The 15 best things to do in Prague this weekend: Oct. 6–8, 2023

On Saturday, Oct. 7 Kasarna Karlín in Prague will host a day-long celebration of Ukrainian culture, including live musical performances, children's activities, art exhibits, and food. Ukrainian cuisine and crafts will be up for sale. Throughout the day there will also be workshops for kids, lectures, and a comedy show. Admission is free with donations benefiting medical aid for Ukraine.

Spanish film festival La Película comes to Prague and Hradec Králové from Oct. 4-11. The 17th annual event is organized by Instituto Cervantes and Kino Světozor cinema, it features a selection of contemporary shorts from Spain. Films will be screened at Kino Světozor with several English-friendly features.

Award-winning movies from festivals in Berlin, Venice, and Cannes will hit numerous cinemas in Prague (and across Czechia) during the Be2Can film fest (Oct. 4-11). This year's festival opens with Maïwenn's Jeanne du Barry, starring Johnny Depp as King Louis XV opposite the director in the titular role, which made a splash at Cannes in May.

The 9th annual Chilli Fest will spice up your Saturday (Oct. 7) at Výstaviště in Prague. This year's event is jointly organized with the Asia Food Festival. Highlights include traditional chili-eating competitions with international competitors, ice bath chili challenges, and pepper-eating challenges. Visitors can see demonstrations of Asian martial arts, enjoy a tea ceremony, henna painting, calligraphy, and sample food from over 70 stalls.

SILQ restaurant in Prague is hosting a Hong Kong Bakery & Street Food Festival on Saturday (Oct. 7). Visitors will experience the diverse culinary traditions along the historic Silk Road without leaving the Czech Republic. The event promises authentic tastes of Hong Kong through a selection of dishes like char siu buns, mooncakes, pastries, and more available to purchase from a traditional bakery.

The Balkan Food Festival returns this Saturday (Oct. 7) to Smíchovská náplavka. Visitors can enjoy authentic Balkan cuisine like cevapi, pljeskavica, grilled vegetables and specialties, fresh baklava, moussaka, pickled vegetables, ajvar, and local beers and wines. The afternoon will feature live Balkan music performers based in Prague. In the evening, the festival culminates with a concert from the Balkan: Uncensored music series.

The Lebanese Village Festival on Saturday (Oct. 7) at Karlovo Náměstí in Prague will immerse visitors in Lebanese culture. Artists will exhibit at the House of Illustrators and House of Designers, while live music will be performed at the House of Music, and traditional dishes served at the House of Gastronomy. The Houses of Wine and Arak will showcase viticulture. Explore the art, music, cuisine, and crafts of Lebanon at this vibrant cultural event!

On Sunday, Oct. 8, foodies will delight in discovering global flavors at Novoměstská Radnice's International Food Fest. Over 20 vendors will fill the New Town Hall and surrounding area offering tasters of Peruvian tacos, Indian curries, Italian antipasti, Austrian cheeses, and more. Spend the afternoon sampling savory and sweet specialties while enjoying live music in the square.

The 25th annual edition of Designblok is now underway across three exceptional venues: the National Gallery Prague’s Trade Fair Palace, the gardens of Prague Castle, and the Museum of Decorative Arts. Numerous shops, studios, and showrooms throughout the city will also participate. Expositions at Designblok are divided into a Superstudio showcase featuring furniture, lighting, and home accessories and an Openstudio featuring exhibitions by designers, students, and schools.

Marseille-based electronic artist French 79 (a.k.a. Simon Henner) has been credited with helping transform the French Touch genre with his 2016 debut album Olympic and 2019's Joshua. Drawing inspiration from artists like Erik Satie, Jean-Michel Jarre, Air, and Daft Punk, Henner is a masterful synth player and songwriter. He comes to Meetfactory on Saturday with Frujty as his opening act.

Pulitzer prize-nominated playwright Joe Sutton's The Third Army has its premiere at Prague's Divadlo Na Prádle on Thursday, Oct. 5. The English-language production from the Prague Shakespeare Company will also be staged on Friday and Saturday. Read more about the play, set in Karlovec, a small town in Czechia subjected to the vagaries of 20th-century history.

The 28th annual 4+4 Days in Motion international contemporary theater runs in Prague from Oct. 6-14. For nine days, seven venues will host seven Czech premieres, international shows, and multi-genre productions. Now in its 28th year, the festival presents around 20 theater companies annually from around the world. The autumn edition will open with the multimedia piece The Making of Berlin at the Archa Theatre on Oct. 6 and 7 at 8 p.m., continuing its mission of innovating the art form.

Opening this weekend, Beyond Vibrations (Oct. 6 and with two showings on Oct. 8) brings a triple bill made up of works by distinguished contemporary choreographers to the National Theater. Krzysztof Pastor, Hans van Manen, and Marco Goecke set their choreographies to the music of Alfred Schnittke, Henryk Górecki, Benjamin Britten, and Gustav Mahler, creating pieces that seek singular aesthetics, and feature metaphoric messages delivered by instruments that range from dancing bodies to sonorous strings.

The 6th annual Festival of Open Studios will take place on Sunday (Oct. 8) at Smíchovská Náplavka in Prague. Numerous open workshops and creative spaces from around the city will gather to offer hands-on activities in a variety of crafts including woodworking, upholstery, metalworking, mosaics, painting, puppet making, glasswork, bookbinding, 3D printing, and more. In addition to workshops, there will also be activities like nail sculptures, recycling art, Lego brick construction, and more.

Slou Days on Oct. 6-7 at Prague's Holešovická tržnice brings a sustainable twist to shopping. With 70+ eco-conscious brands in the shopping zone, attendees can explore sustainable fashion, cosmetics, and home goods. Dive into informative lectures and workshops on sustainable living, fashion, health, and personal growth at the information zone. Swap your clothing items, grab refreshments, and relax in the leisure zone.