The best things to do in Prague this week, August 19–25

Ongoing

The Letní Letná festival of new circus and theater continues all week (and until Aug. 31) in tents in northwest corner of Letná park. Many but not all of the performances have no language barrier, and there are shows and activities for children. Highlights this week include "Don't Feed the Alligators" by France's Compagnie 100 Issues. More info is on the festival website and Facebook.

The group exhibition Planted in the Body ends Aug. 22 at Meetfactory. International artists use various media to examine plants as sources and carriers of knowledge. More info on the Meetfactory website.

Out of town

The 55th Karlovy Vary Film Festival takes place in the spa town on Aug. 20–28. Guests this year include Sir Michael Caine, Johnny Depp, and Ethan Hawke. Many films will have their world or international premieres. More info on the festival website.

The Film Noir Festival runs to Aug. 22 at Český Šternberk castle, showing American crime films from the 1940s and ’50s, Czech and Indian films inspired by film noir, a retrospective of films from the Coen brothers, and other events. More info on the festival website and Facebook.

Thursday, Aug. 19

London-based avant-garde producer and vocalist Leifur James will be at the roof of Radost on Aug. 19 at 7 pm. He creates experimental jazz soundscapes in his live shows. His music video for ''Angel In Disguise'' was nominated for Best Experimental at the Berlin Music Video Awards Eva Porating opens the show, which is presented by Mladí ladí jazz and Heartnoize Promotion. More info on Facebook.

A Rage Against the Machine cover band in 2000 morphed into the alternative group Gaia Mesiah. The band often addresses ecological and political issues in their lyrics. They will be at the Lucerna Music Bar Open Air stage at Ledárny Braník on Aug. 19 at 8 pm. More info on the venue website and Facebook.

The international Roztoč fest 2021, aka Prague Multi-Circus Festival, will be at Cukrkandl, the cultural space on the site of the former sugar factory in Modřany. The festival runs Aug. 19–22, with circus and musical acts from across Europe. More info is on the festival website and Facebook.

Authors invite you to pluck some fruit from the Imaginary Gardens, a poetry reading in English featuring poets Lucien Zell, Calvin Rambler, Tim Rodgers, and David Bubna-Litic. Cellist Jan Skrdlik and guitarist Milan Kramarovic will provide music. It takes place at Grébovka Vila in Havlíčkovy sady on Aug. 19 starting at 7 pm. Tickets available at the venue. More info on Facebook.

CAMP’s film series focused on the urban environment turns to sci-fi with the 1982 detective film Blade Runner, which is set in the then-futuristic 2019. Harrison Ford plays one of his iconic roles are Decker, who is tracking down genetically engineered humanoids. The free outdoor screening is Aug. 19 at 8:30 pm. More info on the CAMP website.  

Friday, Aug. 20

The family oriented festival Pohádkoland will be at Výstaviště in Holešovice on Aug 21 and 22, starting at 10 am each day and running to around 6 or 7 pm. There will be shows for children, activities, completions, costumed characters and more. Children up to and including 3 years of age are free of charge when accompanied by an adult, and children with disabilities have free entry. More info on the event website and Facebook.

Practice your swing dance moves at the weekly Swingové tančírny na Šesťáku, at the Prague 6 cultural space on Vítězné náměstí on Aug. 20 from 5 pm to 9 pm. The band this week is Libor Šmoldas Swing Trio. More info on Facebook.

The roof of Lucerna will host Releasing Gin and Tonic From the Bottle. The Czech version of the name – Vypouštíme Džin(a)Tonic z lahve – is pun for releasing a genie as well. Five types of gin and other beverages will be available. There will be a DJ, and the new mascot of the roof will be presented. The event will be on Aug. 20 and 21, from 4 pm to 10 pm. More info on Facebook.

Saturday, Aug. 21

Help celebrate brewery Pivovar Matuška’s 12th birthday at the beer garden Dva kohouti in Karlín starting at noon on Aug. 21. There will be 15 types of beer including a special birthday beer, and food from an outdoor grill. Organizers also promise a big musical surprise. More info on Facebook.

