The best things to do in Prague this week, August 12–18

Out of town

A two-day Rock for People Hope festival will take place Aug. 13–14 2021 at the Hradec Králové Festivalpark on three stages. Headline acts include Italian rockers Måneskin, who won this year’s Eurovision contest, Swedish rockers the Hives, post-hardcore band Imminence, German indie rock band Leonide, plus other European acts. Czech bands inlcude indie rockers I Love You Honey Bunny, rockers Deaf Heart, and electro-pop group Domi. More info is on the event website and Facebook.

Thursday, Aug. 12

The annual Letní Letná festival returns with new circus and theater in Prague’s Letná park from Aug 12 to 31. Four French troupes will appear along with the best of local Czech talent with shows based on acrobats and similar techniques. Most events will be in circus tents, but there will also be a free open air stage. Young spectators can also enjoy themselves at the children's stage. Most but not all of the shows have little or no language barrier. For more info visit the festival website or Facebook.

 Improv comedy in English can be found at the The BLR Comedy Brew, featuring local troupe Blood, Love and Rhetoric. They are at A Maze in Tchaiovna on Thursdays starting at 7:30 pm. Seating is limited, and reservations are suggested. More info on Facebook.

Roma band Gipsy.cz will be at Skautský institut on Old Town Square on Aug. 12 at 8 pm. The band blends Roma and Balkan music with hip-hop, and represented the Czech Republic in Eurovision in 2009 though they didn’t make it to the finals. More info on the band website. under the tab marked koncerty.

Friday, Aug. 13

 A two day wine festival on Střelecký ostrov called Víno na Střel(eč)áku runs Aug. 13 and 14 from 2 pm to 9 pm each day. Emphasis is on small local and international producers whose goods are not commonly found in stores. There will also be stands with food including Belgian fries, burgers and steaks, burritos, grilled Slovak cheese and other treats. The entry fee includes a wine glass. More info on Facebook.  

Celebrate the 75th anniversary of Indian Independence Day at Manifesto Florenc from Aug. 13 to 15 with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian culinary specialties, and a celebration of culture from the Subcontinent. More info on the Manifesto Florenc website.  

Whitewater athletes can participate in Freestyle Fest at Troja, with a warm-up party on Aug.13 and events for all skill categories on Aug 14–15. Non-competitors can watch the action and participate in the side program for free. Music will be by the Free Balkan Quintet. More info is on the event website.

German house and tech house DJ duo Claptone will be at Křižík Fountain in Výstaviště Holešovice on Aug. 13, with the show starting at 5 pm and lasting to 10 pm. Other DJs will assist. Claptone is noted for performing in plaque doctor masks. More info on the Výstaviště website and Facebook.

Saturday, Aug. 14

The eighth annual Organ Grinders Live! (Flašinet žije!) festival takes place with events at three locations on Aug. 14. A concert at the Church of St. Nicholas (sv. Mikuláš) on Old Town Square is at 10 am, afternoon improvisation is at 3 pm on Kampa, and finally a concert at the Czech Museum of Music is at 7 pm. All events are free. More info on the venue website.

The 13th edition of the open air Čajomír Fest, celebrating tea culture, will be at Výstaviště on Aug. 14 and 15. The first day starts at noon and runs to 8 pm. The second day starts in the early morning and runs to sunset, when it will end with a ceremony naming the king of the teamen. The program includes workshops, exhibitions, and performances. Various aspects of tea culture across the world will be explored. For more info visit the event website.

Celebrate a different take on street food at Latino Fest at Smíchovská Náplavka on Aug. 14 from 10 am to 8 pm. Beyond burritos and tacos, there should be Spanish paella, Brazilian feijoada, Venezuelan arepas and empanadas, juicy churrasco, Argentinian steaks, Cuban sandwiches, ceviche, and more. Entry is free, but the food of course costs money. More info is on Facebook.

This year’s edition of Praha pije víno – Prague Drinks Wine takes place Aug. 14 from 11 am to 6 pm at the New Town Hall (Novoměstská radnice), the one adjacent to Karlovo náměstí. The event is billed as the largest domestic meeting of Central European winemakers who are passionate about creating natural wines without additives or manipulation. They expect over than 50 winemakers. An all-day ticket includes a glass and unlimited sampling. More info on the event website and Facebook.

Sunday, Aug. 15

Embassy-sponsored celebrations of Indian Independence Day will take place at India House in Prague 6, on Aug. 15 starting at 9 am with a flag raising, the national anthem, and excerpts of a speech. This will be followed by a cultural program, refreshments, and a bike rally to Charles Bridge. More info is on the Embassy of India website.

Monday, Aug. 16

The recent horror film The Power (Napětí) is at the outdoor summer cinema program at KC Zahrada in Prague 4. The screening starts at 8:30 pm on Aug. 16. The film is set in London in the 1970s, with a new nurse serving her first night shift at am almost empty dilapidated hospital, when the power goes out due to the mining strikes. More info on the KC Zahrada website.

Local jazz group Martin Brunner Band is at Jazz Dock on Aug 16 at 9 pm. Brunner plays the piano as well as Moog and Prophet synthesizers. Other band members include guitarist Tomáš Fuchs, bassist Rastislav Uhrík, and drummer Roman Vícha. More info on the venue website.

Tuesday, Aug. 17

The new music and dance project INspiraCe brings together the 420People ensemble and the Berg Orchestra for two evenings at divadlo Archa on Aug 17 and 18 at 8 pm. The original music was inspired by a piece from minimalist composer Terry Riley. The same principles of repetition and order are reflected in the stage design and choreography. More info is on the Archa website.

Czech pop star Xindl X is at the Lucerna Music Bar Open Air stage at Ledárny Braník on Aug. 17 at 7 pm. Xindl X, aka Ondřej Ládek, has also written episodes of thr TV series Comeback. Pavel Čadek opens the concert. More info on the venue website.

The new culinary and cultural hangout Manifesto Anděl opens Aug. 17 and has grand opening events until Aug. 22. You can hear bands, visit workshops, and sample special herbal cocktails. The new location in Prague 5 is twice the size of the original Florenc area, and offers up to 500 seats, 15 restaurants, a large beer bar, a music stage, a SOOT cocktail bar, a vertical hydroponic farm, green walls, and a water area. More info on the Manifesto website and Facebook.

Wednesday, Aug. 18

It has been 30 years since the last occupying Soviet troops left then-Czechoslovakia. The Czech band Pražský výběr will play a special concert at the Křižík Fountain in Výstaviště Holešovice on Aug. 18 at 7 pm. The band will be backed by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra music, using new orchestrations by Steven Mercurio. Pražský výběr’s frontman Michael Kocáb was involved in organizing the expulsion of the troops in 1991. Later, he was the Czech minister for human rights. More info is on Facebook and tickets are available via the Goout network.

The opening of the exhibition Michal Rapant – In Colors takes place on the roof of the Radost building in Žižkov. The artists tends to apply paint with his hands or a spatula, rather than a brush. The vernissage starts at 6 pm on Aug. 18, and will feature music from Lumiere & Roman Rai. More info on Facebook.