Christmas Events for Kids in Bern (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

9 min read · Auf Deutsch lesen

For 2026, we confirmed 12 Christmas events for kids in Bern. The season opens on November 13 with Christmas Event 2026 and runs until December 24 with Christmas for ALL (Weihnachten für ALLE). Of these, 3 are free. Every listing links straight to the host. This page is part of our guide to Christmas events for kids in Switzerland.

The short version

  • Kids’ Christmas events confirmed for 2026 in Bern, Thun and Worb: 12
  • First: Christmas Event 2026, Thun, November 13
  • Free events: Christmas Event 2026, Samichlaus on the Schlossberg (Samichlaus auf dem Schlossberg) and Night of Lights on the Thun Schlossberg (Lichtnacht auf dem Thuner Schlossberg)

Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by town, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (registration, ages, what is included).

At a glance: Christmas events for kids in Bern

Kids’ Christmas events
12 confirmed for 2026
Towns
Bern, Thun and Worb
Season
November 13 to December 24
Free events
3
Last checked

Free 3Ticketed and paid 9

Free Christmas events for kids in Bern

Christmas events for kids in Thun

Tree lightingFree

Christmas Event 2026 (Thun)

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On Friday, November 13, 2026, Thun starts the pre-Christmas season with the Christmas Event. From the afternoon, the Rathausplatz has a varied kids' program with music, festive entertainment and animal surprises, including meeting a real reindeer. As contact, the event page names ThunCity at the Rathausplatz.

The highlight is at 7 pm: with a countdown, the big Christmas tree on the Rathausplatz and the Christmas lights in the city center are switched on. The event is public and free and lasts from 4 to 8 pm according to the city. Thun is a good 20 minutes from Bern by train. It also marks the start of the city's Advent program with a Christmas market, Advent calendar and more events. It is best to come by train, the Rathausplatz is a few minutes' walk from Thun station.

Parent tip: Come earlier for the reindeer and the kids' program. The countdown for the lights is at 7 pm.

Host
ThunCity (opens in a new tab)
Where
Rathausplatz Thun (Town Hall Square), 3600 Thun (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with ThunCity (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 11 more Bern events researched for you.

  • New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in Bern.
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Coming up on this page

  • 4 Story time
  • 3 Lights
  • 3 Zoos and museums
  • 2 Santa
  • 3 Free

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Saint Nicholas visitFree

Samichlaus on the Schlossberg (Samichlaus auf dem Schlossberg) (Thun)

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On Sunday, December 6, 2026, the Samichlaus visits the Schlossberg in Thun from 1 pm. The event is free and listed in the Schloss Thun calendar. For kids, the way up to the castle with a view over the old town and the lake is already a small adventure. The event is part of the Advent program around Schloss Thun.

From November to January, the museum in the castle is open on Sundays from 1 to 4 pm, so if you like, you can combine the Samichlaus visit with a tour of the castle. The Knights' Hall (Rittersaal) is not heated, so warm clothes are a good idea. A week later, the Lichtnacht (night of lights) takes place at the same spot. From Bern, Thun is reached by train in about 20 minutes, and the Schlossberg is above the old town.

Parent tip: Dress warmly and prepare a Versli (little poem). The castle museum is open on Sunday from 1 pm.

Host
Schloss Thun (Thun Castle) (opens in a new tab)
Where
Schlossberg Thun (Castle Hill), Schlossberg 1, 3600 Thun (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Schloss Thun (Thun Castle) (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas lightsFree

Night of Lights on the Thun Schlossberg (Lichtnacht auf dem Thuner Schlossberg)

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On Saturday, December 12, 2026, the Thun Schlossberg becomes a Lichtnacht (night of lights) from 4 to 9 pm. Twinkling lights wrap the hill around the castle in a festive mood, and over a warming mulled punch (Glühpunsch) you can get in the Christmas spirit together.

The event is free and is listed both in the Schloss Thun calendar and in the City of Thun's Advent program. For kids, the evening walk through the lights is the experience, and no special kids' program is described. According to Thunersee Tourismus, the exact program is published in the fall, so check schlossthun.ch beforehand. From Bern, Thun is reached by train in about 20 minutes. With kids, it is worth coming shortly before dusk, when the lights come on.

Parent tip: A flashlight is not needed, but good shoes for the Schlossberg are. Check the program on schlossthun.ch beforehand.

