On Saturday evening of August 7, 3,000 Berliners celebrated a special event on the runway of the former airport at Berlin Tegel and sending a message to the world: “Berlin loves you!“
By arranging 1,018 dinner tables on an area 800 meters long and 60 meters wide this is the message they form.
With it Berlin, a magnet for tourism and trade fairs, is setting the scene for reopening business and looking forward to hosting events and visitors again. At the same time, Berliners are saying goodbye to Tegel Airport, which for many years was a gateway to the world and will now become the innovative “Urban Tech Republic“.
Burkhard Kieker, managing director of visitBerlin said, “Today, together with many Berliners, we are happy to be sending out a welcome message – and from a very special place, on the runway at what used to be Tegel Airport. Berlin is back and invites visitors to enjoy the city of freedom.“
Martin Ecknig, CEO of Messe Berlin said, “The Berlin Freedom Dinner is a great example of Berlin’s determination to reopen. Together, we have put together a unique open-air event. It is for an experience such as this that we at Messe Berlin are well prepared – and so it makes me all the happier when the sum of many parts becomes one, and the world can see our welcome message: BERLIN LOVES YOU!“
Impressions of the event under the hashtag #berlinlovesyou
Both the organisers and guests can post their impressions of the event under the hashtag #berlinlovesyou on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Governing Mayor of Berlin Michael Müller and Senator for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises Ramona Pop had extended an invitation to this special evening event, together with Messe Berlin and visitBerlin. The supporting music and dance programme featured more than 50 artists, including Andrej Hermlin & Family, Peter Fox’s show drummers BÄM, the tap dancers TAP Connection, as well as other dance and music acts from Berlin. A special hygiene concept was established to ensure a safe event. For more information about Berlin: visitBerlin.com
