Karneval der Kulturen (Carnival of Cultures)

Karneval der Kulturen (Carnival of Cultures) is one of Berlin's largest multicultural festivals and one of the six largest open-air events in Germany, attracting over 500,000 visitors annually. The festival began in 1996 around Ascension Thursday as a response to xenophobic riots in Rostock-Lichtenhagen, serving as a counterpoint to racism and celebrating Berlin's cultural diversity. Inspired by other European carnivals like London's Notting Hill Carnival and Rotterdam's Zomercarnaval, the first event drew 50,000 people, growing to 300,000 by 1997. The festival emerged from the Werkstatt der Kulturen (Workshop of Cultures) opened in Neukölln in 1993 as a meeting point for creative communities. Today, the festival takes place annually during Pentecost weekend (late May to early June) as a four-day celebration featuring the main street parade where about 4,000 carnival performers from almost every corner of the globe showcase their cultural heritage. Over 75 decorated trucks participate in the parade with 5,000 performers demonstrating everything from Brazilian samba to Chinese lion dances, West African drums to Bernese carnival brass bands. The festival reflects Berlin's incredible diversity, with 450,000 immigrants from more than 180 countries calling the German capital home. The carnival provides a unique opportunity for Berlin's ethnic communities to make their cultures visible and add their aesthetic vision to the city's reputation as a vibrant, constantly changing metropolis. Beyond the parade, the festival includes musical events, children's activities, and various parties, all serving as a platform for dialogue, understanding, tolerance, and cultural exchange. The Karneval der Kulturen symbolizes a free and pluralistic society, promoting appreciation and respect for all cultures while fostering an inclusive atmosphere that celebrates the mosaic of Berlin's multicultural community.