Host
Schloss Thun (Thun Castle) (opens in a new tab)
Where
Schlossberg Thun (Castle Hill), Schlossberg 1, 3600 Thun (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Schloss Thun (Thun Castle) (opens in a new tab)

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Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Bern

Admission, tickets or a fee apply. Where a host has not posted a price yet, the listing says so.

The #1 spot Event hosts: free events are listed first. One featured spot puts your event at the very top of this page.Ask about the #1 spot

Christmas crafts

Making Animal Christmas Ornaments (Tierische Weihnachtskugeln basteln)

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On Wednesday, December 2, 2026, the Tierpark Bern invites kids to make very special Christmas ornaments. From 1:30 to 4 pm, kids design their own ornament in the Vivarium with pretty feathers, fluffy hair or pointy teeth, to match the zoo. Kids may then take their ornament home.

The meeting point is the Cafetta in the Vivarium. The craft activity is included in regular admission, and the page does not ask for registration. The Vivarium is a pleasant place on a cold December afternoon, and after crafting a walk around to see the animals is worthwhile. More craft afternoons for the animals take place on December 9 and 16. The zoo is right on the Aare in the Kirchenfeld neighborhood and is easy to reach by bus.

Parent tip: You can join at any time within the time window. The finished ornament is a nice keepsake for the Christmas tree. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Tierpark Bern (opens in a new tab)
Where
Tierpark Dählhölzli, Cafetta in the Vivarium, Tierparkweg 1, 3005 Bern (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Tierpark Bern (opens in a new tab)

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Saint Nicholas visit

Dr Samichlous chunnt i Tierpark (The Samichlaus Comes to the Zoo)

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On Saturday, December 5, 2026, the Samichlous and the Schmutzli come with their donkey out of the deep forest to the Tierpark Dählhölzli. The meeting point is at 3:30 pm at the Brätliplatz in front of the wolf enclosure. Besides a nice story, the two bring a nicely filled little bag (Säckli) for the good kids and the less good ones too. A Versli (little poem) or a drawing for the Samichlous is expressly welcome.

Against cold hands there is hot punch, while supplies last. From 1 pm, face painting is offered for CHF 5 per face. The event takes place in any weather and is included in regular admission. Important: the Samichlous leaves again at 4:30 pm, so be there by 4 pm at the latest.

Parent tip: Be at the meeting point by 4 pm at the latest, the Samichlous leaves at 4:30 pm. Bring a drawing or a Versli.

Host
Tierpark Bern (opens in a new tab)
Where
Tierpark Dählhölzli, Brätliplatz (barbecue area) in front of the wolf enclosure, Tierparkweg 1, 3005 Bern (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Tierpark Bern (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas show

Wiehnachte für d'Alina (Christmas for Alina)

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During Advent, the Berner Puppen Theater on Gerechtigkeitsgasse shows the play “Wiehnachte für d'Alina” by Frank Demenga. It retells Christmas through a refugee family. It is performed by Karin Wirthner, Simone Oberrauch or Miriam Jenni and Frank Demenga, and the show lasts about 70 minutes. The small theater is in the lower old town, just a few steps from the Zytglogge. The play connects the familiar Christmas story with a family looking for a new home.

The play is for kids ages 5 and up and adults, and the age guidelines are binding. Kids pay CHF 18, adults CHF 25, with a Kulturlegi (culture discount card) CHF 12 and 17. Payment is by cash or TWINT only. Reservations are made online through the schedule or by phone at 031 311 95 85 on Wednesday and Saturday from 1 to 5 pm.

Parent tip: Bring cash, cards are not accepted. Reserved tickets that are not picked up are charged. Expect it to be in Swiss German.

Host
Berner Puppen Theater (opens in a new tab)
Where
Berner Puppen Theater, Gerechtigkeitsgasse 31, 3011 Bern (opens in maps)
Registration
Recommended
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Berner Puppen Theater (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas show

Pantomime GLÜZUWEI: Happy at Christmas (Glücklich zu Weihnachten)

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At the Bibliothek Länggasse on Wednesday, December 9, 2026, it gets Christmassy and funny. The pantomime GLÜZUWEI tells of the chaotic preparations for a Christmas party, completely without words, using only gestures, facial expressions and situational comedy. Kids do not need to understand any language to laugh along. The piece thrives on funny moments that land right away.

