Panettone & Friends Festival: Berlin’s First Festival Dedicated to Italian and International Christmas Desserts

True Italian launches its new event dedicated to the symbol of Italian Christmas

November 5, 2024

On November 30th and December 1st, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Arena Market, the Panettone & Friends Festival brings to Berlin, for the very first time, an event dedicated to Christmas desserts from all over the world, with a special tribute to Panettone. In Italy, it is considered one of the most important pillars of Christmas: we all eat it every year and can never get enough of it. In the rest of the world, however, Panettone has only begun to become known in the last few years. Germany is one of the countries where this tradition is most established, so much so that the country has also become one of the main producers of this Italian specialty: in 2022 alone, 18,200 tons of Panettone were produced in Germany. Yet, despite its popularity, this Christmas delicacy has never had a proper showcase outside of Italy.

The first edition of the Panettone & Friends Festival was created to fill this gap, and to shine a spotlight on other great classics of the Christmas tradition from other countries, such as the Stollen from Germany and the Bûche de Noël from France.

Giomecca's Panettone, produced in Berlin

Panettone & Friends Festival: what to expect

Two days of masterclasses, show cooking performances, free tastings and Christmas street food from all over the world (but since we are "True Italian", the savory food will focus on Italian winter recipes). Special guests of the event will be the German National Panettone Team (World Championship Panettone) and Italian master pastry chefs from "Accademia Maestri del Lievito Madre e del Panettone". Giorgio Mecca, an Italian pastry chef based in Berlin and the captain of the German team at the Panettone World Championship in 2023, will present his latest creations, while other Berlin pastry chefs will create mouth-watering leavened (and non-leavened) delicacies.

But that is not all: the festival also features an exciting entertainment program with live music and DJ sets, the Christmas choir “Projekt KiezChor” and “tombola”: an Italian version of bingo with amazing prizes from the beginning to the end of the game. To get you in the right mood, at the entrance, after getting your ticket (4€ admission fee, free for those under 16), you will immediately receive a small sweet treat offered by Viani, together with a discount voucher to be used in their shops.

© Il Panettone di Fede, an Italian Panettone producer, coming to Berlin for the Panettone Festival

Panettone & Friends Festival: organizers and partners

The event is organized by True Italian - promoter of much-loved events such as the Pistachio Street Food Festival, the Italian Street Food Festival, the True Italian Pizza Week and the True Italian Pasta Week (upcoming edition from November 18th to 24th). Event sponsors include the Italian brands Limoncello DICAPRI and Sambuca Molinari, Viani, a premium Italian food retailer, Le Sinfonie flour, and the renowned confectionery brand Babbi. All have come together to celebrate good food and holiday traditions.

Media partners of the event are tipBerlin and Berlino Magazine.

© Diana La Pasticceria, an Italian Panettone producer, coming to Berlin for the Panettone Festival

Highlights of the festival:

Gastronomic Crafts: a journey through the flavors of artisanal Christmas desserts, from Panettone to international delights.
Street Food: in the outdoor area, stands and food trucks will offer many winter specialties, including savory ones.
Free masterclasses with tastings: exclusive events to learn and taste the secrets of traditional Panettone.
Children's area: a dedicated space for the little ones, with face painting and a free workshop for decorating Christmas biscuits.
Music entertainment: the festival will be enriched with DJ sets, live music and Christmas choirs to create a magical festive atmosphere.
Mega Italian Tombola: for a dose of authentic Italian fun, an Italian bingo with prizes for everyone, from the beginning to the end of the game