On September 20, streets and squares across Czechia will once again turn into open-air stages, playgrounds, and meeting points.

The community festival Experience the City Differently (Zažít město jinak) is celebrating its 20th year, inviting people to imagine their neighborhoods without cars.

The annual event, organized by the civic association AutoMat together with hundreds of volunteers, is part of European Mobility Week. What began as a small grassroots initiative has grown into a nationwide happening, now spanning more than 160 locations.

For one day, courtyards, streets, and parks will become spaces for theater, music, cycling parades, local food stands, children’s workshops, lectures, and flea markets.

Communities as the Driving Force

This year’s theme, “The Power of Communities,” highlights the role of local residents in shaping public space.

“With Experience the City Differently, we show how streets can reflect the needs of those who actually live there,” explained project manager Petr Štádler of AutoMat. “It’s not only about redesigning urban space, but also about strengthening social ties.”

According to the organizers, the festival creates a kind of “modern agora,” where neighbors come together to discuss shared challenges and test new ways of living in their city.

The festival takes place with the support of Prague City Hall and several city districts, including Prague 1 through 7, 9, and 10. It is held under the patronage of Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda and remains strictly non-political, following its own code of conduct.

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