Because nothing is spoken, the piece suits all age groups and all languages, which makes it ideal for multilingual families too. The show lasts half an hour, from 3:30 to 4 pm. No price is given on the Kornhausbibliotheken page. The library is in the Länggass neighborhood, just a few minutes from Bern station. During Advent, the Kornhausbibliotheken offer more readings in several neighborhoods.

Parent tip: Short and without language, so it works well for little kids and for families with a different mother tongue.

Host
Kornhausbibliotheken Bern (opens in a new tab)
Where
Bibliothek Länggasse, Vereinsweg 27, 3012 Bern (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Kornhausbibliotheken Bern (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas story time

Picture Book Reading Rosi: Christmas Mission on the Farm (Bilderbuchlesung Rosi: Weihnachtseinsatz auf dem Bauernhof)

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As part of the Nordstern Advent tour through Bern's north neighborhood, the author Evelyn Studer-Kopp comes to the Bibliothek und Ludothek Breitenrain with her picture book. Rosi is looking forward to Christmas, the first snowflakes dance around the farm, and with the chickens, the dog and the billy goat she decorates the Christmas tree. The author reads her story aloud herself.

But then a candle falls on the carpet and it catches fire, and Rosi is ready for action right away. The reading takes place on Wednesday, December 9, 2026, from 6:30 to 8 pm. Because it is part of the Advent tour, it combines nicely with an evening walk through the Advent-decorated neighborhood. A price is not given on the page. The library is on Stauffacherstrasse and is easy to reach by tram.

Parent tip: The reading is in the evening. For younger kids, the afternoon reading in Worb on December 2 is a better fit. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Kornhausbibliotheken Bern (opens in a new tab)
Where
Bibliothek & Ludothek Breitenrain (library and toy library), Stauffacherstrasse 2, 3014 Bern (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Kornhausbibliotheken Bern (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas story time

The Kindertreff Tells Stories at the Library: Light and Shadow (Der Kindertreff erzählt Geschichten in der Bibliothek: Licht und Schatten)

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In the darkest time of the year, the theme fits perfectly: on Friday, December 18, 2026, the Kindertreff at the Bibliothek Tscharnergut in Bern-Bethlehem tells stories about “Licht und Schatten” (light and shadow). Story time runs from 2:30 to 3 pm. The neighborhood's Kindertreff hosts this story time several times a year with changing themes.

Afterward there is a shared Zvieri. The program is for kids ages 5 and up. A price is not given on the Kornhausbibliotheken page. For the last school days before the Christmas break, it is a quiet, cozy afternoon at the neighborhood library, easy to reach by tram and bus in the west of Bern. The library is on Waldmannstrasse in the Tscharnergut.

Parent tip: Take the tram or bus to western Bern. There is time for the Zvieri after the story. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Kornhausbibliotheken Bern (opens in a new tab)
Where
Bibliothek Tscharnergut, Waldmannstrasse 19, 3027 Bern (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Kornhausbibliotheken Bern (opens in a new tab)

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Family Christmas event

Christmas for ALL (Weihnachten für ALLE)

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When kids are impatiently waiting for the gifts on Christmas Eve, a visit to the Tierpark Dählhölzli helps. On December 24, 2026, the animals already get their Christmas surprises during the day, and visitors watch. There is also face painting. The zoo expressly wishes all visitors a lovely, atmospheric Christmas. It describes the day as animal-filled, lovely contemplation amid the hectic Christmas rush.

The program of commented feedings: 10:30 am seals, 11 am Exuma ring-tailed iguana and other reptiles, 12 pm reindeer, 1:30 pm wolves, 2:30 pm puffins, 3 pm squirrel monkeys and 3:30 pm seals again. The event takes place in any weather, from 9 am to 5 pm, and is included in regular admission. The zoo is on the Aare in the Kirchenfeld neighborhood and is easy to reach by bus.

Parent tip: The reindeer feeding at 12 pm fits Christmas Eve perfectly. Dress warmly, the event takes place in any weather.

Host
Tierpark Bern (opens in a new tab)
Where
Tierpark Dählhölzli, Tierparkweg 1, 3005 Bern (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Tierpark Bern (opens in a new tab)

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Christmas events for kids in Thun

Christmas events for kids in Worb

Christmas story time

Rosi's Christmas Mission on the Farm (Rosi Weihnachtseinsatz auf dem Bauernhof) (Worb)

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On Wednesday afternoon, December 2, 2026, Evelyn Studer-Kopp tells her picture-book story about Rosi at the Bibliothek Worb. Rosi is looking forward to Christmas, the first snowflakes dance around the farm, and together with the chickens, the dog and the billy goat she romps through the snow and helps decorate the Christmas tree. The author brings the story along in person and reads it to the kids.

