10 Bernese highlights in November

Things are getting exciting and mysterious in the Emmental: The Burgdorf Crime Days, Switzerland’s largest crime festival, is once again underfoot. From 1 to 10 November, the Zähringer town will be the backdrop for murder, manslaughter and black magic for the 16th time. This year’s Crime Days revolve around the motto “In the hole”, with a varied programme taking place in cultural institutions, the castle, the city library and restaurants. Whether it’s a hole-in-one on the golf course, the prison hole or a coffin in an earthy hole, the motto promises a variety of crime stories. And the programme is just as exciting: you can experience true crime stories in the theatre, at readings or even in the form of dance or comedy. And if your throat has dried up from all the amazement and puzzles, you should stop by the Krimibeiz (crime bar) in the Casino Burgdorf.

Why not tidy up your home during this "Huduwätter” (rainy weather)? The whole flat might be a bit ambitious, but maybe you could start with your wardrobe. You might find two similar turtlenecks in an autumnal orange, but no matching jeans. No problem! On 2 November, Güter, a shop organised as a cooperative, is hosting a big clothes swap. Everybody is welcome to come and swap for all they’re worth. Who knows, maybe someone is looking for your orange turtleneck and can offer you a pair of jeans. You can show up with or without something to swap and take a look around. If you’re bringing some items with you, please limit yourself to ten beautiful pieces.

Planes and the notion of flying are fascinating. As are the cinematic universe and immersing yourself in stories. Combining all of it can only lead to a captivating result. Successful movies like “Grounding”, “Sully”, “Catch Me If You Can”, “Flight” and, of course, “Top Gun” are proof of that. Bern Airport is going full out and showing all of them as well as other aviation classics from Hollywood in an exceptional location: from 7 to 16 November, the airport’s aircraft hangar will be transformed into a cinema every Thursday and Saturday. This is the perfect spot to escape the unpredictable weather in November and a great alternative to watching a movie at home. There may not be a fridge around the corner, but the team in the hangar will take care of your physical well-being as well.

Do you want to experience something for the first time? Mark 8 to 10 November in your calendar. It’s on that weekend that the Berne World Cup, the only épée world cup tournament in Switzerland, is taking place in the Mobiliar Arena in Gümligen. Watching the world’s best epée fencers compete will be a novelty for many. Athletes from around 60 different nations will don their distinctive suits and masks and compete. A match lasts a maximum of nine minutes, and the goal is to touch the target areas on the opponent’s body with the tip of the épée. Whoever scores 15 points first, wins the duel. Now, isn’t that an exciting way to pass a weekend?

“Dale a tu cuerpo alegría, Macarena. Heeeey, Macarena.” Very few people know that this song is by the band Los del Rio. However, most people will know the corresponding dance moves. Dancing unites and promotes joy. Even though each country has their own dancing traditions, we cannot fathom a world or a culture without dance. The new “Dance!” exhibition at the Museum of Communication (starting from 8 November) is dedicated to this phenomenon: the special power of rhythmic movement, the link between dance and (youth) cultures and instances when a dance move might be cause for irritation and embarrassment. From the classic Viennese waltz to modern Tiktok trends, this exhibition lets visitors immerse themselves in the world of one of humanity’s most beautiful pastimes.

Which instruments are played in a symphony orchestra? Which brass instrument produces the lowest note? How do I hold a baton correctly? How does it feel to pluck the string of a violin? The Bern Symphony Orchestra’s first open-door day “The casino is buzzing” will not only answer all of these questions but let you find out yourself. The Casino Bern, in collaboration with the Bern Symphony Orchestra, will open its doors to everybody from 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Participation in the various workshops is free and requires no registration. If you want to see and hear the instruments in action after learning all about them, you might want to attend the family concert “Night” afterwards.

A relaxing walk is a great way to get your daily dose of vitamin D in autumn. The canton of Bern has a multitude of routes to choose from. In Laupen, for example, you can follow in the footsteps of the Romans. In Lanzenhäusern, you can stroll past historic Spycher (outhouses). And in Berken in the Oberaargau, you can discover the idyllic Steinbach pond. If you’d rather stay in the city of Bern, you are spoilt for choice as well. When’s the last time that the locals have walked up the Gurten without a festival bracelet around their wrists? By the way: Don’t ever let the weather dampen your mood. On the contrary! Just think of how much fun it is to jump into puddles with your wellies!

The weather in autumn can be beautiful. However, once the days get shorter, we are starting to yearn for far off places. Wouldn’t it be nice to discover San Francisco’s neighbourhoods with their legendary cable cars? We can’t offer quite that, but the restaurant Steinhalle will take you on a culinary trip through the American city. The restaurant was awarded 17 Gault Millau points as well as a Michelin star, and in October, it will take you to San Francisco and Napa Valley. By the way: If you’d like to enjoy excellent cuisine on the regular, the canton of Bern is the right place for you. Here are some addresses for the gourmets among us.

Let’s not kid ourselves: Sometimes, the fog and the rain will take away your motivation to leave the house. Why don’t you organise a games night with friends or family so you can enjoy yourself during "Huduwätter” (bad weather) as well? Soon, the weather won’t matter anymore, and the games might get so action-packed that the players will feel transported to other places and forget that they are in a heated “Stubä” (living room). The Bernese game “Löu” is especially sociable – the card game is centred around Bernese swear words such as “Glünggi” (klutz) and “Sürmu” (cheeky person).

Hearing the word “Zibelemärit” conjures up a different image for everybody who lives in Bern. Whether that is a toddler throwing confetti at the grown-ups, or a more adult (but not necessarily wiser) person dancing the night away at the Zibele rave or shopping for beautifully braided “Zibelezüpfe” (onion plaits), everybody has their own connection to this beautiful festival. By the way: it is listed as a “living Swiss tradition”. Wind or snow, rain or shine – a true local will not be discouraged by the weather: on 25 november the colourful hustle and bustle of the festival starts at 6 a.m., no matter what. What a wonderful way to finish off November (and with a long weekend at that) and make way for Advent season.