Freunde des Mauerparks e.V.

Last year we had to unexpectedly cancel the Peaceful Walpurgis Night celebrations because a handful of “concerned” citizens protested against the music and dancing in Mauerpark. And now, a year down the road, a miniscule virus is turning the whole world upside down.

At the moment, we have no way of knowing how  the coronavirus crisis will develop. In consultation with Pankow borough council, we have decided that the current restrictions on gatherings make it impossible to continue to plan this year’s Walpurgis Night celebrations.

Please forgive us Walburga: we are really sorry that we can’t celebrate your feast day again this year. We realise that part of your job description as a patron saint is protecting humankind from plagues and epidemics. Please don’t hold it against us: we promise to celebrate your day in grand style again next year.

With the backing of Pankow borough council, we will carry on the tradition of our Peaceful Walpurgis Night celebrations in Mauerpark in 2021. We are confident that next year’s celebrations will be both peaceful and full of fun with programme of events for all the family, including a camp fire, fire artists and music.

We had no choice this year but to simply thank all the artists and volunteer organisers for all the work they invested in preparing for this year’s celebrations. Our sincere thanks also go Pankow’s district councillors. The resolution they passed is a great support for us going forward.

Terrible though it is, this crisis offers us the opportunity to rethink our priorities: to value those things we simply took for granted and protect them in the future. Public spaces where people can meet and enjoy spontaneous cultural activities are particularly important for an open, healthy society. Mauerpark fulfils that role like no other.

We look forward to the day when we will be able to enjoy Mauerpark again in all its diversity. Until then, stay at home and stay safe and healthy.

#stayhome #flattenthecurve #safemauerpark

For the last 15 years Mauerpark has enjoyed peaceful celebrations to dance in the May. This was made possible by the hard work and commitment of artists and neighbours. This year, the celebrations have been cancelled as a result of complaints by residents.

After so many years, the excellent collaboration between Pankow Council, the police and volunteers has come to an abrupt end. Pankow Council and the police are no longer willing to turn a blind eye to these peaceful and uncommercial celebrations in their established form and time frame.

Fearing possible complaints from residents, the police have announced tough conditions and restrictions for the celebrations. The Peaceful Walpurgis Night team has therefore pulled out of any further involvement. It cannot see how it will be possible to guarantee peaceful and creative celebrations in Mauerpark without music.

Mauerpark had become a magnet on Walpurgis Night for “young rioters,” who came from all over Germany to pick a fight with the forces of law and order. The peaceful celebrations were initiated by residents in 2004 as a creative response to this – a response that worked for 15 years. Now a group of residents trying to prevent any kind of “noise” in Mauerpark have put an end to it. The team regrets this development and calls for more appreciation and support from the authorities and the other residents.

The Peaceful Walpurgis Night team will dance in the May elsewhere. It will hold its own private party without having to deal with constraints and restrictions. What happens in Mauerpark and how the residents deal with it remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the Peaceful Walpurgis Night team will not be able to influence it.

The slogan for the celebrations is quite simple: come and join in!

Local people, visitors and creatives will get together to produce a very special evening that will include a campfire, music, fire juggling, soap bubbles and the opportunity to dance in the May. You can let your imagination run free in Mauerpark.

Some of the people joining us this year: Peter & Pat, Team-Fox, FeuerCamp, Dub der Guten Hoffnung, Hope Center, diekreative, Puto Production, 12 Volt, OYA, Folkwiese, Andy Snatch, Paul Tolhurs,  Buddhi, Johanna Zeul + Masataka Koduka – to mention just a few.

At 7 pm we will express our hopes and wishes for peace in the form an interfaith prayer. Everyone of any faith is welcome to join in.

Our celebrations will end just after midnight. After 1.00am, please spare a thought for the people who live near the park and would like to get a good night’s sleep!

Further information at:
www.friedvolle-walpurgisnacht.de
www.fb.com/friedvolle.walpurgisnacht

On 30th of April we will have a colorful and peaceful Dance into May at Mauerpark, with a bonfire, fire artistry and lots of music.

