2016 was a challenging one, but we shouldn't submit ourselves to despair. Instead we choose to opt for joy and celebrating all the good things with the good folks. Here's our holiday best-of for those who are spending the last days of the year in Berlin.

Peace & love, now and always.

Happy 2017!

PS. We want to keep the list open. Stay tuned for more entries, and if you happen to know of a fun and offbeat NYE fiesta, do tell! We will be happy to receive suggestions to editors@bpigs.com, and share it with the rest.

 

WEDNESDAY 21.12

21.00 You Don't Really Know Me w/ Lotic, Dis Fig & Why Be @ Monarch

WHY: For all of those staying home for the holidays or just about to leave right before, the mid-week party series You Don't Really Know Me brings a special edition featuring several artists who have played YDRKM before to celebrate the coming of a new year. Once a month Monarch invites a producer, artist or DJ residing in Berlin to play music he/she would usually not play in a club. This time you'll get to enjoy obscure favorites and guilty pleasures of Lotic, Dis Fig & Why Be.

Monarch / Skalitzer Str. 134 (1st floor), 10999 Berlin, U Kottbusser Tor / more info

 

THURSDAY 22.12

18.00 Dystopian Session @ Spacehall

WHY: The versatile record store Spacehall throws a pre-holiday special session with the artists of Berlin's darling label Dystopian. The label is said to lluminate the „rough, melancholic, gloomy side of electronic dance music“, which comes as a welcome antidote to the excessive rotation of Mariah Carey and sugary Christmas carols in endless variations. The line-up is not revealed, and the idea is to simply show up for the surprise.

Spacehall / Zossener Str. 33-35, 10961 Berlin, U Gneisenaustr. / more info

 

20.00 Vice House Party @ Monarch

WHY: Berlin can become a lonely ice desert in Christmas time, when all the Berlin-based beings flock back to their nest of origin and reveal how vast and empty the city is without non-Berliners. For all who do stick around through holidays, pre-parties are a nice way to have your chosen family gathered before it scatters and celebrate together whatever you stand for. If it happens to resonate with Vice House Party motto („drink the pain away“), join this merry event and cheer to the background of live shows by The World Domination, Sick Hyenas and Mallorca + DJ sets by Preller, Toney The Lonely and Sigourney Skywalker.

Monarch / Skalitzer Str. 134 (1st floor), 10999 Berlin, U Kottbusser Tor / more info

 

SATURDAY 24.12

23.00 Homopatik – „The Resurrerection“ @ Zur Wilden Renate

WHY: If your idea of the perfect Christmas party is to let loose completely in a 33-hour club magic, then there is definitely no better place than the wonderland called Homopatik. Last and the most festive of the year, with a very special secret line-up, festive X-mas darkroom and other nice surprises under the figurative Christmas tree.

Zur Wilden Renate / Alt-Stralau 70, 10245 Berlin, S Ostkreuz / more info

 

THURSDAY 29.12

23.59 Boo Hoo @ Südblock

WHY: Swan Meat, Ni-Kü, Bonaventure, Lakuti, Dis Fig b2b DJ Ziúr & Joey Hansom. If you haven't partied with them yet, it's  the perfect time to discover their talent. A killer line up that will make the awkward week between Christmas and NYE totally bearable. In fact, it might even make for the best last party of 2016, and make up for a potentially failed NYE fiesta (as it often starts with high expectations and ends with unexpected highs).

Südblock / Admiralstr. 1-2, 10999 Berlin, U Kottbusser Tor / more info

 

FRIDAY 30.12

23.59 Finest Friday @ Berghain

WHY: An essential accessory for partying in Berghain is deep hate for tourists, even while you're  prolonging the 4-hour NYE queue with your 3 cousins first time visiting „Berlino“. So if you really want to stay true to your favorite club – avoid the blockbuster weekend altogether. If you also really want your last big party of the year in Berghain fashion, we warmly recommend going for Finest Friday with amazing line-up: Emptyset, Group A, Rabih Beaini, Aurora Halal, Inga Mauer, and Wolfgang Tillmans who as of recently operates in the music domain.

Berghain / Am Wriezener Bahnhof, 10243 Berlin, S+U Warschauer Str. / more info

 

SATURDAY 31.12

20.00 NYE Marathon @ Spektrum

WHY: Spektrum throws another NYE performance marathon running to midnight. The rules are simple: in 4 hours, 12 performances of all kinds (sound, body, video, dance, etc) – 20 minutes each – take place at 3 tables (1 setting up - 1 setting down - 1 playing). It's an open door event; bring friends, food, and share with the others (drinks provided at the bar).  After the midnight, new year begins with party;  music by DJ Jean Pierre (Viktoria Records). If you wish to participate, reach out at info@spektrumberlin.de mentioning: type of performance, tech-rider & links to your work.

Spektrum / Burknerstr. 12, 12047 Berlin, U Schonleinstr. / more info

 

21.00 GOЯKI New Year’s Eve @ Maxim Gorki Theater

WHY: Berlin’s party avant-garde is set to open every last one of the Maxim Gorki Theater doors to the public. The main hall will be cleared of all its seats, the stage turned into a DJ pulpit, the foyer transformed into a live performance range, the canteen will be at the heart of the resistance and the garden will cater to all your culinary needs around a crackling fireplace, before the fireworks light up the sky at midnight. The line-up consists of 20 DJs & artists; make sure to wear dancing shoes and activate your inner theatre star.

Maxim Gorki Theater / Am Festungsgraben 2, 10117 Berlin, S+U Friedrichstr. / more info

 

22.00 Milk The Kraken - Silvester @ Urban Spree

WHY: Presented by MILK ME and one of Berlin's leading electronic festival Krake Festival, Urban Spree invites you to celebrate the end of the year with music hosted over 3 floors and garden open air areas, DJs & live acts, visual artists, pyrotechnic performances, food, the Warschauer Str. legendary fireworks spot and too many drinks.

Urban Spree / Revaler Str. 99, 10245 Berlin, U Warschauer Str. / more info