Lichterfest Rudow

Berlin's Second-Oldest School Becomes a Stage

The Alte Dorfschule Rudow is a Berlin special: built in 1890 in the neo-Gothic style of red brick, it is the second-oldest surviving school building in Berlin after the main building of the Köllnisches Gymnasium. Today it is no longer used as a school but as a cultural centre — supported by the association Alte Dorfschule Rudow e.V. It hosts concerts, open-air events, art exhibitions, and music and adult education courses.

Lights, Concert, and Punch

The Lichterfest is the autumn event of the Alte Dorfschule. Stalls line up in front of the brick building — mulled wine, bratwurst, mushrooms, sweets, children's punch. The Gropiuslerchen, the best-known children's and youth choir in southern Berlin, will sing Christmas and Advent songs at 6 p.m. At 7 p.m., the flashlight concert for all ages follows — the lights are turned off, the audience holds flashlights, and everyone sings and makes music together. An unusually poetic Berlin tradition.

Rudow, Neukölln, and Berlin's Village Identity

Rudow is the southernmost district of Neukölln and one of the Berlin neighbourhoods most strongly associated with a village identity. The Alte Dorfschule is located on the Alt-Rudow village green — the medieval village green that formed the centre of the historic farming village. The Lichterfest is one of several neighbourhood festivals held annually in the area — along with the Rudower Weihnachtsmeile in December and sporadic summer concerts at the Alte Dorfschule.