Berlin 300-capacity pilot rave to take place this weekend

A 300-capacity pilot rave is taking place in Berlin this weekend, with a view of collecting more evidence about the impact of music events on COVID-19 transmission and infections. The party is set for Revier Südost on Sunday 13th June. 

Ellen Allien will headline the session, which runs from 2PM to 10PM local time. Anyone interested has until 3PM on Thursday 10th June to enter a raffle and names for the dance floor will be selected at random, with tickets allocated for free. 

Anyone participating must have been fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior, or have a negative COVID-19 test result taken the same day. Those who have recovered from the disease in the past six months are also eligible to attend due to the likelihood of antibodies still being present. 

The open air gathering, which takes control of the new venue from the team behind Griessmuehle, has been set up by the interdisciplinary organisation Hygiene Concepts and Infection Protection In The Event Industry (Hygieia).

This is the latest in a string of COVID-19 trial events. Late-June will see Ibiza’s Hard Rock Hotel host 2000 of the island’s key workers for a test party, while concerts and ticketed gatherings in Spain and the UK have so far delivered encouraging results. 

If the Berlin trial is successful, it will add to mounting evidence that nightlife can return safely with precautionary measures in place. Nevertheless, the city’s Club Commission has already said it does not expect ‘normality’ until late-2022.

Currently, the German capital has strict restrictions in place. These include limiting enclosed spaces to a maximum of 100 people (500 if all pandemic hygiene measures are approved by the administration), outdoor capacities limited to a maximum of 500 (with mandatory testing for more than 250), and a ban on alcohol sales between 12AM and 5AM.

(Photo via Revier-Südost Facebook)