This weekend in Prague: See theater in the streets at the Za dveřmi festival

Plus: Destroyed Russian tanks at Letná, Prague Zoo serves up insects, and the Police Symphony Orchestra plays at the Krizik Fountain.

Expats.cz Staff

Written by Expats.cz Staff Published on 14.07.2022 17:07:00 (updated on 14.07.2022) Reading time: 6 minutes

Visit

See Russian tanks from Ukraine, plans for a future concert hall, and small art

Damaged tanks and other equipment from the war in Ukraine are on display at Letná plain until July 24. People can see a heavily damaged T-90 tank, the Sturm anti-tank unit, and the Buk anti-aircraft system. The exhibition was brought to Prague by the Ukrainian Interior Ministry, which wants to warn of the atrocities the Russian invasion had caused in Ukraine.

You can see the model for the new Vltava Philharmonic concert hall as well as many of the other proposals at CAMP until Sept. 18. There is also a program of accompanying events that includes tours and lectures.

All the art is small in Malý, malá, malé. The new show at Galerie Jelení in Prague 7 runs until Aug. 21.

Savor

Prague Zoo literally wants you to eat a bug, also there is French food

The French Market is at Kampa park until July 17. Aside from food and wine, there is music and a program for kids.

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Enjoy a picnic with Prosecco in the Park at Břevnovský klášter on July 15 to 17. You can rent a picnic blanket, and there will be food and entertainment available. Drinking prosecco requires a special glass, but you can use one from previous picnic events if you have one.

Prague Zoo lets people explore insects as food with free tastings, plus demonstrations of the preparation of some insect dishes and contests for kids on July 16 and 17. There are also special guided feedings of insectivore animals. The spoken parts are in Czech.

Insects, vegetables, and rice. Photo: Zoo Praha
Insects, vegetables, and rice. Photo: Zoo Praha

Spice up your life with Latino Street Food at Smíchovská Náplavka on July 16. There is more than just tacos and nachos. You can find pulled pork, Venezuelan arepas, Argentinian steaks, Cuban sandwiches, and much more.

The focus of the Day of Open Bottles is on small family vintners from Moravia and around the world who use minimal processing to make their wines. There will also be food and music. It takes place July 16 at Náplavka near the railway bridge. Entry is free, but tasting wine requires a special glass you must purchase.

Watch

Best of the fest, discount films, and a classic comic book film

You still can see films from the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Šary Vary offers several hits until July 17 at three Prague cinemas: Světozor, Aero, and Přítomnost. Most screenings are English-friendly.

The summer 2022 edition of BestFilmFest presents recent hits ranging from "Death on the Nile" to "Top Gun: Maverick" for CZK 89 each until July 20. Screenings are at Evald, MAT, and Atlas. Note that Evald and MAT are both small, so buying in advance is recommended.

Tim Burton's 1992 action film Batman Returns is at Letní kino u Keplera on July 15. Michael Keaton wore the cape for this episode, while Danny DeVito was the Penguin and Michelle Pfiefer was Catwoman.

Listen

One Direction's Harry Styles, UK's Tindersticks, and the Police Symphony Orchestra

Former One Direction frontman Harry Styles arrives with Love on Tour 2022 at O2 Arena on July 15. Fans can expect to hear mostly material from his three solo albums, with just one or two One Direction hits.  

The electronica festival Kapka is at Štvanice ostrov on July 16. The outdoor part, which runs until 10 p.m. is free but the indoor part that starts at 10 p.m. and runs till dawn has an admission fee. Germany's Cursor Minor is the headline act.

UK alternative rock band Tindersticks returns to Divadlo Archa on July 17. The band has released two albums – “No Treasure but Hope” and “Distractions” – since they were last at Archa in 2016.

The Police Symphony Orchestra comes from the town of Police nad Metují in the Hradec Králové region. It is not made up of officers. Still, you should behave properly if you go to hear them perform at the Krizik Fountain in Výstaviště on July 17. The mostly young musicians will perform a mix of popular and less-known music intended to get you on your feet.

For those who fancy a road trip, the Hrady CZ series of concerts at Czech castles kicks off at Točník on July 15–16. Czech and Slovak bands are featured.

Also out of town, Colours of Ostrava runs to July 16 in Dolní Vítkovice, a former industrial area in Ostrava in northern Moravia. The Killers and Twenty One Pilots are the headliners.

Explore

Government gardens and secret passages

One way to avoid the heat is by finding a cool place. The tunnels inside the walls of Vyšehrad are naturally a bit cooler than the outside, and they eventually lead to the Gorlice, a giant room that holds some of the original statues from Charles Bridge. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. but remains a bit of a secret. Texts for the tour are available in English. A major motion picture just filmed scenes there this week. The name was not released, but among projects currently filming in Prague is a remake of "The Crow."

The renovated gardens of the Straka Academy, the seat of the Czech government, will open to the public for the first time on July 9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and are open every Saturday during July and August. Paths were fixed, rose bushes and flowers were planted and the lawns were regenerated. Enter from from Kosárkova nábreží. Until the end of October, the garden behind the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Černínský palác), at Loretánské náměstí is open to the public on weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The garden, with Baroque details, was transformed into an English-style park in the 19th century.

Garden behind the Foreign Ministry. Photo: Raymond Johnston. Garden behind the Foreign Ministry. Photo: Raymond Johnston.
Garden behind the Foreign Ministry. Photo: Raymond Johnston. Garden behind the Foreign Ministry. Photo: Raymond Johnston.

Stage

Shakespeare double header, street theater, and comedy hits

See two Shakespeare plays in one night. Prague Shakespeare Company presents Much Ado About Nothing and Henry IV, Part 1 on July 15 and 16 at Divadlo Na Prádle. Experienced actors and directors work together with participants in the PSC 2022 Summer Shakespeare intensive training program.

The Za dveřmi festival of mostly physical theater and music will be at Old Town Square, Mariánské náměstí, and Výstaviště until July 19.

The student program Prague Summer Nights presents two operas by Mozart at the Estates Theatre. Don Giovanni is on July 15 and 17 and Le Nozze di Figaro is on July 16. Both productions use famous costumes by Theodor Pištěk and a set by Josef Svoboda, from the theater’s archive.

It's not just any old Velvet comedy, it's the Best of Velvet Comedy at The Fitzgerald on July 16. U.S.-based comedian Wyatt Feegrado will headline the show. Grant Gallacher will host the evening and local jokesters Erik Beckett, Brian Lennon, Julia Ruth Worland, and Kristyna Haklova will crack wise.

Family

Two historical carousels are now operating

The carousel at Letná has been restored to how it looked in the 1930s, and is back in operation on Fridays. Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Admission is CZK 80 for five minutes. It is mainly for kids, but adults up to 100 kg (220 pounds) can also ride. The carousel on Petřín also continues to operate.

A family art workshop is a side event of the Badiucao: Made in China exhibit at DOX. It takes place July 16 at 2 p.m. it is for children aged 5 and up, and is primarily aimed at people with some Czech language skills.

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