American Independence Day Celebrations in Berlin
Events marking July 4th taking place in Berlin
June 29th, 2015
This year American Independence Day will be officially celebrated on July 3rd, because July 4th falls on a Saturday. There is a large American presence in Berlin and consequently there will be numerous events taking place throughout the weekend to celebrate this American national holiday.
On July 4th, Americans across the world celebrate Independence Day, an occasion which commemorates the Declaration of Independence, on July 4th, 1776. Celebrating independence from Great Britain, today July 4th is celebrated with fireworks, parades and carnivals.
Given the large American community in Berlin, it is no surprise that there are numerous events that will take place in the city to mark this occasion. The American Embassy in Berlin suggests checking expat websites such as Toytown Germany (http://www.toytowngermany.com/) and Exberliner (http://www.exberliner.com/) for updates about events happening across Berlin, and wider Germany.
One such event is the ‘Indepen-dance Day’, which is being held in ‘Studio Я’ at the Maxim Gorki Theater in Berlin. The event wraps up this year’s season at the theatre, and they will celebrate their success with their audience. They have extended an invitation to both audience members and artists alike, to come and dance in the summer together. Studio Я describes itself as a place where anything goes, where radical new forms of theatre meet political theories. For this event they will host a legendary band to create the atmosphere for the celebrations. The website for the event can be found here: http://english.gorki.de/programme/2015-07/independence-day/1503/
What has now become somewhat of a tradition in Berlin, there will also be an event at the McNair barracks in Berlin. The barracks, situated in Lichterfelde, housed the Infantry and Artillery units of the U.S. Army Berlin Brigade. The barracks were closed in 1994, and since then a section of the barracks has been converted into a museum. This exhibition displays soldiers’ uniforms and signs from the border and different sectors of divided Berlin. Furthermore, every year since 1995 the barracks have hosted a July 4th event, as a reunion for American veterans who served in Berlin.
Another Independence Day event that is recommended by the American Embassy in Berlin is the party at Belushi’s Bar in Berlin Mitte. The event is not aimed exclusively at Americans, anyone is welcome to attend. Inviting guests to wear their “colors with pride and dress patriotic”, the event promises homemade American burgers, beer pong and an American playlist. The event can be found on Facebook here, and more information is also on the Belushi’s website.
References and Links
- The events were found on the upcoming events section of the American Embassy’s website: http://germany.usembassy.gov/events/upcoming/
Rhianna Cearns, Berlin Global
