Culture Calendar – June 2019
Ready to enjoy this year’s summer vibes? June promises to be an exciting month packed with events ranging from car races and science exhibitions to open-air festivals and various street parties across the DACH region. There are plenty of fun things to do during this warm month, so get your sunglasses ready!
TEXT: MARILENA STRACKE | TOP PHOTO © FORMEL E
Ludwigsburg Festival (9 May – 20 July)
Ludwigsburg Festival is a creative music festival with an international reputation. It merges tradition with modern themes. The motto of this year’s edition is ‘Alles auf Anfang’ – ‘Back to the beginning’. Orchestral concerts merge with lieder recitals, dance theatre with chamber music, and classical works with traditional folk music. This event attracts famous artists from all over the world and invites everyone to embark on an unconventional creative journey.
PHOTO © LUDWIGSBURG FESTIVAL
Zurich Pride Festival (1 – 16 June)
This vibrant event celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Back in the day, it initially started as Zurich’s Christopher Street Day, but it turned into Zurich Pride Festival in 2009. Each year, this important event brings thousands of friends and supporters to the city in order to celebrate the LGBT+ community in Zurich. It’s not only a great street party but it also peacefully fights discrimination and promotes LGBT+ rights.
Festival for the Environment, Berlin (2 June)
In the beginning of June, 200 exhibitors turn Berlin’s famous street ‘Straße des 17. Juni’ into a big ecological adventure mile. This street party around the Brandenburg Gate promises to be a lot of fun but it’s also a great opportunity to learn about ways to save energy, hear more about climate-friendly mobility, or to simply educate your kids about the environment.
48 Hours Neukölln, Berlin (14 – 16 June)
Established in 1999, this art festival takes place in the Berlin neighbourhood of Neukölln. During an exciting 48 hours, about 300 cultural institutions and societies show the artistic potential of this diverse area and fully bring it to life. Each year, the event proves that there is much more to Neukölln than one might initially expect.
KRISTIN KOLB. EXHIBITION IRRREAL AT THE KESSELHAUS OF KIDL, CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART, 48 HOURS NEUKÖLLN, 2018. PHOTO © JENS FERCHLAND
blues’n’jazz, Rapperswil-Jona (14 – 15 June)
This is a truly special open-air festival, which attracts international artists as well as local ones to give stellar performances each year. The festival benefits from its spectacular backdrop of Lake Zurich, which gives it a very unique vibe. Come and stroll along the lakeside promenade, indulge in a great variety of food at the market stalls and enjoy the picturesque view of Rapperswil’s history-steeped Old Town.
Long Night of Science, Berlin (15 June)
This event is also lovingly called ‘the smartest night of the year’ and, as the name promises. Berlin’s Long Night of Science gives access to laboratories, scientific institutions and libraries, which are usually closed to the public. Over 70 science locations across Potsdam and Berlin show their fascinating work from late afternoon to midnight. Perfect for science buffs and night owls.
www.langenachtderwissenschaften.de
National Opera for everyone, Berlin (16 June)
This event wants to make opera accessible to everyone and each year it’s a great success. The free open-air classical concert under the baton of famous Daniel Barenboim takes place at the Bebelplatz and is a wonderful event for anyone who enjoys classical music in a relaxed, casual atmosphere. A real summer highlight in Berlin.
FÊTE DE LA MUSIQUE. PHOTO © SIMONE CIHLAR
Sommerszene, Salzburg (17 – 29 June)
Each June, Salzburg becomes the absolute hotspot for contemporary performance art for 11 eventful days. The city of musical genius Mozart welcomes artists and visitors from all over the world. The organisers see their festival as a triumph of modernism with a focus on contemporary dance but with many additional events around the world of theatre, music, film and visual arts.
Fête de la Musique, Berlin (21 June)
Fête de la Musique is a free European music festival, which actually runs in around 340 cities worldwide on this day. Berlin provides a very special atmosphere for this grand street party. Musicians, bands, orchestras, soloists, DJs and choirs of all kinds fill the streets of Germany’s capital and turn every corner into a beautiful stage.
Donauinselfest, Danube Island, Vienna (21 – 23 June)
When it’s time for the legendary music festival Donauinselfest, you can be certain that summer has started properly. This is Europe’s undisputed largest open-air festival, free of charge, and hence it attracts tens of thousands of music enthusiasts to this picturesque setting by the Danube each year. What’s not to like?
DONAUINSELFEST. PHOTO © DONAUINSELFEST
Ballet for everyone, Zurich (22 June)
On 22 June, Zurich’s famous Opernhaus broadcasts its ballet performance live to an open-air stage on Sechseläutenplatz. Over 10,000 people are expected to come and enjoy the classic Romeo and Juliet choreographed and directed by Christian Spuck. Get your picnic and folding chairs ready.
E-Prix – Formula E Championship, Bern (22 June)
This year’s race takes place in Bern and promises to be an unmissable highlight for the Swiss city. The championship of the quiet, lightweight racing cars is part of the 2019 ABB FIA Formula E Championship. Known E drivers are certainly going to be part of this special day, which is also a great event for families.
Bergmannstraßenfest, Berlin (28 – 30 June)
The Festival at Bergmannstraße also known as ‘Kreuzberg Jazz’ is a free three-day open-air street festival in Berlin’s Kreuzberg. About 50 national and international jazz bands perform on three different stages, at the corners of Mehringdamm, Nostitzstraße and Zossener Straße. Street food and theatre performances complement this programme perfectly and bring all generations together.
SOMMERSZENE SALZBURG. PHOTO © YAGHVALI FALZARI
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