Events in Prague This Weekend (August 19 – 21, 2016)

What to do in Prague this weekend? During the upcoming weekend of August 19 – 21, 2016, there is plenty to see, hear, and experience in Prague. You can partake in celebrating the 700th birth anniversary of the famous King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, say goodbye to the summer in many festive and funny ways, and much more…

The weather will be a typical Prague summer. On Saturday you can enjoy sunshine with 27 °C (80 °F). But on Sunday, expect cloudy skies with a maximum temperature of 21 °C (70 °F) and a bit of rain in the morning and late evening. For more details check our Weather Forecast page.

Prague Food Battle

FOOD FESTIVAL On the “Smíchovská náplavka” embankment, you can take a taste of a rich variety of delicious dishes, including traditional Czech ones, on Saturday. The Prague Food Battle festival, full of food, drinks, and fun, takes place between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Choose your gourmet winner, win vouchers to Prague restaurants and enjoy a beautiful day on the banks of the Vltava river. There is only a symbolical entrance fee of 50,- CZK. Find more info on the Facebook Event of the festival, partially written in English.

Wakesurf OPEN 2016 – Final

WAKESURFING CONTEST At the “Střelecký ostrov” island on the Vltava river, you can watch the final of a wakesurfing contest. The event, celebrating the slowly ending summer, will not only show performances of the best wakesurfers, but you can also enjoy an all-day party accompanying the programme, which will take place from 10 a.m. till 10 p.m. The entrance fee is 90,- CZK, and you can find more info on the Facebook Event of the competition.

Prague Zoo – Summer Evening Tour

EVENING ZOO On Saturday, you can enjoy a very special tour in the renowned Prague Zoo (“U Trojského zámku” street 3/120, Prague 7 – Troja). It allows you to experience all the Zoo’s wonders at twilight. The night walk with a professional guide starts at 9 p.m. and takes an hour and a half. Among other things, you can see sleeping elephants or, on the contrary, active hyenas.

The evening tours cost 250,- CZK for adults and 160,- CZK for children. Entrance fee, guide services and parking are included. Due to a limited capacity, you need to book the tour in advance. If you are interested, contact the Zoo’s representatives (+ 420 296 112 230, pr@zoopraha.cz). You can find more info on the Prague Zoo’s web pages.

125 Years of the Petřín Observation Tower and Reminder of the 1968 Invasion

FESTIVAL/CELEBRATION This weekend, a visit of the charming place on top of the romantic Petřín Hill, with its famous funicular, mirror maze, and Štefánik Observatory, will be even more fun. To mark the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the Petřín Observatory foundation, and also as a reminder of the beginning of the Occupation in 1968, the City of Prague Museum, together with Petřín café and Prague 1 district, have prepared a special event with a rich programme.

There will be commented tours, performances of the Czech velocipede riders club, and magician shows for children taking place on Saturday. On Sunday, the event will continue in the spirit of remembering the beginning of one of the darkest eras of the Bohemian history – the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia. All weekend, there will also be refreshments, music, gift shops, fun contests, and much more. On Saturday, the event will take place 11 a.m. – 8 p.m., and on Sunday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. The standard entrance fee to the Petřín Observatory is 120,- CZK. Find more info on the Prague Museum web pages.

Music Event on Wenceslas Square

FESTIVAL Also as a reminder of the 1968 Occupation, there is a special event taking place on Wenceslas Square this Sunday. It has a poetic title: “So that the dreams do not turn grey” (“Aby sny nezešedly” in Czech), but it recalls very dramatic and traumatizing events. If you want to feel the moving atmosphere of a crowd recalling the Invasion, come by. The purpose of the event is to highlight the danger of any extreme ideologies.

Among other things, there will be photos and videos, taken in 1968 (21st -25th August), screenings, and original audio frequencies of the illegal Czechoslovakian radio played. The commemorative event will culminate with a musical event at noon. The event takes place 12 a.m. – 11 p.m., and there is no entrance fee.

The Sceptre and the Crown: Charles IV and the Bohemian Royal Coronations

EXHIBITION In the Imperial Stables ofPrague Castle, you can see an exhibition focused on the long history of the coronation of Czech kings. Admire a precious set of coronation symbols, such as reliquary crosses or the Golden Veraikon, and feel the breath of history while looking at the oldest existing manuscript of Charles IV himself or the crown of Czech queens from the 14th century. The full entrance fee is 190,- CZK. See more info on the Prague Caste web pages.

“Civitas Carolina” – Architecture of Charles IV Era

EXHIBITION Also within the frame of the 700th birth anniversary of Charles IV, there is yet another ongoing exhibition taking place in the National Technical Museum of Prague (“Kostelní” street 42, Prague 7 – Holešovice). The exhibition, as its names suggests, focuses on the art of architecture during the reign of Charles IV, which was a great building “boom”. The exposition has been built up as a construction site, displaying contemporary building professions and technology. The full entrance fee is 190,- CZK. During weekends, the museum is open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. See more info on the Museum web pages.