all kinds to show their stuff.
There are clowns and performers just like the Berlin Circus Festival, but there are also stand-up comedians, street artists, dancers, magicians, and more food trucks than you can count! It’s entirely possible to experience Berlin Laughs! without paying a dime. But even if you do want to play a few games or grab some grub, the prices will be more than fair.
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Carnival of Cultures
The funny thing about our differences is that they bring us together more than they push us apart. The Carnival of Cultures is all about promoting this idea and celebrating diverse cultures. “Karneval der Kulturen”, as it’s known in German, was first held in 1996 during Pentecost.
Details are somewhat scarce concerning precisely who started the event. However, their intentions were crystal clear -- to unify various cultures and communities through song, dance, and art. The Carnival of Cultures takes place in Berlin each Spring and only grows in popularity each year.
Citadel Music Festival
The Citadel Music Festival has roots that stretch all the way back to 2005. The story goes that the Trinity Music group wanted to see if people would be interested in a “concert tour” that lasted for several months, as opposed to just a few days. They used the first Blackmore’s Night concert as a prototype of sorts.
Blackmore’s Night went on to become a huge success, prompting Trinity Music to start officially hosting the Citadel Music Festival. Since then, it’s become one of the largest and most popular music fests in Berlin. This musical extravaganza is typically held at its namesake, the illustrious Spandau Citadel.
International Film Festival Berlin - Berlinale
Germany is the birthplace of the Expressionist art movement. Paintings, statues, and poems from this era are very emotional and striking pieces. You can understand everything about an Expressionist painting just from studying a character’s face. When people first began to make films, Germany naturally brought the Expressionist movement to the big screen.
Enter the Berlinale -- an ode to films and the people that make them. Plenty of German Expressionist pieces have been showcased at the Berlinale. However, this film festival also screens movies from around the globe each year.
Oktoberfest Berlin
Oktoberfest is a beer festival that hardly needs an introduction. This event is so legendary that people from other sides of the planet have likely heard of it. Altbrier. Doppelbock. Kolsch. Just about every famous German beer brand that you can think of is on tap.
Oktoberfest is all about making merry and making memories. Typically, Oktoberfest is held in Munich. However, Oktoberfest Berlin has grown increasingly popular over the years. The party is usually held at the Zentraler Festplatz Spring festival.
Photo by Hannes Richter on Unsplash
Classic Open Air
Each year, people fill the Gendarmenmarkt to experience one of the greatest musical events in Berlin -- the Classic Open Air. To be honest, we can’t even just call the Classic Open Air a musical event; there are operas, ballets, light shows, and firework extravaganzas.
Really, the entire point of the Classic Open Air is to bring the performing arts to the streets of Berlin. You don’t have to worry about dressing up in a tux and struggling to find a great seat in the aisles. You can attend this event in your street clothes after snagging your tickets online.
Sources
https://www.berlin-circus-festival.de/
https://citadel-music-festival.de/info
https://www.visitberlin.de/en/event/71st-international-film-festival-berlin-berlinale
https://www.berlin.de/en/events/2096841-2842498-classic-open-air-at-gendarmenmarkt.en.html
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