Does my kid need to know the songs?

No. A children's choir leads the karaoke, and SING!Basel rehearses the closing song with the crowd on the spot.

When do the Christmas markets open?

Six days later. The Basel Christmas market on Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz, the new Wienachtsdorf am Theaterplatz and the Adväntsgass on Rheingasse in Kleinbasel all open on Thursday, November 26.

Upcoming

UpcomingFestival

Ystimme: Festive Opening of Basel Christmas

Name: Ystimme: Festive Opening of Basel Christmas
Start: 2026-11-20
End: 2026-11-20
Location: Marktplatz

When: Fri Nov 20
Ages: All ages
Price: Free

Ystimme: Festive Opening of Basel Christmas photo 2

Ystimme: Festive Opening of Basel Christmas photo 3

Ystimme: Festive Opening of Basel Christmas photo 4

FestivalAltstadt Grossbasel

Where

Altstadt Grossbasel, Marktplatz

Ages

All ages

Duration

2.5h

Setting

Outdoors

Language

German

Music

Christmas carols, sing-along

What you need to know

Free drinks for everyone, with mulled wine and punch handed out on the square
Works without German: the lights switch-on and the singing are easy to follow
Arrive for the start, since the lights go on right after the opening karaoke

About

Basel opens its Christmas season with a sing-along on the Marktplatz. A children's choir leads a public karaoke of Christmas classics, then government president Conradin Cramer switches on the city's Christmas lights. After that, SING!Basel teaches the crowd "All I Want for Christmas Is You" in three parts. It suits kids who like to sing and don't mind standing outdoors in the evening chill.

Free

Fri, Nov 20

5:30 PM

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