The 10 best things to do in Prague this weekend: October 27–29, 2023

Oct. 28 is Independent Czechoslovak State Day, a public holiday during which several museums and buildings have free admission. All buildings of the National Museum are open for free as are certain collections of the National Gallery. The Straka Academy, the Czech Senate, including Valdštejn and Kolovrat palaces is open as is the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the Czech parliament, and Kramář's villa. For a full list of open days see here.

The city of Prague's administrative buildings will also be open to the public on Saturday. The mayor's residence, the Clam-Gallas Palace, the Škoda Lounges, and the New Town Hall all have tours and associated programs. Reservations are required. In addition, the Municipal House will be open to the public.

Meet Czech designers at the Dyzajn market Podzim, which takes place on Oct. 28 and 29 at Výstaviště Praha in Holešovice. In addition to clothes, jewelry, household objects, and other kinds of beautifully crafted handmade objects, the market also has food and drink stalls.

The 12th edition of the Argentinian Film Week takes place at Kino Lucerna until Oct. 30 with films such as Expiration Date on Oct. 27 (starring beloved Argentinian actress Natalia Oreiro), The Substitute on Oct. 28, and The Endless Journey: Searching for the Starry Sky on Oct. 29. 

The recently opened exhibition It Is a Painful Thing to Be Alone: We Are But One, which is at DOX until March 3, 2024, showcases the artworks of British artist Genesis Breyer P-Orridge, who challenged traditional notions of gender and self-identity. Genesis, along with their late wife Lady Jaye Breyer, underwent surgical and cosmetic modifications to merge their physical features and create a new entity called Project Pandrogyne. 

Divadlo Miloco is organizing The Beggars Halloween! on Oct. 28 at Divadlo Na Prádle with attendees encouraged to wear costumes for a shot upon entry and a chance to win a cash prize for the best costume. The event starts with the play A Beggars’ Opera and promises a wickedly entertaining experience, setting the tone for a spooktacular night.

The festival Mladí ladí jazz is celebrating its 15th anniversary in grand style by hosting a one-day indoor festival at Holešovická Tržnice on Oct. 28. The festival will feature nine hours of musical performances from artists such as British multi-instrumentalist Alfa Mist, American bassist MonoNeon, French-Algerian electronic group Acid Arab, singer-songwriter Yarah Bravo, and pianist Maria Chiara Argirò.

English singer King Krule will be at Forum Karlín on Oct. 27. On a different note, Hip-hop artist 50 Cent will be at O2 Arena on Oct. 28. Neofolk band Rome, with Blind Ruler Cursed Land as a supporting act, will be at Underdogs' on Oct. 28. On Oct. 28, Amber Broos will perform at Roxy a set of techno, tech-house and house music.

The Prague Car Festival on Oct. 28 and 29 presents tuning from across Europe, showcases Czech and foreign automobile and motorcycle racing and provides a comprehensive overview of the rich history of vehicles from the pre-war era to the present day. The annual event showcases a diverse range of unique vehicles, combining modified and sports cars, motorsport, and the historical development of automobiles and motorcycles. 

The Co-Extensive exhibition at Galerie Rudolfinum until Jan. 21, 2024, presents a collective of painters exploring the pervasive nature of images in our daily lives, highlighting the flattening of reality and the dominance of illusion. It also examines the influence of minimalism on contemporary art and the interplay between images and real space.