10 Bernese Highlights in May

Laufmeter is bringing Paris and New York to Bern in the biggest fashion event in Switzerland – on 2 and 3 May at Kornhausforum. For the first time ever, style seekers and design devotees can attend two 30-minute indoor fashion shows on both days. The 26 participating Swiss labels showcase the meaning behind slow fashion, sending a strong signal for more awareness in fashion with their locally and sustainably produced creations. Afterwards, the audience can try on and purchase the various collections and engage in an informal exchange with the designers. By the way: Keep an eye out for the ticket pre-sales if you want a front row seat.

Ever wanted to sneak a peek inside someone’s home? Whether it’s through YouTube’s “Roomtours” or snooping around in your friend’s new place, there’s something special about seeing how others live. On the first weekend of May, Open House Bern gives you the ultimate opportunity to do just that – with over 70 buildings and outdoor spaces ready to welcome you in. Explore everything from the unique architecture of Via Felsenau 1 (a community house) to the industrial charm of the Wankdorf motorway depot. Want to dive deeper? Join a guided tour or create your own adventure. And don’t worry, there are also plenty of colourful, kid-friendly spaces to explore.

“Güsche!”, “Güsch-Hä?!” – confused by our local mountain’s moniker? The new tour by StattLand will give you clarity. Actually, you should take the tour even if you’re already well-acquainted with our “Güsche”. In this entertaining quiz-show-style tour, participants get to discover the Gurten, its history, and its secrets in a whole new way. From “Guess the picture” to “1, 2 or 3” and other classic riddles and guessing games, knowledge is served up in the most playful of ways. Ever wondered who hasn’t played at the Gurten festival, or how exactly the Gurten funicular works? You can find out all that (and more) on two days in May. Good to know: This is an engaging option for team-building activities after a long day of meetings on the Gurten.

¡Buen provecho! (Spanish for “Enjoy your meal!”) – something you’ll hear a lot at the Gross-Wabern in the week from 5 to 10 May. Yes, it’s Mexican week, organised in collaboration with the Mexican embassy. Guests are taken on a culinary journey through this wonderful country at lunch and dinner, when talented chefs from Mexico are preparing delicious dishes ranging from classic corn tortillas to traditional moles. Sharing food brings people together, whether in Switzerland or in Mexico. That’s this week’s goal: Melding cultures through culinary experiences. Switzerland and Mexico actually already have something in common: Both have been recognised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. What other similarities might we find?

From 7 to 9 May, you can discover Bern’s new festival hall in all its glory. It’s over these three days that the brand-new festival hall on the BERNEXPO site will finally be inaugurated. The hall was already in use during the BEA at the end of April, but now it’s time for an inauguration with all the pomp and fanfare it deserves. And what better way than showing one of the most popular James Bond films, “Casino Royale”, on the big screen in the festival hall? However, the thrilling film soundtrack, including the title song “You Know My Name” by Chris Cornell, will not be coming out of speakers. Instead, the Bern Symphony Orchestra will be playing all the music live, reinventing and newly staging these well-known film moments.

3, 2, 1 ... and they’re off! The Grand-Prix Bern is back! On 10 May, the heart of Bern becomes the ultimate race destination for the 43^rd edition, welcoming thousands of enthusiastic runners. Pick your distance: the iconic 16.093 km Original Grand-Prix (aka “the ten most beautiful miles in the world”) for advanced runners, the 4.7 km Old Town Grand-Prix for rising stars, or the 1.6 km Bear Grand-Prix for kids, families, and beginners. Each route weaves past Bern’s most famous landmarks, giving runners and spectators a beautiful backdrop to cheer, run, and enjoy the atmosphere. And there’s more: Along the way, you’ll find lively music stations, and if you need a breather, there are plenty of refreshment stops to fuel up and enjoy the buzz of the event.

The days are finally longer than the nights again, something we want to celebrate by dancing freely. Dancing shouldn’t be exclusive to nightlife and clubs, which is why Bern is celebrating it during daylight hours in May. On 10 May, the new pop-up bar “Wandelbar” in the Lorraine neighbourhood will be hosting a brunch, followed by an inclusive day dance. The Museum of Communication is also joining in. On 9 May, professional dancers will teach visitors of the current special exhibition “Dance!” how to vogue. If you still haven’t had enough of one of the most beautiful past times and forms of expression, you should visit the Tanzfest Bern (dance festival) from 15 to 18 May. Discover and learn different styles of dance or watch professionals do their magic.

We all fantasise about it: writing a novel, composing a new story or even building a whole new world. Bernese author Jurin Flecker made his dream come true – and successfully so. Following the success of his multi-award-winning debut novel “Lanz”, “Santa Tereza”, the author’s third novel, is now out. It’s the book of this year’s reading festival “Bern liest ein Buch” (Bern reads a book) from 10 to 17 May. The idea is simple: The whole of Bern reads the same book at the same time and participates in complementary activities such as a reading by Flurin Jecker himself, a literary stroll in the Simmental or a thematic tour of the Animal Park Dählhölzli.

On 15 May, Switzerland’s nature parks are livening up our federal city for the ninth time. The National Parks Market is a platform for producers to present their wide range of culinary specialities and regional products. It’s that time of the year where you can buy Capuns from the Grisons, mountain cheese from the Aargau Jura Park, herbal syrup from the Gantrisch Nature Park and wine from the Valais on the Bundesplatz (Parliament Square). Indulge in mouthwatering treats while live music and a variety of events set the perfect backdrop. Cut creative figures out of stone or playfully discover the biodiversity in our nature parks – the National Parks Market once again showcases some of the most beautiful landscapes in Switzerland with so much to try, explore and experience.

It’s finally happening: At the end of May, the Bern Animal Park Dählhölzli is opening the newly designed seal enclosure. The wait is over: The seals are coming back from their “holidays” at the Swedish zoo. And what a return it will be: What awaits them is a modern enclosure with a stimulating underwater world that makes room for their natural behaviour and gives visitors an exciting peek into what happens underwater. But that’s not the only reason to visit the Animal Park in May. You might also be able to ooh and aah over the first animal babies.