Suddenly a candle falls on the carpet and it catches fire, but Rosi is on the scene right away. The story suits kids ages 3 and up who come with an adult. The reading runs from 3 to 4 pm. The library is in the Bären-Zentrum in the middle of Worb, easy to reach by RBS (regional train). The reading is part of the Advent program of the Kornhausbibliotheken, which offer events for kids in several libraries in the Bern region.

Parent tip: Kids come with an adult. Take the RBS from Bern directly to Worb. Expect it to be in German.

Host
Kornhausbibliotheken Bern (opens in a new tab)
Where
Bibliothek Worb, Bärenplatz 4, 3076 Worb (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
Check dates and details with Kornhausbibliotheken Bern (opens in a new tab)

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More Christmas events for kids in Switzerland

A story for the trip home

Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents. It is a cozy story to share on the way home after a big day out.

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolour corgi peeking from a red train

A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor. Ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon.de (opens in a new tab)

Christmas events for kids in Bern: questions parents ask

What are the 2026 Christmas events for kids in Bern?

For 2026, we confirmed 12 Christmas events for kids in Bern, each on its host’s own page: Rosi's Christmas Mission on the Farm (Rosi Weihnachtseinsatz auf dem Bauernhof) (Worb), Thun Christmas Market with Carousel (Thuner Weihnachtsmarkt mit Rösslispiel) (Thun), Wiehnachte für d'Alina (Christmas for Alina) and 9 more. Each one is listed above with times, cost and a link to the host.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Bern?

Yes, 3 of the 12 events here are free: Christmas Event 2026 (Thun), Samichlaus on the Schlossberg (Samichlaus auf dem Schlossberg) (Thun) and Night of Lights on the Thun Schlossberg (Lichtnacht auf dem Thuner Schlossberg) (Thun). Some free events still ask you to register, so check each listing.

Where can kids see Santa this year in Bern?

Where to see Santa: Samichlaus on the Schlossberg (Samichlaus auf dem Schlossberg) (Thun) and Dr Samichlous chunnt i Tierpark (The Samichlaus Comes to the Zoo). Check the listings above for times and booking.

Where are there Christmas story times for kids in Bern?

Christmas story times on this page: Rosi's Christmas Mission on the Farm (Rosi Weihnachtseinsatz auf dem Bauernhof) (Worb), Picture Book Reading Rosi: Christmas Mission on the Farm (Bilderbuchlesung Rosi: Weihnachtseinsatz auf dem Bauernhof), The Kindertreff Tells Stories at the Library: Light and Shadow (Der Kindertreff erzählt Geschichten in der Bibliothek: Licht und Schatten) and 1 more. Library story times are usually free; ones with a meal or show are ticketed.

How do you confirm these events?

We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city, library or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 9, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.

Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.

The story of Christmas in Bern

Bern's Christmas season starts with onions. On the fourth Monday in November, braids of onions weighing over 100 tons fill the upper old town, and soon afterward Christmas markets open on three squares. For families, Bern adds a free ice rink in front of the Federal Palace, a Santa visit at the zoo and puppet theater in December.

How Bern celebrates Christmas, and what is different for visiting families

Bern has a November warm-up before Christmas. Since the late Middle Ages, the city has held a market around Saint Martin's Day to stock up for winter, and in 1439 the authorities turned it into a toll-free fair. Around 1850 farm women from Mont Vully, nicknamed the Wistenlacher Wybli, started bringing braided onion strings to town. That became the Zibelemärit, the onion market, held on the fourth Monday in November.

Christmas markets follow shortly after. The one on Münsterplatz has about 40 years of tradition and sells handicrafts from local studios, and the Waisenhausplatz market has a tradition going back decades. The Sternenmarkt, or star market, at Kleine Schanze was described in 2018 as a new market with a nostalgic carousel and little Christmas houses for children.

What a child will meet: Samichlaus, markets and onion confetti

Samichlaus is the Swiss name for Saint Nicholas, and in 2026 he visits the Dählhölzli zoo in Bern on Saturday, December 5, with Schmutzli and a donkey. He tells a story and gives out treat bags. Another Samichlaus visits Thun's castle hill on December 6.

