Last year, Berlin’s parliament voted to establish International Women's Day (IWD) as a public holiday across the state.
This year's Frauentag falls on a Sunday - meaning many women (and men) have the day off work anyways. Yet there are still plenty of reasons to celebrate.
READ ALSO: What you should know about Frauentag, Berlin's newest public holiday
From film, to activism, to well-being, we have put together a list of top events to fill your weekend with all things IWD!
And fear not, Berlin residents: you'll get a public holiday just for this year on Friday, May 8th.
Activism
“It is not a party. It is a fight”: under this slogan, Berliners will be taking to the streets on Sunday to protest for the rights of all women around the world - with the particular focus on refugee women and their children.
READ ALSO: What you need to know about women's rights in Germany
Organised by the Alliance of Internationalist Feminists, the event will start at Warschauer Straße at 3pm, culminating at a celebration in Kreuzberg.
Exhibitions
On Sunday, Berlin's Bode Museum is holding a photo exhibition posing the provocative question: "Must women be either naked or virgin to enter a museum".
Open between 2-4 pm, the event will give visitors the opportunity to ask themselves that exact question, while pointing them towards specific women-oriented pieces within the museum.
Film
Running between March 5-9th, the seventh annual Berlin Feminist Film Week (BFFW) is an IWD event not to be missed.
BFFW pays tribute to all of the inspiring female filmmakers who challenge the hegemony within the industry.
As women, people of colour and queer filmmakers are underrepresented on all fronts of film making, such portrayals are crucial in creating a more equal future.
On IWD itself, the city's Sputnik Kino will also host a selection of films for and by women. Der Internationale Frauentag im Sputnik Kino will feature films such 'Marie Curie - Radioactive' and 'In Pause' between 12:45-11:45pm on Sunday.
International Women's Day Berlin: Participants in a demonstration on IWD walk through Mitte in 2019. Photo: DPA
Music and Parties
Pan Africa, the BBW's International Women’s Day Party on Saturday at 7pm, invites women of all cultural and professional backgrounds to "toast to women’s month and solidarity amongst women".
With musicians hailing from Tokyo, poets from Berlin and female DJs from across the globe, there is definitely something for all women at this event.
Flint Party in Kreuzberg has been organised in association with the ‘It is not a party. It is a fight.’ protest, and grants free admission to all women, trans, intersex and non-binary people.
Sporting Activities
If you fancy getting out and about this weekend then the International Women’s Day Run is happening on Saturday at 10am.
READ ALSO: VIDEO: Berliners on what Women's Day means to them
Women are being invited to run in solidarity with Mogadishu Marathon as a 5km, 10km or 21km in memory of Somolia Olympic runner Samia Yusuf Omar, who drowned attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea in 2008 as a refugee. The event is free, but a €5 donation is encouraged.
Another event to get your blood pumping and round off IWD is the International Women's Day with ride.Berlin X lululemon, taking place between 5-6pm on Sunday evening.
Wellbeing
On Saturday March 7th, John and Jane’s are hosting Tap into your female power! - Women’s Day Special in the Soulbase.
The event includes a woman-only yoga session, breaks with snacks and - last but not least - a talk about female empowerment and femininity. The workshop will, however, be held in German!
Keramino, an arts and crafts centre on the outskirts of Berlin, is hosting a Frauentag Special between 12-4pm on Sunday. They are opening their ceramic painting studio for women to celebrate with their grandmothers, mothers, mothers-in-law, sisters and daughters. Men and boys are also welcome!
If you know of any other events you would like to see included, email us at news@thelocal.de.
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