On October 31, the Prague Market (Holešovická tržnice) will once again come alive with the vibrant colors, sounds, and flavors of Mexico as it hosts its third annual Día de los Muertos.

From 11 a.m. until nearly midnight, the event promises a festive atmosphere with activities for all ages.

The heart of the festival will be its outdoor Gastro Zone, offering authentic Mexican cuisine. Visitors will have the chance to taste popular street foods, such as tacos, churros, and burritos.

For those looking for something more unique, there will be traditional pan de muerto paired with rich hot chocolate—a classic treat during Día de los Muertos.

Hall 13 will host a market with Mexican products, crafts, and activities for all ages.

From 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., visitors can make masks, get their faces painted in Mexican designs, or create flower crowns and headdresses. The craft zone offers a way for both kids and adults to explore Mexican traditions and participate in the holiday’s customs.

Music to Celebrate

Día de los Muertos will feature performances by Mariachi Azteca de Praga, both at the Mexican pop-up and in Hall 13. DJ Gadjo will also perform, bringing his beats to keep the atmosphere lively throughout the day.

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The Smetana Hall of the Municipal House will be the setting for an extraordinary musical experience.

On October 30, 2024, at 7:30 p.m., a special concert will take place to celebrate the 140th anniversary of Antonín Dvořák’s famous cantata “The Spectre’s Bride”.

This project will feature one of the leading Czech orchestras, the Prague Philharmonia, under the baton of renowned conductor Petr Altrichter.

The atmosphere will be further enhanced by the performance of the Czech Philharmonic Choir Brno, led by acclaimed choirmaster Petr Fiala.

The solo parts will be performed by Czech artists – soprano Veronika Rovná, baritone Roman Janál, and tenor Richard Samek.

The cantata The Spectre’s Bride is one of the most significant works of 19th-century Czech music. Antonín Dvořák composed it to the text of a ballad by Karel Jaromír Erben, which is part of his famous collection Kytice. The work tells a dramatic and mystical story of love, death, and supernatural forces.

The Spectre’s Bride was originally commissioned for the Birmingham Musical Festival in 1885, but Dvořák insisted that the premiere take place in Bohemia first, and only afterward in England.

The intention to perform and record The Spectre’s Bride in concert, with a CD release and a limited edition of vinyl records, was born out of the need to revive this masterpiece, which has been rarely performed in recent years.

The last recording was made twenty years ago, and to date, there are only four recordings with exclusively Czech performers (1961, 1994, 1996, 2001).

The musical direction will be in the hands of Jiří Gemrot, with sound engineering by Karel Soukeník.

Tickets for this unique concert are available on the GoOut website.

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One of Prague’s most overlooked areas, Palmovka, is about to undergo a major transformation.

The Akva development company has acquired land from the Prague Transport Company in the vicinity of the Palmovka bus station, with plans to build a brand-new complex featuring both apartments and retail spaces.

The current bus station, which has fallen into severe disrepair, will soon give way to modern construction. The project will include residential units, commercial outlets, and an entirely new public square named after renowned Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal.

Before construction begins, the first phase will involve the demolition of the existing terminal, which covers an area equivalent to two football fields.

Once cleared, the development will bring a combination of apartments, shops, and essential services to the neighborhood.

A standout feature of the project will be the revitalization of Bohumil Hrabal Square, which is designed to breathe new life into the area. In addition, the plan calls for the restoration of the nearby synagogue and significant improvements to surrounding public spaces.

“This is an exceptional opportunity to reshape an area that has long been neglected,” says Filip Titl, an architect from UNIT Architects.

“Few places in Prague are as deserving of transformation as Palmovka. Its potential is enormous, comparable to the revival we’ve seen in Anděl, Smíchov,” he added.

Titl also highlighted Palmovka’s strategic importance, noting that more than 60,000 people pass through it daily. “The quality of public spaces and facilities should reflect this level of activity.”

The Palmovka project promises to revitalize this once-forgotten part of the city, transforming it into a vibrant hub for both residents and visitors.

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The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ) has issued a warning for strong winds expected to hit the country starting Sunday night.

The alert will primarily affect the Moravian-Silesian region, as well as parts of the Liberec and Olomouc regions. The wind warning will expand to cover most of the country, with the exception of the southeastern tip.

According to the forecast, the winds will reach speeds of up to 65 kilometers per hour in some areas, potentially snapping trees and causing minor structural damage. By Sunday evening, the winds are expected to subside.

“It is advisable to secure windows and doors, remove or fasten any loose objects outdoors, and secure greenhouses,” the ČHMÚ urged.

