What to do in Berlin in mayo

Internationale Grüne Woche in late January at Messe Berlin — the world's largest food and farming fair, with tastings from half the planet under the Funkturm tower.

Berlinale in mid-February — one of the world's big three film festivals, with the Golden Bear and premieres at the Berlinale Palast on Potsdamer Platz.

ITB Berlin in early March — the world's largest travel trade fair fills the city with industry professionals and pushes hotels to capacity.

Gallery Weekend Berlin in late April — over fifty galleries open their best shows at once and the city becomes a contemporary-art capital.

Fête de la Musique on June 21 — the solstice fills every street corner with free concerts, from balconies to squares, well into the night.

Christopher Street Day in late July — one of Europe's biggest Pride celebrations, a march-party rolling from the Kurfürstendamm to the Brandenburg Gate.

Internationales Berliner Bierfestival in early August — the world's longest beer garden stretches 1.4 miles down Karl-Marx-Allee with hundreds of breweries.

Berlin Marathon on the last Sunday — the world's fastest course, where multiple world records have fallen, runs through the Brandenburg Gate on its final stretch.

Festival of Lights in mid-October — the Brandenburg Gate, the cathedral and dozens of façades glow nightly with artistic projections.

Anniversary of the fall of the Wall on November 9 — commemorations at the East Side Gallery and the Bernauer Straße memorial recall the night of 1989.

Christmas markets all over the city — the elegant Gendarmenmarkt, the medieval one in Spandau's old town and dozens more with Glühwein and crafts.