The best things to do in Prague this week, July 29–August 4

Thursday, July 29

The video essay Los Angeles Plays Itself uses movie clips shows how the city has been depicted on screen. It will be shown at the outdoor cinema at the Center for Architecture and Metropolitan Planning (CAMP), located next to the Emauzy Monastery, as part of its series on architecture in film. It screens July 29 at 9 pm on the lawn, or indoors if it rains. More info is on the CAMP website and Facebook.

You can find some bargains at Vintage Pop-Up  at Elpíčko garden bar and cafe in Palmovka from 4 pm to 9 pm on July 29, with music by Haider Jafri from 6:30 pm to 8 pm. More info on Facebook.

Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream will be performed take place in English in the garden of Prague Castle on July 29 and 30 at 8:30 pm as part of the annual Summer Shakespeare Festival (Letní Shakespearovské slavnosti). The more obscure passages have been updated to make the play more accessible to to the modern ear. This production will feature Czech surtitles as well. Read our story here, and find out more on the festival website.

Friday, July 30

Manifesto Florenc is hosting the two-day Summer Beats Festival, on July 30 at 5 pm to midnight and July 31 from noon to midnight. There will be dance music, colorful cocktails, hair braiding, a pop up macrame stand with headbands, and more. Rojax, Housecontrolcz, Donna Bucks, and Bambi Dee are the featured artists. More info on the Manifesto website and Facebook.

Saturday, July 31

 See award-winning student films at Echoes of Famufest 37 on Štvanice ostrov on July 31 from 4 pm to midnight. There will also be music, a flea market, chill zone, and more. Events are at the too-cool-for-school hipster hangout Bike Jesus and the new swimming area Baden Baden. More info on Facebook.

Buy clothes, accessories, and household items directly form the makers at Dyzajn market Prázdniny. The summer edition of the big open-air market will be held July 31 and Aug. 1 from 10 a, to 6 pm both days at  Výstaviště Holešovice. More infor on the event website and Facebook.

The annual Castle and Chateau Night (Hradozámecká noc) takes places across the Czech Republic on July 31. Many venues will have special programs in the evenings, with costumed guides, theatrical presentations, period music, wine tastings, and similar attractions. In most cases, an admission fee still applies. Three venues in Prague are participating: Chvalský zámek, gardens under Prague Castle, and Invalidovna. The festival center this year is hrad Pernštejn. More info is on the NPÚ website.

Sunday, Aug. 1

There is yet another chance to see the horror film The Lighthouse on the roof of Radost. The 2019 film starring Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson started out as an adaptation of an Edgar Allan Poe story, though the final result bears little resemblance. The film will be shown Aug. 1 at 9 pm at Radost, located at nám. Winstona Churchilla 1800/2 in Prague 3. More info at the Lucerna cinema website and Facebook.

Monday, Aug. 2

The 11th edition of Prague Pride runs Aug. 2–8, but without a parade. People can look forward to over 100 events in the Pride Village at Střelecký ostrov, the Pride House in Kasárna Karlín, and Pride Life at the Život 90 building. The festival’s grand opening on Aug. 2 requires tickets, but Prague 1 residents can get in free. There are sporting events, films, exhibitions, picnics, workshops, performances, and more. Most events are free. More info is on the festival website and Facebook. 

Open House Praha runs Aug. 2–8, and while the main program of tours of architectural spaces is Aug. 7–8, the side program starts earlier with some walks, tram rides, a boat ride, and discussions. These are aimed at a Czech-speaking audience. More details are on the festival website and Facebook.

Summer Festivities of Early Music continues with La Spagna, an evening of court and dance music of Spanish renaissance. Capella de Ministrers will play a program of 16th and 17th century music at the garden of Troja Chateau on Aug. 2, starting at 8 pm. More info on the festival website.

Losers Cirque Company continues performing new circus shows in the garden of St. Agnes Cloister (Klášter sv. Anežky České) with the Competion (Konkurz) on Aug. 2 and 3, and Collapse (Kolaps) on Aug. 4 and 6. Shows are at 8 pm. More info is on the company's website.

Heavy metal band Arakain will be at the Lucerna Music Bar open-Air stage at Ledárny Braník on Aug. 2. Gates open at 5 pm, and the music starts at 8 pm. The influential Czech band formed in 1982, but guitarist Jiří Urban is the only original member. More info on the event website and Facebook.

Tuesday, Aug. 3

The new sci-fi thriller Voyagers will be at the drive-in Autokino Strahov on Aug. 3 at 9:30 pm. It is also currently in multiplexes. The film stars Tye Sheridan, Lily-Rose Depp, Fionn Whitehead, and Colin Farrell in a tale of young astronauts sent on a multigeneration mission to colonize a planet. More info on the Autokino Strahov website and Facebook.

Music inspired by Czech folklore will be played by Hradišťan & Jiří Pavlica at the Skautský institut on Old Town Square on Aug. 3 at 7 pm. More info on the group’s website and Facebook.

Wednesday, Aug. 4

Prague Pride continues with a night of LGBTQ+ oriented stand-up comedy called The Gay Agenda: I'm Coming Out! at the Globe Bookstore and Cafe on Aug. 4 at 7 pm. Comedians will share their personal stories and more, in English. Details including ticket info is on the festival website and Globe website.

Ongoing

Celebrate the Tokyo Olympics in Prague at the Olympic Festival Park in Stromovka in Prague 7. The center will be open daily from 9 am to 8 pm until the Olympics ends on Aug. 8. More information is on the venue website. See our story here.