You’re a witch, fire artists, musicians or you have a band? Then be creative and be part of a diverse community to celebrate this special night!

Prep Meeting:
April 09th 2018, 19.00 at Mauersegler
April 23th 2018, 19.00 at Mauersegler

More information:
www.friedvolle-walpurgisnacht.de
facebook.com/friedvolle.walpurgisnacht
facebook.com/mauerpark.berlin

The eve of May Day was once more a lively party for young and old. It featured soap bubbles, prayers for peace, dance floors, live music, drumming, a campfire, and fire artistry.

Building on the success of last year, there was no ban on bottles and cans. The good cooperation between artists, Friends of Mauerpark, the police and the borough that has developed in recent years ensured that everything ran smoothly and everyone was able to enjoy a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere.

Mauerpark saw 12,000 visitors on 30 April this year. The combination of a sunny Mauerpark Sunday with the usual flea market and karaoke was the perfect prelude to the Walpurgis Night celebrations that went on into the small hours. The artists in the Mauerpark enchanted the crowds both during the day and in the evening.

The event was once more a powerful illustration of the transformation this inner-city public green space has undergone. This park is on the site of the former “death strip” – the no-man’s land that used to be part of the Berlin Wall. Once filled with watchtowers, armed border guards and attack dogs, it is now the city’s most popular place for young people from all over the world to meet, relax and have fun on Sundays.

Many thanks to Peter Pan with his “Love your enemies” initiative, to all the artists and to the volunteers without whose untiring commitment these celebrations would not have been possible.

A special thank you goes to the officials of the Borough of Pankow, to the Mauerpark flea market, the Mauersegler beer garden and, last but not least, to Ballon-Werft.

Photos and impressions on Flickr and on the Walpurgisnacht website.

The slogan for the celebrations is quite simple: come and join in!

Local people, visitors and creatives will get together to produce a very special evening that will include a campfire, music, fire juggling, soap bubbles and the opportunity to dance in the May. You can let your imagination run free in Mauerpark.

Some of the people joining us this year: Peter & Pat, Team-Fox, Zirkus Internationale, Fire Circles, Hope Center, Bearpit Karaoke, Dub der Guten Hoffnung, Herz & Leber, Puto Productions and 12 Volt – to mention just a few.

At 7 pm we will express our hopes and wishes for peace in the form an interfaith prayer. Everyone of any faith is welcome to join in.

Our celebrations will end just before midnight. After 1.00am, please spare a thought for the people who live near the park and would like to get a good night’s sleep!

Further information at:
www.friedvolle-walpurgisnacht.de
www.fb.com/friedvolle.walpurgisnacht

On 30th of April we will have a colorful and peaceful Dance into May at Mauerpark, with a bonfire, fire artistry and lots of music.

You’re a witch, fire artists, musicians or you have a band? Then be creative and be part of a diverse community to celebrate this special night!

More information:
www.friedvolle-walpurgisnacht.de
facebook.com/friedvolle.walpurgisnacht
facebook.com/mauerpark.berlin

For the last 13 years, the organisation Liebet Eure Feinde (Love your Enemy) – with the support of Freunde des Mauerparks e.V., the local authority, numerous artists and residents – have worked to make a Walpurgis Night celebration that is creative and peaceful.

The slogan for the celebrations is quite simple: come and join in!

The following artists and projects are supporting us: Peter & Pat, Team-Fox, Fire Circles, Dub der Guten Hoffnung, Johanna Zeul, 12 Volt, The OneWoman Company, u.v.m.

Film by Denis Martens – Walpurgisnacht 2013

The police and local authority have given us permission for a supervised fire. Please treat the fire and the fire artists with respect and keep a safe distance. No other fires are allowed to prevent damage to the park’s grass, which is already under stress.

At 7.00 pm we will express our hopes and wishes for peace in the form an interfaith prayer. Everyone of any faith is welcome to join in.

Our celebrations will end at midnight. After 1.00 am, please spare a thought for the people who live near the park and would like to get a good night’s sleep!

We look forward to enjoying a peaceful Walpurgis celebration with you.

Further information at: Mauerpark & Walpurgisnacht