DANK Haus upcoming events

Cabaret Connexion | Kabarett direct from Berlin! (Wednesday, November 04, 2026)

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 01:00:00 GMT

Cabarett Connexion | Kabarett direct from Berlin!
Anne Fromm, Thomas Kellner, and Johanna Paliege
Wednesday, November 4 | 7:00 - 9:00 PM
General Admission: $40 | DANK Haus Members: $30

Why sit alone in a room. Come to the KABARETT!

Step into a relaxed nightclub atmosphere as three German cabaret artists, actors, and singers—Anne Fromm, Thomas Kellner, and Johanna Paliege —invite you on a wild ride through the history of German cabaret.

This witty, frivolous, yet deeply touching showcase weaves together songs, anecdotes, and mini-scenes into a captivating historical mosaic.

The journey begins at the dawn of the 20th century. Heavily inspired by the Parisian avant-garde of Montmartre and Montparnasse, these early artistic experiments paved the way for the Golden Twenties and Thirties—a roaring heyday of variety shows in Berlin and Munich that sparked an explosion of creativity, originality, and diversity.

This open-minded, critical golden age met a brutal end under the Nazi regime. The forced emigration and deportation of Jewish, queer, and labeled “degenerate” (Entartete Kunst) artists stripped the art form of its bite, weaponizing it into mere wartime propaganda and distraction. Yet, small glimmers of hope endured through underground resistance and exile in Zurich and overseas.

The post-war era split the stage: in the GDR, political cabaret survived behind a veil of strict censorship, forcing artists to deliver encrypted messages between the lines, while West Germany’s economic miracle years brought a lighter, more exuberant style of entertainment. The late 1960s revived cabaret’s combative spirit, fueled by the peace, anti-nuclear, and ecological movements. Over time, the traditional revue evolved into the distinctly German Kabarett—a sharp, spoken-word format driven by biting socio-political satire and razor-sharp linguistic wit rather than music and spectacle.

What remains of cabaret today? It lives on. Sometimes steeped in historical nostalgia, other times loud, cheeky, and underground, the scene across Berlin, Munich, and Cologne is constantly being reinvented by international artists and diverse, boundary-pushing art movements.

Free parking at the 5/3 Bank on the northside of Lawrence.
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Neighborhood Nights 2026 (Thursday, November 12, 2026)

Fri, 13 Nov 2026 01:00:00 GMT

DATE CHANGE: The first August Neighborhood Nights has been rescheduled to Thursday, August 6th.

ENJOY A BEVERAGE WITH A SPECTACULAR EXPERIENCE IN OUR HAUS

A perfect place to meet your neighbors and socialize! All proceeds support the DANK Haus Museum

WHEN

Each 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month from 7-11 PM.

LOCATION

Winter months - Brauhaus Room (2nd floor)

Summer/Fall months - Skyline Lounge/Terrace (6th floor)

Subject to change. Be sure to check elevator signs when arriving!

Laterne laufen 2026 (Saturday, November 14, 2026)

Sat, 14 Nov 2026 23:30:00 GMT

Neighborhood Nights 2026 (Thursday, December 10, 2026)

Fri, 11 Dec 2026 01:00:00 GMT

DATE CHANGE: The first August Neighborhood Nights has been rescheduled to Thursday, August 6th.

ENJOY A BEVERAGE WITH A SPECTACULAR EXPERIENCE IN OUR HAUS

A perfect place to meet your neighbors and socialize! All proceeds support the DANK Haus Museum

WHEN

Each 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month from 7-11 PM.

LOCATION

Winter months - Brauhaus Room (2nd floor)

Summer/Fall months - Skyline Lounge/Terrace (6th floor)

Subject to change. Be sure to check elevator signs when arriving!

Weihnachtsmarkt 2026 (Saturday, December 12, 2026)

Sat, 12 Dec 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Weihnachtsmarkt | Indoor Christmas Market
december 12 from 11-5 PM | 5th Floor, Marunde Ballroom

Come join us for a warm indoor Weihnachtsmarkt with German-inspired Christmas shopping, Glühwein, food, music and more!

Our Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market) takes place on Saturday, December 12th from 11:00am to 5:00pm. We will have German food and drink for sale as you stroll through rows of festive stands. This is a great holiday event for families and children of all ages. Our Haus will be decorated in beautiful holiday splendor, a perfect back drop for your own cherished memories.

Bring your youngest children for a special visit with Santa in our ballroom. Admission to the market will be a suggested $5 donation at the door. All proceeds from the event will support cultural and educational programming at the DANK Haus.

Doors Open - 11:00 AM with Shopping, Food & Drinks until 5:00 PM

Pictures with Santa: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Interested in being a vendor? Submit the vendor application by following the link below:

Vendor Application

Visit the DANK Haus at 4740 N. Western Ave. Chicago IL, located just one block west of the Western Brown Line for all of your Christmas cheer!

Questions? Contact samantha@dankhaus.com