Hundreds of dancers will gather in the centre of Prague to celebrate Michael Jackson’s 51st birthday. The event, called King of Pop Forever, will start at 11am in front of the InterContinental hotel (where Jackson stayed during his HIStory tour in 1996). Other participants will dance to the song Beat It at other places around the city, which have not yet been confirmed. Organisers expect more than 1,000 people to attend. Anyone who likes dancing is welcome to join in. An accompanying event with Prague-based Jackson impersonators will follow from 3pm at Žluté lázně in Podolí.
Vyšehrátky is an event you should not miss, especially if you have kids. Held at Vyšehrad from 1 to 6 September, the festival will feature an interactive exhibit by Petr Nikl, Milan Cais and Ondřej Smeykal inside the walls of Vyšehrad fortress; a series of performances by Toxique, The Roads, Chaotic! and the “bejbypank” band Kašpárek v rohlíku; dance, street art and free juggling workshops.
The 6th Pražský jarmark International Folklore Festival has opened on Ovocný trh this week, featuring Czech and Moravian ensembles, as well as groups from Georgia, Israel, Indonesia and other countries. Today, all participating groups will march across Old Town. The programme for the following days (through Sunday) includes country dance, acrobatic rock-and-roll, honey wine and other Moravian specialties.
More food tasting and street art, including jugglers, clowns, sword fighters and fortune tellers, await you on Old Town Square every day through 7 September. The event is part of the celebrations marking the 400th anniversary of the death of Rabbi Loew, the legendary creator of Golem. A reasonable facsimile of Loew’s creation is also on display, as Jiří Všetečka’s photographs of Prague’s Jewish Town.
The flea market returns to náměstí Míru this Saturday. Looking to get rid of old clothing, furniture, used junk which someone else could still use, or looking to buy cheap stuff yourself? Reserve a spot at www.prazsketrhy.cz or come to náměstí Míru between 10am and 6pm.
To mark the end of the open-air season, a first-class fireworks show will be held on 28 August at the Velká Chuchle racetrack. A number of Czech bands will launch the programme at 5:30pm, followed by laser and pyrotechnic artists who will paint the sky. The evening’s highlight will be delivered by Germany’s laser artist Jürgen Markowitz.
Leonard Cohen returns to Prague after a year with his current band, led by bassist Roscoe Beck, and the repertoire he played on his last visit. The show takes place at O2 Arena on 29 August as part of Cohen’s 2009 World Tour.
Some of the best Czech jazz musicians will meet Monday at Palác Akropolis to celebrate 50th birthday of composer and bassist Jaromír Honzák and his new release, Animal Music. Among the guests are Iva Bittová, David Dorůžka, and the Eben brothers.
A band from Poland will play at Akropolis on Tuesday to commemorate the anniversary of the 1939 invasion of Poland by Germany. The show, called When You Say Freedom, will present, among others, Wojciech Waglewski (leading member of the 1980s band Voo Voo) and his band Fisz Emade, blending varied styles from rock to jazz, soul and hip-hop.
The latest Quentin Tarantino film Inglourious Basterds opens in Czech cinemas on Thursday. Kino Aero in Žižkov will show two of his older movies 28 August: Pulp Fiction at 5pm and Jackie Brown at 10:45pm.
Looking to leave the city for the weekend? You can test your strength and stamina in the weight throw, stone throw, long throw and farmer’s run at the ninth annual Highland Games, opening Saturday at Sychrov chateau, 90km north of Prague. The Highland Games offers entertainment for both young and old, with plays for children, exhibits of historical British vehicles, fencing competitions, Highland dancing, Celtic pipe troupes, and whiskey tasting.