Residents should also consider postponing hiking trips along mountain ridges, as temperatures will be low, and wind speeds could reach up to 90 kilometers per hour in higher elevations.

Rainfall may accompany the strong winds in certain areas, particularly in the northern parts of Bohemia by Sunday afternoon. Meteorologists also warned that snowfall could occur on mountain ridges such as the Krkonoše above 1,100 meters.

Safety Tips as Winds Approach

To prevent accidents or damage, the ČHMÚ recommends securing outdoor furniture, garden tools, and any other loose items that could become dangerous in the wind. Residents in higher altitude areas should be extra cautious, as conditions will be more extreme with the combination of cold temperatures, high winds, and possible snow.

This weather event highlights the importance of preparedness for sudden shifts in the weather, especially during autumn, when such occurrences become more common.

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In a bid to reduce public disturbances and curb alcohol tourism, Prague officials are preparing to ban organized pub crawls at night.

Pub crawls, where tourists move from one bar to another led by specialized agencies, have caused increasing frustration for local residents, particularly in Prague 1.

On Monday, city councilors will review a proposed amendment that could introduce this ban, aimed at restoring peace during the night hours.

Why Prague 1 Wants Change

Residents in the city center have long been complaining about the chaos these pub crawls bring. According to locals, the groups—often intoxicated—disturb the quiet of the night as they pass through residential neighborhoods, particularly under apartment windows.

If passed, the amendment would prohibit organized pub crawls between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., while allowing traditional guided tours.

“These activities place a significant burden on municipal services, such as cleaning and public safety, which strains both the budget and personnel of the city,” the reasoning report for the proposal explains.

The draft proposal notes that excessive alcohol consumption and the associated unruly behavior may give an impression of a city that lacks sophistication, which could deter potential visitors, investors, and even residents.

“Alcohol-fueled pub crawls diminish the perception of safety and may discourage both locals and tourists from frequenting certain areas, which could lead to a decline in the city’s reputation,” the document adds.

The Struggle Against Alcohol Tourism

Prague 1 has long been grappling with the rise of “alcohol tourism”, particularly among younger foreign visitors. Many come to Prague for its reputation as a party destination, taking advantage of the cheap alcohol prices compared to their home countries.

Last year, Prague hosted a record number of tourists, with 7.4 million people staying in hotels and guesthouses, a 25% increase compared to the previous year, according to data from the Czech Statistical Office.

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The Czech government has approved a draft revised National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), which aims to phase out coal by 2033 and oil and gas by 2050.

Under the plan, nuclear resources will be strengthened, mainly through the construction of new reactors, while the share of renewables will be increased to 40% by 2030 and to 60% in the next decade. The government also plans to increase the share of renewable energy sources from 15% to 30% by 2030.

“The plan presents an outlook for the development of the energy sector until 2030. By then, electricity consumption will increase by around one-tenth compared to today. On the other hand, we foresee a significant drop in energy consumption and a reduction in coal-fired electricity generation,” Czech Energy and Trade Minister Jozef Síkela said on Wednesday.

“We will also stop exporting brown coal electricity, the production of which will no longer be profitable due to the price of emission permits,” he added.

In 2022, Czechia’s coal and nuclear power plants made it one of the world’s leading electricity exporters. However, the country is ready to lose this status and become an importer of clean energy from EU partners.

“This will be a consequence of replacing energy raw materials such as coal, oil and natural gas, which we now import from countries that are less reliable than our closest European allies, from whom we should get our electricity in the future. In effect, this will strengthen our energy security,” Síkela explained.

Still, Czech green organisations warn that the new plan is not sufficient. According to Greenpeace Czech Republic, the draft plan does not reach EU targets for renewables and savings. Another organisation – the Centre for Transport and Energy – is also sceptical.

“The draft National Plan does not fully use Czech potential in meeting its climate goals. Moreover, the government is obliged to involve the public in the process of drafting the document, but they have not yet had the opportunity to comment on the draft at all,” warned Štěpán Vizi, an expert from the Centre for Transport and Energy.

The draft plan will be immediately sent to the EU Commission for approval.

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The leading international conference for investors and startups, Engaged Investments, will offer an even richer program this fall than last year.

The goal of this unique event in the Czech Republic, which will attract up to 350 participants from across Europe, along with key investors from the USA, is to foster cross-border investments and collaboration between startups and investors across regions.

The fifth edition of the event, co-organized by DEPO Ventures and J&T Ventures, will take place on October 23 and 24 in Prague. In addition to investment themes, the focus will also be on the latest technologies in defense and cybersecurity, space technologies, and artificial intelligence.

