Events in Berlin

KARNEVAL DER KULTUREN (CARNIVAL OF CULTURES)

The Karneval der Kulturen is a celebration of Berlin's ethnic diversity and its growing multicultural communities. 2008 will be the thirteen such festival in Berlin, running from the 9^th-12^th of May. Easily one of Berlin's most colourful festivals, the event involves thousands of participants who don their cultural dress and take part in a parade and dance along the streets of Kreuzberg. The idea is to promote cultural diferences and acceptance within the community. Hundreds of artists, dancers and singers will be in town for the event, sure to take part in the street festival celebrations.

LOVE PARADE

Berlins Love Parade is truly legendary. Certainly one of the biggest, craziest and attended music festivals in Europe today. It began as a celebration of love and friendship in 1989, with just 150 participants who came together to celebrate love, freedom and techno music! The event grew with a different motto or slogan for each year relating to the same idea of love, relationships, freedom and acceptance. By the end of the 1990's the attendance was close to one and a half million party goers and guest DJs from all over the world. Today the idea of liberation of love has gone that step further with a number of participants choosing to attend the festival naked, in a sign of true liberation and acceptance!

The three day festival is the biggest techo/dance scene and many revellers will travel from other countries to take part. The main event is usually held in the month of June, although the 2007 parade was cancelled as the City of Berlin didn't give their approval for the event to go ahead. It is expected to return in 2008 and usually takes place on Strasse des 17 Juni and around the Grosser Stern and the Victory Column in the middle of Tiergarten.

JAZZ FEST BERLIN

Not the biggest or the best Jazz festival in Europe but it is Berlins own and attendees will likely enjoy the German take on ´jazz´music through a series of events and free concert venues.

Since its beginning in 1964, it began to draw criticism since the 2000 festival thanks to a somewhat loose interpretation of what sort of music fell into the category of ´jazz. The festival director was replaced in 2001 and since then crowd interest began to return.

The festival is scheduled for November 6-9, and the program will be announced in August.

DMY INTERNATIONAL DESIGN FESTIVAL

The increasingly popular design festival-forum is scheduled for late May in 2008, under the slogan "The sky is not the limit". Latest trends, innovations and design ideas will be presented and discussed, alongside a showcase of the best European and international design talent and service providers. A must for designers and those in related industries, and an interesting insight into today's design world for the curious.

BERLIN MARATHON

The Berlin marathon is one of Europes most popular. The anual 35^th marathon in 2008 is scheduled for September 28^th. Last year, over 40,000 athletes took part in the 42 km race, passing under the Brandenburger Gate. Not just an event for sports fans, millions of spectators will be there to cheer on the competitors and also to enjoy live music from more than 70 different bands set up along the course. The atmosphere of this great event is not to be missed.

BERLIN FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

For two weeks from the 16^th- 28^th October, the City Of Berlin provides a warming atmosphere just before the onset of winter with the Berlin Lights Festival. Berlins' famous historical icons and a mixture of newer commercial sites will be ablaze with colour, light projections and fireworks. The event is usually enhanced by ‘lightshow' tours that take place in the early evening and cultural events that are sponsored by corporations, looking for a little extra time under the spotlight.  There is also a photo competition which is open to amateurs and professionals who are interested in capturing the spectacle on film. It's a great time to visit the city of Berlin, presenting a very different and modern perspective on the city.

ILA BERLIN AIRSHOW

This event has been taking place since the early 1909 and was initially a trade event for the ILA who remain the main sponsor of todays event.  In 2008 the show is scheduled for 27^th May until June 1^st. As well as a trade event where public access is denied for the first few days of the show, the airshow is increasingly becoming available to the public who can enjoy an insight into advanced aviation and space technology, including new research and defence technology.

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