Dec 01-07: Christmas Market, Berlin Chili Fest, BURLESQUE CIRCUS, and more!
Things to do in Berlin - Week of Dec 01!
I read something recently that resonated a lot. Wanted to share it here with you:
What’s in store for you this week:
🎭 Transkontinentale 2025
🎄 Christmas Market in Alt-Rixdorf
💋 BERLIN FREAK BURLESQUE CIRCUS - XMESS
🎶 Open House with Winterfest
🌶️ Berlin Chili Fest: Spicy Christmas Market
🖼️ Art in 19th Century - Guided Tour
🎸 IMPROV HANGOUT SESSION
🍽️ Kin Za Georgian Kitchen Cafe
🎫 This Week’s Giveaways
We’re giving away 2×2 free tickets for the Berlin Freak Burlesque Circus – Christmas XMESS Edition! on December 6th, 8 PM! To enter, simply send an email with the keyword “FREAKS” to our E-Mail address.
⭐ Priority is given to Paid Supporters. You can become a Paid Supporter for €2 per month.
1. Transkontinentale 2025
This festival brings together dance, theatre and performance works from across Africa, Asia, Oceania and South America to explore how family shapes identity, memory and belonging. It presents a wide range of perspectives, from personal histories to cultural traditions, and creates space for audiences to reflect on how families form, change and carry their stories forward. The program includes performances, installations and early-years theatre, along with discussions that invite visitors to engage with the themes in an open and thoughtful way. More info.
💵 Varies
📅 04 Dec (Thu) - 07 Dec (Sun)
2. Christmas Market in Alt-Rixdorf
The Alt Rixdorf Christmas market offers a setting shaped by cobblestones, oil lamps and historic buildings that reflect the area’s village origins. You can walk through the older parts of the square, where structures from the fourteenth century remain, and see the market lit by gas and kerosene lamps. The stalls feature seasonal decorations, handmade gifts and a wide range of sweet and savory food, including traditional treats, grilled dishes and vegetarian options. More info.
💵 Free
📅 05 Dec (Fri) - 07 Dec (Sun)
⭐ sponsored post
3. BERLIN FREAK BURLESQUE CIRCUS - XMESS
The Berlin Freak Burlesque Circus returns with a spectacular Christmas XMESS Show, blending burlesque, boylesque, comedy, acrobatics, freakshow energy and wild Berlin nightlife vibes. Founded by the legendary Teaserettes, pioneers of the German neo-burlesque movement, the show celebrates 20 years of creative madness. An unforgettable night of glitter, creatures, live performances and rock’n’roll magic. More info.
💵 €38.50
📅 06 Dec (Sat) / 20:00-03:00
4. Open House with Winterfest
The Open House with Winterfest invites visitors to spend the weekend moving through the Silent Green building, visiting market stalls, listening to concerts, watching films and trying seasonal food. The program includes a film selection, live music, DJ sets, family readings, a market with handmade items, guided tours of the grounds and activities for children. The event brings together film, music, food and creative work in a setting that encourages visitors to explore the different parts of the space at their own pace. The program.
💵 Free
📅 06 Dec (Sat) - 07 Dec (Sun)
5. Berlin Chili Fest: Spicy Christmas Market
For this edition, the Berlin Chili Fest takes the form of a Christmas market focused on chilli culture, bringing together international hot sauce producers and a selection of food stalls serving dishes from a range of culinary traditions, including vegan and vegetarian options. You can taste small batch sauces, try different foods, and listen to live music. More info.
💵 Free
📅 06 Dec (Sat) - 07 Dec (Sun)
6. Art in 19th Century - Guided Tour
The Alte Nationalgalerie, opened in 1876, presents a collection of nineteenth century paintings and sculptures that reflect major artistic developments of the period. The museum brings together works by leading German and international artists, including Romantic, Realist and early Impressionist pieces, as well as significant sculptures that shaped the era. More info.
⭐ We did this guided tour with some of the subscribers last year, and it was a very nice experience.
💵 €6+admission fee
📅 06 Dec (Sat) / 15:00-16:00
Submitted Events
7. IMPROV HANGOUT SESSION
This event brings Eibhlín and Matching Drapes to a new stage in Treptower Park and invites visitors to join both bands for an open jam session. Eibhlín performs a folk sound shaped by grunge influences and stories connected to Ireland, while Matching Drapes presents post punk and alternative rock with a mix of sharp energy and quieter transitions. Together they offer an evening that moves through different styles and approaches to live performance, ending with a communal session where the musicians stay on stage and play with anyone who wants to join. More info.
💵 €8
📅 05 Dec (Fri) / 19:00
Restaurant Suggestion:
Kin Za Georgian Kitchen Cafe (⭐4/5)
This Georgian restaurant has a lively atmosphere, and the busy interior can feel a bit overwhelming if you prefer a quieter setting. The menu offers a wide mix of Georgian dishes, most of them easy to share in the middle of the table. The Menu looks slightly chaotic at first, but the photos help a lot when ordering. Their Georgian wines are worth trying and pair well with the food. The dishes are good overall, though not the very best Georgian food in the city. They take reservations, and the place fills up quickly in the evenings, even on weekdays. I had the Khachapuri (image), which comes with melted Georgian cheese and an egg on top, with other topping options available. Prices are a little higher than average, likely because of the central location in Mitte.
✨ For your 5-minute Monday morning inspiration on Berlin tech scene, make sure to subscribe to Handpicked Berlin.
📰 Want to stay updated on the latest news in Berlin in English? Check out our friend’s newsletter at 20% Berlin.
📙 Have a question about Berlin/Germany? Check out this comprehensive guide: All About Berlin.
🍽️ Want to see all our restaurant recommendations in one place? Click here!
🎟️ Have an event that you think we should know about? Submit it here.
Lmk if you come to the Alt-Rixdorf market on Fridays that's my Kiez (:
Yummm Georgian food <3