Festive lights and free tours: Prague honors Czechoslovak Independence Day on Oct. 28

The city of Prague will celebrate Czechoslovak Independence on Saturday, Oct. 28, by offering special tours and programming at several historic city buildings. According to Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda, all residents are warmly invited to participate in the celebrations and learn about the city's history.

Free guided tours will be available at the Mayor's residence, the Clam-Gallas Palace, and the New Town Hall at Mariánské náměstí. The Mayor's Residence, designed in the Art Deco style, has served ceremonial purposes since 1928. The Clam-Gallas Palace reopened last year after renovations and will give tours of its spaces.

The Škoda Salon Rooms have been restored to their original condition for visitors will also be made available to the public. The palace was built as an administrative building for the headquarters of Škoda plants in Pilsen by architect Pavel Janák in 1924-1926; the lounges were furnished as representative premises of the Škoda manufacturer.

At New Town Hall, puppet shows and musical performances will entertain crowds on Saturday afternoon in the assembly hall. The ground floor will host hands-on activities for children like 3D flight simulation, robotics, model car racing, and face painting. Police will offer mock driver's licenses and paramedics will give CPR demonstrations.

Czech flags will fly in the city center and Petřín Tower will be lit in the national colors. A commemorative tram celebrating 30 years of independence will also continue operating on city routes through the end of the year.

While reservations for tours of the Mayor's Residence and Clam-Gallas Palace are currently full, you can check the waiting list for last-minute cancellations.

Mayor Svoboda hopes the day's offerings provide a fitting way to honor the important anniversary and showcase Prague's historical heritage.

In addition to these events, a number of other government buildings will be open to the public as well. For a full list see here.