26 May 2013 | 10 am - 5 pm

Poultry, rabbits, pigeons and cage birds – but: Which rooster will be Swiss champion? The numerous fowl, rabbits, pigeons and caged birds in the Bernese Midlands group of buildings come in a multitude of colours, shapes and behaviours. And at the 6th Swiss Rooster-Crowing Contest, birds from all over try to beat the current record of 126 rooster calls an hour.

2 June 2013 | 10 am - 4.30 pm

The merriment is contagious as people wearing the traditional costumes of cantons Solothurn, Aargau, Basel City and Country cast their spell at Ballenberg. Throughout the Museum grounds visitors are entranced by cheery dancing, folklore performances and colourful costumes. The closing dance performance, at 4pm at the East Midlands group of buildings, by several hundred costume-wearing individuals, is the undisputed highlight of the day.

29 to 30 June 2013 | 10 am - 4.30 pm

A Swiss disk-throwing sport from the 15th century. If you spot shiny discs flying through the air this weekend – fear not, it’s no alien invasion but part of the game of Platzgen, as members of clubs from the canton of Bern give their all in a demonstration of the traditional sport.

6 to 7 July 2013 | 10 am - 5 pm

Be tempted by the fragrances and vital energy of herbal medicines. This time of year, in special gardens, medicinal herbs, edible herbs and dyes are in full bloom. Enthusiasts of natural medicine and therapy meet at the historic pharmacy where Ballenberg’s chemists and their partners welcome visitors. Why not take a free guided tour through the medicinal herb and scent garden while you’re there? Not to mention that a closer look at the redesigned exhibit in the historic pharmacy would no doubt be worth your while.

8 to 28 July 2013 | 10 am - 5 pm

Wood from our forest is transformed into charcoal for the barbeque. During these three weeks you can observe Ballenberg’s charcoal-makers at their craft. Turning 60 to 70 cubic metres of firewood into a mound of charcoal takes between ten and 12 days. After everything has cooled down, three to four tons of charcoal are ready for use. While this is going on, the Ballenberg Course Centre helps you learn more about historic charcoal production.

10 July to 24 August 2013 | 8.15 pm - 10.00 pm

The Ballenberg Country Theatre performs, in the Swiss dialect, the fable “Dr Vollechiehjer”, by Albert Streich from Brienz. Script: Tim Krohn, Director: Renate Adam.

Here’s a play (in Swiss dialect) featuring music and love in times of great need. It is 1930 and the world economic crisis has engulfed Switzerland. Trade has collapsed, tourists stay away in droves and the good people of Brienz suffer from near-starvation, seeing no way out. A girl with a romantic outlook on life, Elsi (Mona Petri) and Hänsel, a junior cowherd on Bätten Alp, are hopelessly in love – and happy – in spite of their poverty. But trying to prove his worth, Hänsel courts misfortune.

1 August 2013 | 9 am - 13.00 pm

What better way to celebrate the Swiss national holiday than with a hearty breakfast at the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum? Enjoy a plentiful and varied buffet of home-made Ballenberg specialities at the house from Ostermundigen, from 9am to 12 noon! The official programme, with traditional music and addresses kicks off at 10.30 in the morning.

8 to 16 August 2013 | 10 am - 5 pm

Unique in Switzerland! Lime-burning was once widespread, but industrial cement production virtually put a stop to this fascinating craft. During the 2013 Museum season, after a one-year hiatus, it’s time to fire up the Ballenberg lime kiln once more.

7 to 8 September 2013 | 10 am - 5 pm

The motto for 2013: Fire Light Energy. The historic buildings at Ballenberg bear witness to the ways the ancients dealt with fire, light and energy in past centuries. Fire was the source of light, warmth, heat for cooking and for baking – but also a constant danger. Visit our kitchens with their open hearths, our smoke kitchens, the bakehouse and dairy. You might also pass by the ruins of the farmhouse from Primadegno, destroyed by fire in 1994, which stands as a sober reminder of the risks.

21 to 22 September 2013 | 10 am - 5 pm

A meeting of donkeys and mules from every corner of Switzerland. Discover interesting facts about breeding and keeping these fascinating animals. Particularly skilled four-legged friends strutt their stuff in the Ballenberg arena, and children and adults alike can enjoy a mule ride. The highlight is a donkey parade through the Ballenberg grounds.

22 September 2013 | 10 am - 5 pm

A big thank-you to our sponsors. Did you fall in love with a particular animal, or building, or even a tree, at Ballenberg? Support the Open-Air Museum by becoming a sponsor. On Sponsors’ Day the Museum says thank you to all its sponsors. After an official aperitif at 11am, sponsors get a chance to visit their favourite object –whether it is an animal, building or simply a tree.

28 to 29 September 2013 | 10 am - 5 pm

Products made by hand from Ballenberg and the surrounding region. At the crafts market you can watch craft demonstrations and buy a wide variety of products home-made at the Open-Air Museum. As part of our year of crafts we invite craftspeople to show visitors their trade. We also take advantage of the opportunity to put our cider press and schnaps distillery back in operation.

6 October 2013 | 10 am - 5 pm

A festive atmosphere at Ballenberg from the canton south of the Alps. Authentic ambience prevails at the impressive Novazzano estate and we invite you to celebrate in the Ticino style of old: in pub-like grottos with risotto, polenta, luganighe and a boccalino of wine – all to the strains of la bella musica ticinese.

19 to 20 October 2013 | 10 am - 5 pm

Processing attractive flax plants into linen products goes through many stages. Ballenberg experts at the house from Madiswil show you how flax used to be rippled, roasted, scutched, heckled, spun and woven. Learn how flax is turned into delicate linen fabric – perhaps as you imbibe a shot of the traditional Brächete-Brönnts scutching schnaps. Alternatively, you might sample some of the produce from the Ballenberg gardens.

27 October 2013 | 10 am - 5 pm

Five patrons’ associations, one objective – that of supporting the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum. Without the pioneering work as well as the ideological and financial support of its patrons’ associations, Ballenberg could not have become what it is today. On this last Sunday of the season, members of all five associations will be present on the Museum grounds and delighted to engage in conversations with visitors. New members are always welcome.