Ahoj, Monday! 5 things you need to know this week in Czechia

Renowned British composer Ilan Eshkeri (Stardust, 47 Ronin, Ghost of Tsushima) kicked off Westfield Chodov's Good Festival with a screening of his latest film, Space Station Earth. The movie will be shown again during the festival on May 7 at 10:00 a.m. and May 12 at 7:00 p.m. The immersive audiovisual experience, made in cooperation with NASA, is comprised of footage of Earth from space set to Eshkeri's original music. The Good Festival continues with accompanying events and shop discounts at Westfield Chodov through next weekend.

Banks and public administration institutions will close on May 8 as the Czech Republic observes Liberation Day, also known as Victory in Europe Day or V-E Day, marking the end of WWII in Europ. Most schools and universities will also be shut, and shops and department stores larger than 200 square meters in size also need to close. Pharmacies, gas stations, and shops at airports, railway stations (including Prague’s Hlavní nádraží), and hospitals remain open. Delivery services are not covered by the law and should operate as normal. 

Prague's much-loved metro system will officially turn 50 years old on May 9, following its launch after decades of preparation on May 9, 1974. A day earlier, on the May 8 public holiday, Prague’s metro will go retro as the Prague Public Transport Company marks 50 years since the opening of its underground network. To celebrate, vintage 1970s metro cars will run on line C from 9:19 a.m. until 4 p.m. and can be ridden for the price of a regular transport ticket or pass.

Prague and Ostrava will host this year’s IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships, which kick off on May 10 and last until May 26. Games in the Czech capital will be played in Prague 9’s O2 Arena. Czechia finds itself in Group A alongside top seeds Canada and Finland. The Czech team is the fourth-favorite to win the tournament behind the USA, Canada, and Sweden, but fans are hopeful given the home ice environment. Tickets are still available; find all ticketing information on the tournament's official site.

Billed as the world's largest innovation showcase, the Maker Faire Prague festival takes place at Prague Exhibition Grounds on the weekend of May 11-12. It's a family-friendly festival celebrating creativity and ingenuity, welcoming engineers, artists, scientists, and DIY enthusiasts. The event features workshops, lectures, and presentations of cutting-edge technologies. Attendees can explore hobbies, gadgets, and experiments while enjoying a fun fair atmosphere.