The Engaged Investments conference provides a platform for sharing knowledge, experiences, and best practices among leading venture capital investors. In addition to the aforementioned key areas, the event will also cover topics such as bridging the gap between startup investing and access to venture capital in the USA and Central and Eastern Europe, and the importance of exits in the startup ecosystem.

Confirmed speakers include former Avast CTO Michal Pěchouček, angel investor in Czech unicorn Mews, founder of startup OdeonOry Weihs, Czech entrepreneur and investor Michael Rozstok Poplar, RSJ Investments Martin Hudeček, MariaDB founder and general partner of the Norwegian fund Open Ocean Tony Nysten, and 10X Founders investor with a fund worth 4 billion CZK Nico Schoenenberger.

 The conference will also feature members of the European Commission and NATO Innovation Network.

The first day of the conference is dedicated to investors, discussions, and networking. The second day will focus on startups, with one hundred technology companies from various fields seeking investors.

The event will also include a startup competition and the Defence Innovation Challenge. Given the current global situation, the conference is also placing emphasis on defense technologies. 

Regional Final of the Global Startup World Cup

The highlight of the second day will be the regional final of the prestigious global Startup World Cup competition, organized by the American fund Pegasus Tech Ventures.

The best pre-selected ten startups at the conference will compete for a spot in the final in Silicon Valley, where they will vie for a prize of one million dollars. Last year, the startup LayAI made it to the grand finale but did not win the prize.

This year, conference partner VISA will offer an additional prize of 50,000 CZK for flights to the USA. Another major prize will be an investment from DEPO Ventures worth two and a half million CZK.

The conference will also offer a supplementary program for different groups of investors and startup founders, which will be gradually revealed on its website.

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The Czech government has unveiled an ambitious plan to place the country among the top ten European Union nations by gross domestic product (GDP) per capita by 2040.

Currently ranked 14th, the Czech Republic aims for significant economic growth through the recently approved Economic Strategy.

Key Pillars of the Strategy

The strategy, presented by the new Minister of Industry and Trade Lukáš Vlček (STAN), focuses on four main areas: human capital development, strategic infrastructure, high-value industrialization, and enhanced financing options.

“This strategy will not be another unfulfilled document,” Vlček assured.

The plan emphasizes the importance of education, particularly in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), which are critical for the country’s future economic growth. The government also seeks to strengthen ties between companies and educational institutions to create innovative study programs that better align with market needs.

In terms of infrastructure, the strategy outlines improvements in transport, energy, and digital infrastructure. These upgrades will be coupled with investments in sustainable energy and technological innovation to boost competitiveness and reduce environmental impact.

The plan also highlights the need to develop the capital market to improve companies’ access to financing, reducing their reliance on traditional bank loans. “This includes venture capital support for innovative start-ups,” Vlček added.

Business Skepticism and Concerns

Despite these proposals, many business associations express reservations. The Union of Industry and Transport’s Vice President, Martin Jahn, voiced concerns about the lack of clear deadlines and the strategy’s practical implications.

“What matters is whether these goals will be reflected in concrete government actions,” Jahn said. “The Czech Republic has plenty of strategies, but the challenge is in achieving real, measurable results.”

Union of Industry President Jan Rafaj also pointed out the timing of the strategy, noting that it arrives just a year before the government’s term ends. “This could easily become historical material by next year,” Rafaj warned, citing the absence of opposition support for the plan.

Housing and Decarbonization Issues Overlooked

Another area of concern is the strategy’s omission of housing affordability. According to Lenka Janáková from the Chamber of Commerce, the high cost of rental and owner-occupied housing is a major obstacle to labor market mobility.

Janáková also criticized the plan for not sufficiently considering the impact of decarbonization on energy and industry.

“The strategy should ensure that the path towards meeting climate goals does not undermine the competitiveness of our energy and industrial sectors. Without this, the Czech Republic cannot maintain its citizens’ standard of living, let alone meet the EU’s climate targets,” she added.

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Rising Czech talent Tomáš Macháč put on a brilliant display to upend world No 2 Carlos Alcaraz, beating the Spaniard 7-6 (5), 7-5 to move into the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters.

Macháč reached his first Masters 1000 semi-final in style, playing decisive, clinical tennis executed at a consistently high level to rattle a somewhat subdued Alcaraz in two closely-contested sets.

With world No 1 Jannik Sinner already safely through and awaiting the winner in the last four, most observers will have had one eye on a likely rematch between the tour’s best two players in the next round, with the pair having played yet another classic in Beijing last week in the latest instalment of their ever burgeoning rivalry.

