Autumn markets in and around Berlin

Saying goodbye to summer is never easy, especially with the grey Berlin winter around the corner. Thankfully, before the inevitable happens we can still enjoy autumn, which has to be one of the best seasons – think golden light hitting colourful leaves and the start of pumpkin season! The secret to autumn bliss is visiting one of Berlin and Brandenburg’s many markets. From harvest festivals to pumpkin extravaganzas, here’s the Berliner’s guide to find your autumnal fix.

Britzer Garten’s pumpkin and apple festival

At Britzer Garten live music, tasty treats and loads of activities like a pumpkin obstacle course or a straw playground are waiting. Children can get their faces painted, try pumpkin carving and learn more about pumpkins and discover creative ways to use discarded apple peelings. The festival stage by the lake serves up children’s theatre, kids’ songs from Cattu the Dreamcatcher and country tunes from Sonic Sunrise and Friends.

Britzer Garten Neukölln, Sat 21.9., 12-6 p.m., details.

Späth’s Nurseries Traditional Festival

Every September Späth’s Nurseries hosts a traditional festival with a green market. Around 120 stalls showcase gardening inspirations, crafts and plants for gardens, terraces and balconies. There’s live music, storytellers, arts and crafts activities and picnic baskets you can enjoy surrounded by autumn’s beautiful nature. Expect a celebration of all things green and growing.

Traditional festival at Späth’schen Baumschulen, Späthstr. 80/81, Baumschulenweg, Sat 20.9. + Sun. 21.9., 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., details.

Pumpkin exhibition at Spargelhof Klaistow

Every year, Berlin and Brandenburg’s biggest pumpkin show takes place in Beelitz. Until 9 November Spargelhof Klaistow’s pumpkin exhibition showcases around 100 000 different pumpkins through food, art and every other way imaginable. Visitors can sample pumpkin gelato, pastries, soup and so much more. With this year’s motto ‘Power Women,’ pumpkin sculptures of the likes of Frida Kahlo and Bertha Benz will adorn the Spagelhof.

Spargelhof Klaistow’s pumpkin exhibition, Glindower Str. 28, Klaistow, 6.9.-11.11., 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., details.

Family-friendly harvest festival at Domäne Dahlem

Every autumn Domäne Dahlem hosts a harvest festival showcasing how farming has evolved over the years. Visitors can enjoy loads of demonstrations and hands-on activities covering everything from harvesting equipment to heritage fruit and veg varieties and organic growing methods. There’s also a market where you can buy and sample local produce and if you fancy it, pick your own pumpkin.

Harvest Festival at Domäne Dahlem, Königin-Luise-Straße 49, Dahlem, 27.9. + 28.9., 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., details.

Apple festival at Schloss Britz

This autumn market is all about apples, the ones that grow on trees not the ones designed in California. Schloss Britz will dedicate an entire weekend in September to present different apple varieties. Expect regional delicacies (apple-themed naturally) in the forms of cake and juice. Plus there is loads going on from exhibitions about rare apples and pears to a massive juice press in action, all accompanied by medieval live music and theatre performances.

Gutshof Schloss Britz Alt-Britz 81, Neukölln, 27.9. + 28.9., 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., details.

Schöneberg’s pumpkin festival

Akazienkiez in Schöneberg hosts an autumn market in early October. The neighbourhood festival has colourful carousels for children and lots of culinary and craft options to browse and sample. Local traders from the area and across the entire city sell everything from oils, honey and spices to ceramics. And it wouldn’t be an autumn market without pumpkin soup.

Pumpkin festival at Akazienkiez, Akazienstr. and Belziger Str., Schöneberg, 4.10. + 5.10, Sat. 11 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m. – 8 p.m, details.

Harvest festival at Naturschutzstation Hahneberg

Every year, Naturschutzstation Hahneberg hosts a harvest festival that traditionally kicks off with an outdoor party. Afterwards, visitors can learn about regional farming, heritage livestock breeds and conservation projects at various stalls. The harvest festival programme also features live music, storytellers and sheep and goat feeding sessions.