10 Bernese Highlights in June

11 June marks the beginning of the second-last season of the popular open-air theatre on the Moosegg. Two classics will be performed on the forest stage by the Moosegg Hotel, best views over the picturesque hilly landscape of the Emmental included: With "Kiss me, Kate", which will be shown from 11 to 25 June, musical enthusiasts can enjoy some Broadway glamour complete with a large choir at around 1,000 metres above sea level. The second play, “The Black Spider”, will be performed from 3 July to 16 August in a new interpretation of the well-known novella by 19^th-century writer and poet Jeremias Gotthelf. What better place to show the Emmental native’s work than here!

The weekend from 13 to 15 June is all about fitness, health and outdoor sports at the very first MUV Festival on the Bern Expo site – set to become the largest event for the Swiss outdoor industry. The focus will revolve around seven themes: Running, Cycling, Alpine Sport, Fitness and Wellness, Health and Nutrition, Digitalisation and Technology, and of course the highlight, the IFSC Boulder World Cup. Over the course of the weekend, the national and international bouldering elite will be competing in the Festhalle event hall. A must-see for pro athletes, amateur climbers, fans and outdoor sports enthusiasts alike!

If after the MUV Festival you feel inspired to get active and experience the great outdoors, hop on your bike and head to the Gantrisch Nature Park, where the “Tales of the Gantrisch” E-bike Route awaits. The 50-kilometre route has recently gotten its own number in Schweizmobil’s Veloland route network, number 333. Along the way, motorised and unmotorised cyclists pass through enchanted forests, mystical gorges and legendary landscapes. And the best thing about it? Anyone who completes the e-bike tour with all five experience stations by the end of October is automatically entered into the prize draw. Two overnight stays for two people in the Gantrisch Nature Park are up for grabs.

If you prefer your outings to be a little more laid back but just as sociable, we recommend a trip to the Emmental or the Oberaargau this June to experience two markets that will take you on a journey back in time. On 14 June, you can experience traditional crafts such as bookbinding, wood turning and many more at the Gotthelf-Märit (Gotthelf Market) in Sumiswald. What’s special about this market is that the craftspeople and even many visitors dress as people did in the 1800s! Round two takes place on the weekend of 28 and 29 June with the historic crafts market in Huttwil. In addition to market stalls, there will be sword fights, jesters and concerts with historical instruments. Both markets also provide ample opportunity for relaxed chats with good food and drink.

Attention all runners: the Swiss Women’s Race, one of Switzerland’s largest women’s sporting events, will take place in the pretty streets of Bern’s UNESCO-listed old town on 15 June. This year’s motto is “A race for women, a celebration for all”, and once again, several tens of thousands of participants and spectators are expected. There are five distances to choose from in the “Running” category, from the 500-metre sprint to the hefty 10 kilometres. If you don’t like the pressure of a race, consider participating in the “Easy Walk for all”, which is all about the experience – there no time-taking or rankings, only winners. And it serves a good cause: raising awareness for breast cancer.

For 20 years, the Zentrum Paul Klee and the atelier Creaviva have been delighting art enthusiasts with a large variety of special exhibitions and creative workshops, not to mention the world’s most comprehensive collection of Bernese artist Paul Klee’s work. Now that’s a reason to celebrate! There will be special events at the iconic museum throughout the year, with the highlight of the celebrations being the anniversary weekend: on 21 and 22 June, visitors can look forward to a fun and exciting free programme with everything their heart desires, from short guided tours to slackline performances to fabric art workshops to herbal syrup mixing to outdoor parties with various DJs and food & drink. Our insider tip: try a glass of Paul’s festival beer. It was brewed by the Bernese Lohnbrauerei brewery with malting barley grown on the large field around the Zentrum Paul Klee.

“Stäcketöri nomau!” This charming (and quite harmless) Bernese curse is where the Stäcketöri Festival, now in its third year, gets its name. Around 30 minutes away from Bern in Zäziwil, it will kick off the open-air season with a colourful line-up. Music fans can look forward to performances by great artists such as Dabu Fantastic, To Athena, Jule X, Swiss ESC hopeful Zoë Më and many more. Other things we love about the festival are its laid-back, intimate atmosphere, tasty food and festival site that is lovingly set up with a wonderful eye for detail. It’s the complete package!

With all the sensationalist headlines and fake news we’re seeing, it’s not always easy to keep track of what’s actually happening in the world. That is why quality journalism and well-researched articles from on the ground are so important. Offering unique access to world events and reporters is the True Story Festival: from 20 to 22 June, 45 journalists from 25 countries will come together in Bern to give fascinating and moving insights into their work from around the world. Part of the festival is the presentation of the True Story Award on 20 June in the Kursaal Bern, which honours the three best journalistic texts from among 1,049 entries. The following two days are filled with a wide range of readings, topical discussions, and background information and stories.

Enjoy and take it easy – the secret to the Bernese way of life. Experience it on a leisurely stroll under Bern’s famous arcades, “Lädele” (shopping) in the many pretty shops in the quaint old town, or an afternoon at the Marzili or Lorrainebad public pool. The tote bags by Bernese designer Artfox let you take a piece of this Bernese “joie de vivre” with you wherever you go. They are made from cotton and printed locally with different motifs: the River Aare, the Marzili, the “Güsche” (Gurten) – Bern’s local mountain, or hearts and bears for Bern. The perfect companion while exploring the city!

Pop-up bars have become an integral part of Bern summers. Some have already opened in May, the rest will be back with their fairy lights and vibrant décor in June. On 10 June, for example, the inclusive rooftop pop-up Bar8 in Länggasse is reopening for the summer, welcoming guests from Tuesday to Saturday. Popular classics such as Peter Flamingo in the Grosse Schanze park, the colourful Park am Wasser at Dalmazimätteli, and bars right by the River Aare such as Aarebar or Trybhouz are back as well. We’re excited to stop by and spend our summer evenings with refreshing drinks and good company.