13 things not to miss this week in Prague – from fun runs to free music

Summer is winding down and back-to-school is just around the corner, but there’s still plenty to do after work this week. From Czech films with English subtitles and free concerts to International Dog Day, a sound walk at Troja and the last chance to catch a major exhibition, here’s what’s worth getting out for.

Kino Atlas has a mixed slate of Czech/Slovak and international titles playing with English subtitles this week.

On Monday, Czech and Slovak options include Architecture of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic 58–89 at 5:15 p.m. and The Limits of Loyalty at 7:45 p.m. The rest of the week's Czech/Slovak lineup includes Five Plums, 6 Grams, A Pint of Ink, and 1+1+1.

For festival-style fare, the schedule also includes KVIFF winner Fruit Gathering and Elon and the Guinea Pigs.

Explore a miniature world of bonsai at the Charles University Botanical Garden, with trees painstakingly grown by local enthusiasts, miniature grasses and companion plants, and weekend consultations with bonsai experts. Open daily 10 a.m.–4 p.m. from Aug. 24–30.

Riviera III: Echoes of the Deep brings Radio Wave and GHMP's summer concert series back to the gardens of Troja Chateau from 6–10 p.m.

The evening combines music, contemporary art and a guided sound walk through the gardens, followed by performances from rivermoans and Black Tar Jesus. Bistro Karel will also provide food on site.

A Day with the Prague Ambulance takes over Old Town Square from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for a behind-the-scenes look at emergency medicine.

There will be demonstrations by Prague's emergency medical service, interviews with experts, information about the Záchranka emergency app and road safety, plus music and other programming. Admission is free.

Prague's dog owners have a reason to get out of the house on International Dog Day.

“Rozhýbej lovce i gaučáka!” (Get the hunter and the couch potato moving) takes place at Vypich, in front of Hvězda, from 1–8 p.m. Owners and their dogs can try out five different dog sports and activities, making it a chance to do something more interesting than the usual walk around the block. The location also makes it easy to combine the event with a longer stroll through Hvězda.

The Visionary multifunctional playground in Holešovice hosts an afternoon of activities from 2–7 p.m. Try everything from juggling and hoop exercises to rope skipping, Spikeball, Blazepod and You.Fo. The event is designed to work for children, parents and grandparents alike.

Aug. 26–27: in the Wallenstein Garden, as the Prague Symphony Orchestra performs opera, musical, and film favorites, including West Side Story, The Magnificent Seven, and Titanic. The open-air concerts begin at 5 p.m. and offer one of the last chances to catch free live music before the summer season ends in September.

Archirun Club turns Prague into a running route, taking participants past architectural landmarks and less obvious corners of the city.

The Aug. 27 run starts and finishes around Náplavní Street and is designed for beginners, with a relaxed pace of around 6–6:30 minutes per kilometer. Registration through Strava is required.

Discover Petro Live in Vršovice, a live-music series at the artist-run Petrohradská Kolektiv. Eizola brings an atmospheric ambient set inspired by field recordings, shifting layers, and an overheating landscape. Doors at 7 p.m.; music at 7:30 p.m. Admission is by voluntary donation.

If you're looking for an excuse to get out of Prague, Crystal Valley Week is in full swing in Liberec through Aug. 29. The festival actually kicked off Monday, so if Friday doesn't work, there's still time to catch it earlier in the week or throughout the weekend.

The city's annual glass festival takes its name from the Crystal Valley, the Liberec region's cluster of glass, costume jewelry and jewelry companies, and brings more than 100 artists and glassmakers to dozens of locations, with exhibitions, live glassmaking, workshops, outdoor installations and a crystal market.

The festival's Crystal Market takes place Aug. 28–29, while Friday also offers guided tours and demonstrations. The big finale, a multimedia fashion show combining glass, jewelry, fashion, light and music, takes place Saturday.