Top 10 weekend events in Prague: Sci-fi on the screen, Oktoberfest, and street parties

It’s film festival galore this weekend, with several uniquely themed screenings taking place. At the Film and Architecture Festival running Sept. 26 to Oct. 1, 40 feature-length and short films about architecture, cities, design and art will enter cinemas with the title “Strangeness and Otherness”. The festival will take place not only in Prague but in cities across the Czech Republic such as Brno and Český Krumlov.

Running until Sept. 30 at Kino Lucerna and other cinemas throughout Czechia, Future Gate, Central Europe’s largest sci-fi film festival, will be screening films such as Daughter of the Sun and The Paragon, with British filmmaker and comedian Terry Gilliam having opened the festival this week. Other notable filmmakers and scientists will be in attendance and discussions on AI and cosplay events will be part of the program.

Showing at Edison Filmhub on Sept. 27, Avenue of the Giants is a profound and unmissable historical tale with many scenes shot in Prague (mainly in the Old Town and Malá Strana districts), as well as the nearby villages of Kněževes and Chrášťany, or in the Ústí nad Labem region. The film is based on the heartrending true story of Herbert Heller, a Czechoslovak-born Jewish boy who, aged only 12, was sent to Terezín and Auschwitz, only to escape from the latter and emigrate to the U.S. after the end of World War II.

Celebrate Czech Statehood Day on Sept. 28, 2024, with a free visit to the stunning Nostic Palace, home of the Czech Ministry of Culture. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., explore the Minister’s office, the Chapel of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, and the art-filled gallery. Enjoy guided tours, puppet theater performances, folk art demos, and creative workshops.

Climb the New Town Hall tower as part of the Month of Towers and Lookout Points on Sept. 28 and enjoy stunning views of Prague. Participate in a family-friendly challenge to reach the top and complete puzzles for prizes. Tickets are required, with discounts for families.

Revel in the welcoming of the fall season and head to Villa Richter for the annual Vinobraní Festival on Sept, 28 and enjoy a day of local wine tastings, live music, and delicious food stalls set in the historic vineyard. Get your hands on some traditional burčak and enjoy the lively atmosphere with friends and family.

Join the Fruit Festival in the Vysočany orchard at Na Klíčově for a day of apple and pear picking, cider tasting, and fun workshops on Sept. 28. Enjoy hands-on activities like fruit drying, making raw apple treats, and learning about fermentation. There will be live music from Der Šenster Gob, art workshops for kids, and a cozy bonfire to toast apples or burritos.

For those who won’t be making it across the border to Munich for Oktoberfest this year, no need to feel FOMO – several events in Prague will be recreating the jovial German atmosphere. Riegrovy sady beer garden will be decorated in traditional Oktoberfest style, and along with several types of German beers, Bavarian sausages, pretzels, sauerkraut, and other delicious dishes will be on offer on Sept. 29. Manifesto Market is serving up similar specialties from today until Sept. 29.

Celebrate 65 years of the Prague Zoo’s opening on Sept. 28. The program will be in the style of the 50’s and kicks off at 1 p.m. with special guests, including Prague's mayor and ambassadors from Mongolia and Kazakhstan, followed by the naming of capybara triplets at 3 p.m. Enjoy live 50’s music, a pin-up fashion show, dance performances, and a boogie woogie workshop.

Take part in street dance battles, graffiti workshops, roller disco, and an open 3v3 streetball tournament at the Street Art Fest at Gutovka on Saturday. Enjoy live music from Vladimír 518 (PSH), skateboarding, BMX, scooter shows, and workshops at the U-ramp. There will also be parkour, slackline, and fashion zones, making it the perfect event for lovers of sports, music, and street culture.

The district of Malešice will come alive this weekend with a neighborhood picnic, concerts, face painting, flea markets, and more for the Experience Malešické náměstí differently celebration. Tour the Malešice Castle and gather ‘round an evening bonfire accompanied by guitars and good vibes on Sept. 29.