Buskers Bern – Three Days That Feel Like One Big Shared Flat

Buskers Bern – Three Days That Feel Like One Big Shared Flat

The Buskers is one of my favourite city festivals in Bern. It has that rare kind of magic: a mix of surprise, connection, and the feeling that the city becomes smaller – and bigger – at the same time. People who might never cross paths suddenly stand side by side, sharing a song, a glance, a moment.

From August 8 to 10, 2024, the Old Town once again turned into a giant stage: 69,000 visitors, over 150 artist groups from all over the world – music, acrobatics, street art. No tickets, no barriers, just jump right in.

When Giving Becomes an Experience

The beauty of Buskers is that it runs on trust. If you like, you give a solidarity contribution so it can happen again next year. Usually, you get a wristband or a programme in return – nice, but there’s room for more.

Ideas That Stick

This year, while wandering through the streets, I had a spark:

• A limited mini-illustration as a small artistic keepsake.
• A hidden “Buskers Easter Egg” that only supporters can find.
• Or my favourite: if you wear a wristband, you get to write your name on a small stone and add it to a growing pile. By the end of the festival, that pile becomes a three-dimensional, visible thank-you – showing at a glance how many people carried it together.

Design Meets Community

These kinds of ideas turn an anonymous donation into a shared experience. It’s not just about giving – it’s about becoming part of it. And maybe that’s the real point: design isn’t only what we see – it’s how we connect.