See modern opera on the cinema screen with a broadcast of Gershwin’s folk classic Porgy and Bess, recorded at the Met in February 2020, just before theaters in New York had to close. The show contains the songs “Summertime,” “It Ain't Necessarily So,” “Bess, You Is My Woman Now,” and “I Got Plenty o’ 'Nuttin’.” The almost-four-hour show with two intermissions is at kino Světozor on Aug. 21 at 6:45 pm. More info on the cinema website. and Metropolitan Opera website.

Longtime expats Mark Baker and Max Munson will read from their new books at the Globe Bookstore and Cafe on Aug 21 at 5 pm. Baker recently published his take on the late 1980s and early 1990s in "Time of Change" (Čas promen), which has been published in Czech. Munson muses on the joys of swimming in "Diving Back In." More info on the Globe website and Facebook. 

The Jazz on the Roof series continues with Allison Wheeler Quartet, named for the California native who sings lead vocals. She has been pursuing jazz since she left art school in 2015. The concert takes place Aug. 21 at 4 pm on the roof of Jazz Dock, but will be go indoors in case of bad weather. More info on the Jazz Dock website and Facebook.

Sunday, Aug. 22

A Seafood and Prosecco Picnic takes place in Grébovka Park on Aug. 22 from noon to 8 pm. Grilled squid, calamari, shrimp, and other specialties will be on offer. People should bring their own picnic blankets. More info on Facebook.

Vintage treasures can be found at the flea market at Meetfactory, on Aug. 22 from noon to 5 pm. Not only is buying vintage trendy but it is better for the environment. More info on Facebook.

There is another chance to catch Czech pop star Aneta Langerová performing from her album “Dvě slunce” and other songs. She will be at the summer stage (Letní scéna) in Vyšehrad, located near the front of the Sts. Peter and Paul Basilica, on Aug. 22 at 8 pm. More info on the Studio Dva website.

You can see behind the scenes in both the Estates Theatre and the Historical Building of the National Theatre on Aug. 22. Both offer guided tours in English, with the Estates Theatre at 2 pm, and the National Theatre at 2 pm and 3:30 pm. More info on the National Theatre website.

The English-language performance Those Who Speak For Themselves presents life stories of 12 women telling their real stories, but the audience decides what parts they want to see and in what order. The theatrical installation, on Aug. 22 at 8 pm, is followed by a debate with the creators and protagonists of the performance. More info on the Archa website.

Monday, Aug. 23

The cross-genre festival Vineyard Evenings 2021 (Viniční podvečery 2021) runs to Sept 2 with six events. Admission is voluntary, though people who make donations online can reserve a seat. The opening is an “opera gala without the gala” on Aug. 23 at 6:30 pm, featuring classical music in relaxed setting. One Aug. 24 at 6:30 pm there is a program of Bulgarian and Arab music called Hudba dálek (Faraway Music). More info on the event website and Facebook.

Tuesday, Aug. 24

Czech superstar band Lucie will be at Koupaliště Džbán in Prague 6 on Aug. 24 at 8 pm. The band, led by David Koller, has been around since the late 1980s, bit took an eight-year creative break in 2004–12. Their hits include “Medvídek,” “Panic,” “Sen,” “Amerika,” and “Chci zas v tobě spát.” Ticket info on the band’s website.

The Jazz Meets World festival presents Jan Garbarek Group at Forum Karlín on Aug. 24 at 8 pm. Garbarek, who has Polish roots, grew up in Norway and has been recording since the mid 1960s. He was one of the first to draw attention to the Scandinavian jazz scene. More info on the festival website and Facebook.

Wednesday, Aug. 25

The Prague Symphony Orchestra will play the annual FOK in the Wallenstein Garden concerts on Aug. 25 and 26 at 5 pm, with voluntary admission. The program is the same both evening, with works by Beethoven, Dvořák, and Tchaikovsky followed by popular film music from “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Game of Thrones,” and “Dinner for Adele.” More info on the FOK website and Facebook.