Unity and diversity: Berlin's Carnival of Cultures

What is the Carnival of Cultures?

The Carnival of Cultures is one of the most highly anticipated events in the Berlin carnival and festival calendar. Taking place over a four day period, this event is a tribute to the spectrum of cultural diversity found in the city. It takes place at the start of summer around the Pentecost weekend, one of the most important dates in the Catholic calendar.
The carnival was established in 1996 as a way of fighting the growing racism and nationalism exhibited throughout the country in the early 1990s. It was inspired by events such as the Notting Hill Carnival in London and the Zomercarnaval in Rotterdam, which promote peace and unity through vibrant, colourful shows and performances. The Carnival of Cultures picked up steam over the years and expanded in capacity and duration (from a two-day event to a four-day extravaganza), with spectators and performers travelling from as far afield as South America and Africa.
Twenty years on, Germany has not been able to fully abolish the problems of xenophobia and intolerance. However, the Carnival of Cultures has blossomed into a massive celebration embracing cultural differences, diversity and acceptance. Nowadays, the event expects to attract over 1.6 million people. Entry to the festival is free, but it is advisable to book accommodation and make travel arrangements in advance, as the huge influx of visitors during this time can get pretty hectic! Public transport is on hand to help make moving around the city as convenient as possible, but make sure always to travel with valid tickets so as not to encounter issues with fare controllers. Check for day-long or week-long travel passes to save money if you plan to explore this hive of activity over a longer period of time.

Festival magic

The Carnival of Cultures takes place across Berlin, but the main festivities can be found around Blucherplatz in the Kreuzberg district of the city. Several stages are erected each year to provide entertainment in the form of musical performances by an impressive selection of both local and international talents. The music ranges from classical to reggae via the dance and techno for which Berlin is so notorious, allowing every visitor to find something which resonates with their tastes. In addition to the music performances, there are theatre shows and a host of acrobats, stilt walkers, clowns and other varieties of street entertainer which can be spotted around the festival. Around 350 stalls form a market to provide festival revellers with endless fun, including shopping for artistic treasures, sampling some local cuisine and consuming a few of Germany's world-renowned beers. The festival is open air and Germany can experience hot weather during the summer, so be sure to pack sun lotion and a peaked cap to avoid the misery of sunburn or sunstroke.

Street parade

The final, climactic day of the Carnival of Cultures involves a street parade, which takes place to demonstrate the various cultures and their individual rituals, dances and costume styles. The festival encourages participation from all walks of life, so expect to see both professional and amateur performers together in the parade – a true celebration of all of humanity. The procession sets off from Hermannplatz towards Hasenheide and Gneisenaustrasse, ending on Yorckstrasse/Mockernstrasse.

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Author: David Rickerson-Seidel

Guest Relations Manager at NH Collection Berlin Mitte Friedrichstrasse

My name is David Rickerson-Seidel and I have been part of the NH Hotel Group since September 2015 when the first NH Collection Hotel opened in Germany. After 16 years of hotel experience, I was offered a great chance to meet people from all over the world and each time I was able to learn from them – this is one of the reason why I love my position as a Guest Relation Manager. My daily task is to fulfil our guest’s needs before they actually asking for it. With my passion for my job it is always a great pleasure to see our guests happy and smiling before they leave the hotel and I know that we have done the job right. I always say that the only thing that a guest can’t buy and book in advance is our smiling receptionist with a warm welcoming, the friendly breakfast host who would like to know if you slept well, and our elusive room maid, who is preparing the room so that it feels like home – our employees make the difference – this is why you are not checking into your room at a terminal. Whatever you need – we are always there for you.