From Free Raves To Minimal Techno Heroes: The 5 Best May Day Parties In Berlin

Make your Labor Day a party day.

May Day in Berlin typically creates the perfect storm for partying. The annual holiday celebrates the achievements of workers across the world, bringing thousands of people to the streets to soak up the first long days of summer sun.

The good will extends to clubs, stores and bars around Berlin, which set up sound systems and provide incredible musical entertainment for those who wander the streets or participate in demonstrations across the Hauptstadt. Like every year, there’s a lot going on, so we’ve collected five essential events for your consideration.

1st of May Open Air w/ Ellen Allien, Frühschoppen Team, Darwin & Tomtomgroove, 10.00 – 22.00 @ Griessmühle

Few phrases evoke the spirit of a Berlin summer like “open air,” and few artists are better equipped to soundtrack these parties than Ellen Allien (pictured above). The BPitch Control head will headline a free outdoor party at Neukölln club Griessmühle with quality support from Deep Fried’s Frühschoppen Team and Griessmühle residents Darwin and Tomtomgroove. Enjoy some primo techno down by the banks of the canal in the club’s sprawling grounds. What’s better: if you’re not done dancing you can move inside at 10 p.m. to enjoy Acierate & Tham spinning all night long for the Fist of May party.

1st Of May Rémi’s Tour de Trouble #5 x Kollektiv Spieltrieb e.V. featuring Everything Is True DJs, Doc Sleep, Mike Shannon and more, 11.00 – 22.00 @ Oberhafenkantine Berlin

Another Open Air for your May 1 festivities, this time on the bank of the Spree. Taking over the massive 2000 square meter grounds of Oberhafenkatine, the fifth edition of Tour de Trouble brings you the best parties in the most unique locations possible. For May Day, the crew has cooked up an eclectic lineup of back-to-backs that includes artists from PAN and Hessle Audio, Room 4 Resistance, Studio dB and Cynosure. Expect a good dose of forward-thinking electronic music, uplifting house and swinging summer time grooves on a brilliant sound system.

Sound Metaphors Party featuring Castro Moore, Nemo, Eva Geist, Dr. Bauer and more, 15.00 – ? @ Sound Metaphors

Like the idea of spending your May 1 digging for records while listening to obscure grooves spun by some of the best in the business? Then you might want to make your way to Sound Metaphors record store in Kreuzberg for an intimate in-store. Featuring sets from the Sound Metaphors crew, plus appearances from minimal wave artist Eva Geist alongside Laurel & Thom and William, this will be a nice way to enjoy music in a more chilled out environment than a club.

Die Üblichen Verdächtigen featuring a “secret” lineup, 12.00 May 1 – 12.00 May 2 @ Club de Visionäre

Undoubtedly one of May 1’s worst kept secrets, Club de Visionäre opens its doors once again to the usual suspects. The lineup is officially unannounced, but a quick look at the event photo reveals a series of faces suspiciously similar to minimal heroes Ricardo Villalobos, Margaret Dygas, Zip and Sonja Monear. You might want to get down early to this one.

Circuit /|\ Breaker featuring DJ Stingray 313, Claire Morgan, Tred, Errorbeauty and more, 18.00 – Late @ Privateclub

What better way of finishing off your mad May Day celebrations with a bristling set of Detroit electro from the one and only DJ Stingray? The Detroit maestro will be spinning futuristic soundbites on a Funktion 1 alongside Claire Morgan, Tred and spfdj with all proceeds going to local charity Gangway e.V. Straßensozialarbeit Berlin.

Read more: The best techno parties happening in Berlin during the day