10 Bernese Highlights in September

For two weeks in late summer 2024, the city of Bern will dedicate itself to sustainability. The Sustainability Days will kick off with the opening festival on 7 September on Bahnhofplatz square which will be closed to traffic between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on that day. This will create a lively promenade with around 50 event organisers, local cuisine, an entertaining children’s programme and cosy concerts. This will be followed by a varied programme over the next two weeks that is taking place throughout the whole city. Another event highlight: the collaboration between Bern Welcome and Bernese designer Ina from Recycle Design. In the spirit of the circular economy, disused souvenirs will be reinterpreted with a new design and just a pinch of the Bernese way of life.

Nihon Masuri is a huge Japanese festival taking place on the weekend of 7 and 8 September and the perfect opportunity to see exceptional designs. During these two days, Japan’s culture is taking front and centre in the Bernisches Historisches Museum. Visitors can participate in numerous calligraphy, face painting and origami workshops and become captivated by centuries-old martial arts demonstrations and concerts with traditional instruments such as the koto. And don’t worry, your palate will not feel left out: you can eat your way across a large selection of dishes from all over the country in the Far East. And to bring a little bit of that Japanese feeling home with you, you only have to make a detour to the authentic bazaar.

Is there a chance you indulged a bit too much in gelato this summer? Seize the opportunity to hop on your bike on 8 September. The “Hallo Velo!” bike festival will be rolling into town for the seventh time and bring our favourite mode of transportation to the heart of Bern. There will be various activities on the “Bundesplatz” (Parliament Square), the Bärenplatz square and the Münsterplatz square, such as a Kids Parcours or the new Airbag Jump Experience. A big bicycle parade and impressive shows are further highlights that celebrate this sustainable mode of transportation. By the way: in addition to useful information about cycling in the canton of Bern, you can also print your own exclusive t-shirt on a bicycle equipped with a printer at Bern Welcome’s booth.

Can’t make it to the city? Mobility in harmony with nature is also part of the slow-up in the Emmental and the Oberaargau. On Sunday, 8 September, a total route of 38 kilometres will be closed to motorised vehicles. What does that mean? The streets will be open for bicycles, e-bikes, rollerblades, skateboards, wheelchairs and even hiking boots. There is no limit to what the participants can do on that day. The traffic-free roads lead past picturesque valleys and flower-decorated farmhouses. Taking part is free and everyone decides for themselves how fast and for how long they want to participate. And the fun does not end when you take a break, because there are various entertainment zones along the way.

Summer has barely arrived and is already drawing to a close – at least if Bern’s local mountain has anything to say about it. On 15 September, it is time for the annual festival for the whole family. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the popular local recreation area will be transformed into a colourful fairground with various attractions and games. There will be children’s face painting, artistic performances on a stage and many, many different games. One of the highlights is a visit to the Gurten garden where you can marvel at plants and create fantastic souvenirs.

Soon, the traditional Alpine processions will be taking place in the mountain regions. After spending the summer months on the alp, magnificently adorned cows and goats with jingling bells and farmers in their traditional costumes will be making their way back down to the valley. At the Sichlete on 16 September, you can experience this living tradition in the heart of the federal city. After midday, a procession of livestock will make its way from the National Equestrian Centre Bern across the city to the «Bundesplatz» (Parliament Square). Starting at 10 a.m., regional producers will be presenting their livestock, products and traditional customs. And if you’re feeling peckish, Swiss wrestling legend Christian «Chrigu» Stucki himself will serve you raclette.

And on we go with our traditions: more and more people are longing for the old, simple times, like telling stories by the fire, preparing dinner with home-grown vegetables and creating things with their own hands instead of ordering them online. The Brächete in Zäzwil on 25 September will conjure up the atmosphere from days past for those who yearn for, romanticise and love traditions. You can watch how flax is turned into linen fabric and how that is then used to create different products at the market. By the way: did you know that the Brächete is on Bern’s list of living traditions? It is an event full of passion and nostalgia.

We know that the city of Bern is a city of the House of Zähringer. But the federal city is not the only one in the region. Burgdorf, the picturesque town in the Emmental valley, is one as well. If this is news to you, you should definitely take part in one of the public tours of the old town. But even Burgdorf pros will learn exciting historical facts, see the most important sights and experience the diversity of the small town on this tour. The public tours take place on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The tour starts at Burgdorf Castle and ends at Kronenplatz square, the perfect place in the old town to enjoy a well-earned lunch afterwards.

Opening a café with friends is a secret dream of many. Vanessa and Nadine have made it a reality. They have successfully set up their pop-up café Essa in the premises of the old town café Lieblings. You only need to step into the café to realise that attention to detail and regional products are very important to the two friends. They not only serve delicious coffee (our tip: try the Caffè Freddo) but also appetiser platters or natural wine by Wildling. The grapes for this wine grow in the Seeland region with a view of Lake Biel. But be careful: the pop-up is only open until the end of September, so make sure to visit earlier rather than later.

September is the time to dust off your hiking boots. On the one hand, to explore the wonderful Bernese countryside, and on the other hand, to finally go on the hunt for mushrooms again. The Gantrisch Nature Park is the perfect spot for that. The park is known for its abundance of porcini mushrooms, so even beginners will not go home empty-handed. So, the next porcini mushroom risotto is practically already served up. And it will taste even better with your hand-picked mushrooms. But be careful: make sure to get your mushroom bounty checked by professionals before cooking and eating them, for example, at the Pilzkontrolle Schwarzenburg (mushroom inspection centre).