Marzahn-Hellersdorf Children's and Youth Festival

Festival with a Mission

The Marzahn-Hellersdorf Children's and Youth Festival was founded in 2008 by the "Förderkreis für künstlerische Jugendarbeit e.V." (Association for the Support of Artistic Youth Work) in collaboration with the Marzahn-Hellersdorf District Office. The idea is to provide a stage for young people from the district, foster artistic talents, build self-confidence, and strengthen social skills. Unlike commercial talent shows, the focus here is not on competition, but on interaction and empowerment.

What Happens on Stage

Three festival days present a packed program including:

• Dance and Choreography: Hip-hop crews, show dance groups, ballet, contemporary dance, K-pop cover groups (especially popular with the 12–18 age group)
• Singing: Choirs from schools and clubs, solo singing performances, band appearances
• Acrobatics and Show Sports: Cheerleading, show gymnastics, parkour demonstrations
• Workshops: Dance, singing, and theatre workshops, often as interactive sessions for the audience
• Show Dance Competition: A competitive format with a jury, in several age categories

Location: Alice-Salomon-Platz

The venue is Alice-Salomon-Platz in Hellersdorf – an open square in front of the Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences, lined with prefabricated buildings and small retail shops. The square is named after Alice Salomon (1872–1948), a Berlin pioneer of social work. For three days, the festival transforms the square into an open-air stage with a main stage, side stages, and a street food mile.

Patronage and Support

The event is patronized by Gordon Lemm, the District Councillor for Youth, Sports, and Family in the Marzahn-Hellersdorf District Office. The District Office supports the festival as part of its youth work initiatives, while the "Förderkreis" handles the primary volunteer work. Admission is free everywhere – low-threshold access is part of the concept.

Marzahn-Hellersdorf as a Youth District

Marzahn-Hellersdorf is one of Berlin's youngest districts in terms of average age, with many young families and a diverse school landscape featuring numerous students from various migration backgrounds (Russian, Vietnamese, Polish, Arabic). The festival reflects this diversity: dance groups with Kurdish folklore elements perform alongside K-pop cover crews from Hellersdorf, and Berlin bands with Syrian members share the stage with classical choirs from the district.