The Zibelemärit has its own kid-friendly charm. By afternoon confetti flies and teenagers go after grown-ups with plastic hammers. The market itself begins around 4 am, so with young children the afternoon is usually easier.

Markets are where children find treats and activities. The Sternenmarkt has a children's village with a carousel and fairy-tale hours, and the markets stay open until Christmas, with some staying until New Year's Eve.

Planning a Christmas visit to Bern with kids

This year's events run from mid-November into late December. Nearby Thun kicks off on November 13, 2026 with a free evening on Rathausplatz that includes a real reindeer and the tree lighting at 7 pm. The Thun Christmas market, with about 50 huts and a new children's carousel on Mühleplatz, runs from November 27 to December 23.

In Bern itself, December is full of family events: a Santa visit and craft afternoon at the zoo, a Christmas puppet play from December 5 to 23 and story programs at several city libraries. On Christmas Eve, the zoo holds a festive day with animal feedings, including reindeer.

A good number of events are free, such as the Thun events, while the zoo and theater charge admission. Most programs are in German or Swiss German.

A few fun facts about Bern at Christmas

The famous story that Bern thanks Fribourg at the Zibelemärit for helping after the city fire of 1405 is a myth. In Bätterkinden, near Bern, stands the biggest nativity scene in the region, 16 meters long and only 50 centimeters off the ground so kids can see in. In autumn 2025 the Federal Palace turned into a hot-air balloon, a steam train and a sailing ship during a light show.

Traditions today

  • The Zibelemärit onion market: On the fourth Monday in November, the upper old town turns into one big market with onion braids, onion tart and an afternoon confetti battle.
  • Münsterplatz Christmas market: For about 40 years, craftspeople have sold work from local studios here, with a new theme every year.
  • Waisenhausplatz Christmas market: The traditional market in the middle of the old town stays open after Christmas as a year-end market until New Year's Eve.
  • Sternenmarkt at Kleine Schanze: Bern's youngest Christmas market, described as new in 2018, with about 80 wooden huts, a children's village, a carousel and fairy-tale hours.
  • Free ice rink at Bundesplatz: Skating is free in front of the Federal Palace. Bring your own skates or rent some there.
  • Samichlaus at the zoo: Samichlaus visits the Dählhölzli zoo in early December. In 2026 it is on December 5 at the barbecue area in front of the wolf enclosure.

A fact for kids

At Bern's onion market, all the onion braids together weigh over 100 tons, and the market starts around 4 in the morning.

Questions about Christmas in Bern

Is Bern worth visiting at Christmas with kids?

Yes. Bern has several Christmas markets in the old town, a free ice rink at the Federal Palace, a Santa visit at the zoo and puppet theater, plus story hours at city libraries.

When does Santa visit the Bern zoo in 2026?

On Saturday, December 5, 2026 from 3:30 to 4:30 pm, at the barbecue area in front of the wolf enclosure of the Dählhölzli zoo. Santa comes with Schmutzli and a donkey, tells a story and gives out treat bags. Face painting starts at 1 pm for CHF 5, and the visit is included in zoo admission.

What is Samichlaus?

Samichlaus is the Swiss name for Saint Nicholas. He visits on or around December 6, and in Bern he comes to the zoo on December 5, 2026. In Thun, he visits the castle hill on December 6 from 1 pm.

What is the Zibelemärit?

It is Bern's famous onion market, held on the fourth Monday in November. It covers the upper old town and squares such as Waisenhausplatz, Münsterplatz and Bundesplatz. It is on the Swiss list of living traditions.

Is the Zibelemärit good for small children?

The market starts around 4 am, with onion tart for early risers. With little kids the afternoon is usually nicer, when confetti flies and costumed groups wander through. Teenagers also chase grown-ups with plastic hammers, so expect some silliness.

How old is the Bern onion market?

Its roots go back to the Middle Ages, when Bern held a Saint Martin's market for winter supplies. In 1439 it became a toll-free fair. The onion market itself started around 1850, when farm women brought vegetables to town.

Is it true that Bern holds the onion market to thank Fribourg?

No, that is a legend. The story says Bern thanked Fribourg for help after the city fire of 1405, but it cannot be proven. A folklorist says the onion market emerged in the middle of the 19th century.

Who were the Wistenlacher Wybli?

