Berlin's Chili Fest, Christmas at the Tierpark, and Berghain Beats: A Winter Weekend in the German Capital

Welcome to Things to Do in Berlin with your globe-trotting sports nut, Oly Bennet! It’s Sunday, December 7, 2025, and Berlin is serving classic early-winter vibes: chilly, around single digits, grey skies, and perfect “hat, scarf, and one more glühwein” weather. The city’s in full festive swing, with Christmas lights, markets, and events stacked like a Jenga tower of fun.

Let’s kick off with today’s hottest happenings. Over in Neukölln at Kalle Halle, the Berlin Chili Fest: Spicy Christmas Market is turning the holiday season into a full-on heat wave, with hot sauce tastings, craft stalls, kids’ chili art, face painting, food stands, and even chili and spicy wings eating competitions. Berlin.de’s weekend tips highlight a city packed with seasonal magic: Christmas at the Tierpark is lighting up Europe’s largest zoo with glowing paths and illuminated Friedrichsfelde Palace, while the Christmas Garden at the Botanical Garden transforms the grounds into a fairytale of light installations and magic forests. VisitBerlin’s event calendar points families to theatre for babies at the Humboldt Forum’s “Scoop” show around late morning, a sweet starter before nap time and hot chocolate. Tonight, night owls and music lovers can dive into the club cosmos: JamBase lists The Army, The Navy playing Berghain at 8 pm, while Hole 44 hosts Billa Joe with guests Bobbyezz and MaRLo, also at 8.

On the culture front, Museumsportal Berlin shows exhibitions running all day, including contemporary art at galleries across town, and an afternoon event at the Jewish Museum Berlin, where their calendar lists “ANOHA for Adults” at 2:45 pm, a playful, design-focused look at their children’s museum for grown-ups. Berlin.de also features “Uni Form: Broken Twill – Berlin Edition,” a fashion-and-identity-inspired exhibition that started as a project in Seoul and is now on show today in the city.

Zooming into city life: VisitBerlin’s ongoing listings confirm that Berlin’s winter markets are fully rolling, from neighborhood flea markets like the Friedrichshagen market to design and art markets such as the Weddingmarkt, where around 100 local artists sell seasonal creations. Public transport is typically reliable on Sundays but always leave extra time—S-Bahn and U-Bahn lines can be busy around major Christmas hotspots and evening concerts.

Here’s your Oly game plan for today:
Start with a lazy stroll along the East Side Gallery, then warm up with coffee in Kreuzberg. Swing by a Christmas market—Gendarmenmarkt’s elegant setup or a smaller, local one in Neukölln. Hit the Berlin Chili Fest for spicy snacks and people-watching worthy of its own documentary. In the afternoon, dip into a museum or gallery—pick something small and focused so you don’t burn out. At night, choose your adventure: lights and romance at the Botanical Garden’s Christmas Garden, family magic at Christmas at the Tierpark, or go full Berlin and disappear into Berghain or Hole 44 for live music.

Local tip: Berliners treat red-and-green “Ampelmann” crossing lights like sacred sports rules—if the little man’s red, even at 2 a.m., most people wait. Want to blend in? Stay on the sidewalk and cross only on green, especially if kids are around; Berliners are serious about being good role models.

Tomorrow, the city keeps the energy high with more Christmas action, ongoing exhibitions, and another stacked schedule of concerts and cultural events. Tune in next time for fresh tips, new openings, and the quirkiest happenings from Berlin’s winter playground.

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