But Macháč had no intention of abiding by this script, instead laying down his intentions early with excellent serving and some breathless baseline rallies, clearly displaying his ability to go toe-to-toe with the Spaniard.

As a very tight opening set barrelled towards a tiebreak finish, the only questions were around Machac’s mental fortitude and capacity to maintain his high standard for the duration.

The first of these concerns was answered emphatically at the end of the first set, as the Czech world No 33 stepped up his intensity when the stakes were highest to clinch an entertaining tiebreak 7-5 and move into a one-set lead.

Machac then resolutely showed that his level was not going to drop as he broke serve for the first time in the match in the third game of the second set.

Alcaraz struck back in the sixth game to force another closely-fought stanza, but it was Machac who remained the more consistent of the two, breaking again in the eleventh game before comfortably serving out the biggest win of his career.

The 23-year-old Czech is now into his maiden Masters 1000 semi-final, having snapped the 12-match winning streak of the ATP’s most in-form player.

He will again be the underdog against Sinner in the last four, but this is undoubtedly a career-defining result for the world No 33, who has been knocking on the door for some time now.

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The 2024 Christmas season in Prague is just around the corner, with the first-holiday market set to open on Náměstí Míru.

This festive event will kick off on Wednesday, November 20.

Visitors will be able to enjoy the market daily from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. until Christmas Eve, December 24.

The market will offer traditional Czech holiday treats, handcrafted gifts, and festive decorations, creating the perfect setting for both locals and tourists to soak in the holiday spirit.

Other Christmas fairs across Prague will open progressively towards the end of November and early December.

The biggest and most popular Christmas markets—those on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square—will begin on Saturday, November 30.

Due to the high demand from both locals and tourists, these markets will extend beyond the usual end date, staying open until January 6, 2025.

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Jakub Vágner, a renowned figure in Czech sport fishing, has achieved a new milestone, catching the largest catfish ever recorded in the Czech Republic with a rod.

The fish measured an impressive 2.64 meters, breaking the national record.

The remarkable catch took place in the Vranovská přehrada (Vranov Reservoir) near the city of Znojmo (South Moravia).

According to Vágner, the fight to reel in the massive fish lasted for about half an hour. “The bubbles rising to the surface were as big as plates,” Vágner said, still visibly excited after the catch.

“I’m trembling with excitement. I’ve dreamed of catching this fish for so long, and now it’s in my hands,” he added.

“Setting a Czech record is nice, but the real joy comes from knowing that such incredible fish live right here in our waters. We don’t have to travel to Spain, Italy, or France to find them.”

After the fish was measured, Vágner chose to release it back into the water, where it swam away slowly.

This achievement surpasses Vágner’s previous record, set in June 2024, when he caught a 261-centimeter catfish in a different Czech waterway.

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On October 7th, Prague officially opened the most modern eye clinic in the Czech Republic, located on the border between Jinonice and Stodůlky.

The clinic boasts five state-of-the-art operating theatres equipped with cutting-edge lasers, 19 specialized examination rooms, and comprehensive ophthalmology services.

The clinic plans to add a dedicated children’s orthoptics department and an exercise room for young patients.

Housed in the Technopark building, which was repurposed in 2021 for this project, the new clinic is a five-story complex spanning nearly 9,000 square meters.

The transformation began in spring 2023 under the leadership of world-renowned eye surgeon Pavel Stodůlka.

“The clinic occupies the top two floors, covering 2,652 square meters. It currently features five operating theatres, specialized exam rooms, 19 consultation rooms, six instrument measurement rooms, and four patient zones capable of accommodating up to 360 people. Additionally, 162 parking spaces are available, including 13 for electric vehicles,” said Jiří Mikšík, head of the construction department.

The clinic is headed by Associate Professor Drahomíra Baráková, one of the country’s most respected eye surgeons.

The clinic specializes in a wide range of treatments, from cataract surgery and laser vision correction to retinal surgeries and aesthetic procedures.

In addition to ophthalmology, we offer a variety of aesthetic treatments. These include eyelid surgery, biodermal thread application, botox treatments, and removal of pigmentation spots, wrinkles, and scars. The clinic also houses an optical shop, offering a broad selection of men’s, women’s, and children’s eyewear, tailored through professional eye measurements. Consultation services for contact lenses will also be available.

One of the clinic’s standout features is the soon-to-be-established children’s orthoptics clinic, which will specialize in treating conditions such as squint, amblyopia, and double vision.

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