They were farm women from Mont Vully, between Lake Murten and Lake Neuchâtel. Around 1850 they brought vegetables to Bern's Martin's fair and were loved for their cheerful, polite manner. Their beautifully braided onions slowly became the star of the market.

When do the Christmas markets in Bern open?

The 2026 dates are not in our sources. In 2025, the Sternenmarkt opened on November 20, and the Waisenhausplatz and Münsterplatz markets followed on November 28 and 29. Thun's market opens November 27, 2026 and runs to December 23.

What is special about the Münsterplatz Christmas market?

It has a tradition of about 40 years and focuses on handicrafts from local studios. A new theme is chosen each year. In 2025 it ran from November 29 to December 24.

What is special about the Waisenhausplatz Christmas market?

It is the classic market in the middle of the old town, with a tradition of many decades. Local beers and food are served, and after Christmas it continues as a year-end market. In 2025 that was from December 27 to 31 and on January 3, 2026.

What can kids do at the Sternenmarkt?

There is a children's village with a carousel and entertainment, plus fairy-tale hours and a polar bear named Finn in the kids' chalet. About 80 wooden huts stand there, and entry is free. In 2025 it was open from November 20 to December 28.

Is there a free ice rink in Bern?

Yes, in front of the Federal Palace at Bundesplatz. Skating is free, and you can bring skates or rent them. In 2025 the rink opened December 13 and stayed open until mid-February, and a chalet next door served fondue and pumpkin soup.

What was the Federal Palace light show?

In 2025 the 15th Rendez-vous Bundesplatz was called Voyage, a trip around the world. The palace became a hot-air balloon, a steam train and a sailing ship. It ran from October 18 to November 22, three times each evening, free of charge.

What happens at the Bern zoo on Christmas Eve?

On December 24, 2026 the Dählhölzli zoo has a day called Christmas for ALL from 9 am to 5 pm with festive animal feedings, including reindeer, and face painting. It is included in zoo admission. In 2025 the zoo listed a reindeer encounter at 9 am on December 24.

Are there free Christmas events in Bern?

Yes. The ice rink is free, as are many events in Thun, like the opening evening on November 13, the Samichlaus on the castle hill on December 6 and the Lichtnacht on December 12. The market at Sternenmarkt also has free entry. Library programs usually have no price listed.

Are Christmas events in Bern in English?

Most events are in German or Swiss German, including the puppet theater and library readings. Markets, the ice rink and the zoo do not need much language. If you want a program in English, check with the host.

Where is the Christmas puppet theater in Bern?

The Bern Puppet Theater shows Wiehnachte für d'Alina from December 5 to 23, 2026. It runs on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 3 pm and on Sundays at 11 am and sometimes 3 pm. It retells the nativity story, is recommended for ages 5 and up, and costs CHF 18 for children and CHF 25 for adults.

Are there Christmas events for toddlers in Bern libraries?

Yes. In December 2026 there are picture-book readings in the Breitenrain library on December 9 (an evening reading) and in the Worb library on December 2, the latter for children from age 3 with an adult. There is also a wordless Christmas pantomime on December 9 in Länggasse, and light-and-shadow stories on December 18 in Tscharnergut.

Where is the biggest nativity scene near Bern?

In Bätterkinden. It is 16 meters long and stands 50 centimeters above the ground so children can look in. In 2025 it could be visited every day from December 1 to January 6 between 9 am and 9 pm.

What can we do in Thun at Christmas?

Thun opens its season on November 13, 2026 with a free evening on Rathausplatz with a kids' program, a real reindeer and the tree lighting at 7 pm. The Christmas market runs from November 27 to December 23 with about 50 huts and a new children's carousel. On December 12, there is a free Lichtnacht on the castle hill.

Sources

  1. Bern oder Weimar: Hauptsache Zwiebeln, Plattform J
  2. Zibelemärit in Bern (BE), Schweiz Tourismus
  3. Berner Zibelemärit, Wikipedia
  4. Weihnachtsmärkte Bern, freizeit.ch
  5. Berner Sternenmarkt, freizeit.ch
  6. Neuer Weihnachtsmarkt: Bern im Bann der Weihnachtsmärkte, SRF
  7. Rendez-vous Bundesplatz 2025: Voyage (Medienmitteilung), Rendez-vous Bundesplatz / primcom
  8. 10 Bernese highlights in December, Bern Welcome
  9. Veranstaltungen, Tierpark Bern
Kelsey Cecil
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