10 best things to do in Prague this weekend, June 25–27

The first big festival of the summer, United Islands of Prague will take place June 25–26, and is returning to its roots on Prague’s waterfront. Events will take place on Kampa, Janáčkovo nábřeží, Střelecký ostrov, Dětský ostrov, and other locales. Friday will have a limited number of events including a concert by German band Shelter Boy on Kampa, among others. The main festival is Saturday, with music starting at 10:30 am and going to 10 pm, not counting afterparties. Seven main stages for music will be complemented by several food zones including a large one on Kampa, workshops, presentations by NGOs, sports and other activities. this is billed the German Edition, Volume 2, but there are also visiting acts from Austria, Poland, Slovakia, and other countries. For more info visit the festival website or Facebook page.

A new nonverbal production at the New Stage of the National Theatre is aimed at children 4 years old and up. Paper Story (Zázrak (s)tvoření) has three performances on June 25–26, before a break until September. It is described as “a poetic production about the frail world we ourselves create, suitable for the whole family.” The production combines mime, contemporary dance with elements of acrobatics, puppetry and animation. The interactive ending lets the youngest spectators join in putting on the finishing touches. For more information visit the National Theatre website.

People will meet at Riegrovy sady, by the corner of Chopinova and Polska streets, to celebrate New Zealand Day on June 26 from 1 pm to after 9 pm. The free, family-oriented event will start with the ceremonial planting of a tree and include a Maori Haka performance, face painting, dance, and a fashion show. People will also be able to try out their rugby and cricket skills. Live music will be by Tam Tam Baracuda and rockabilly band Gumption. A market will offer New Zealand cuisine, wine and ale. Czechs first traveled to New Zealand in the 1860s, and there is still a large Czech community there. For more information visit the Facebook event page.

The annual Sculpture Line festival has placed art installations in public not only in Prague but across the Czech Republic. A rather long walking map can be found on the festival website. Some pieces are new this year, while others are in new locations and a few have become fixtures in their original spots. Standouts among the new works are Václav Fiala’s Tower for Jan Palach by the river on Janáčkovo nábřeží in Prague 5 and Alexandra Koláčková’s Stele in front of the Dancing House in Prague 2. For more info, see the festival website or Facebook page.

Love it or hate it, the building of the Prague Congress Center, originally called the Palace of culture, celebrates 40 years. An exhibition on the building’s history can be seen in the second-floor foyer, which also has a spectacular view of the city. They building has hosted communist events, countless concerts, and many international summits. Among other things, it is where astronomers decided that Pluto was no longer a planet. The exhibition is conceived in the style of bulletin boards from the 1980s. There are also original architectural models, props from the long-running musical Dracula, and audiovisual materials. Exhibitions are primarily in Czech. Admission is free, and it can be seen daily from 10 am to 6 pm until Sept. 12.

A boat with soloists and the orchestra of the National Theatre and the State Opera will perform highlights of current operatic program such as selections from Bizet's Carmen, Rossini's The Barber of Seville, Puccini's Turandot, Smetana's The Bartered Bride, and Dvořák's Rusalka. The boat will make three stops on June 26 – at 8 pm between Střelecký ostrov and Kampa, at 8:50 pm at the dock at Rašínovo nábřeží, and at 9:20 pm at Smíchovská náplavka. Admission is free. More information is on the National Theatre website.

There are several other cinematic options, depending on your mood and the weather. Terry Gilliam’s sci-fi drama 12 Monkeys (12 opic) will be at the outdoor summer cinema at Kasárna Karlín on June 26 at 9 pm. The film stars Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt, and Madeleine Stowe in a time travel plot. Those who would rather be inside can see the classic romance Breakfast at Tiffany’s (Snídaně u Tiffanyho) at Dlabačov in Prague 6 on June 27 at 6:30 pm. Audrey Hepburn arguably gives her best screen performance.

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