Dimitri Burkhard
The Sechseläuten spring ritual is back; all eyes are on the Zurich snowman!
The Böögg is ready for his fiery fate at the Sechseläuten square in front of the opera house. Here’s your no-nonsense guide to what’s happening, where to go, and why this tradition matters.
When and Where to See the Action
This year, the burning of the Zurich snowman happens on Monday, April 28, 2025.
The parade of Zurich’s historic guilds kicks off at 3:00 PM, winding from Hauptbahnhof down Bahnhofstrasse, over Paradeplatz, and along Limmatquai before ending at Sechseläutenplatz. The Zurich snowman meets his fate around 6:00 PM, right in front of the opera house.
Want a good spot? Arrive early. By late afternoon, Sechseläutenplatz is packed. First-row seats go for 30 francs, second row for 15, but standing and bringing your own chair is free.
Insider tip: See the Böögg up close and personal. Two to three weeks before Sechseläuten, it is on display at the Zürcher Kantonalbank Kundenhalle City on Bahnhofstrasse.
Sechseläuten 2025 Parade in Zurich: Details and Insights
Weather Forecast for the Zurich Snowman
Unlike the 2024 chaos when high winds forced organizers to cancel the burning and move the snowman to Appenzell Ausserrhoden, the weather is on our side in 2025.
Winds are expected to be gentle, around 5 km/h, with no rain in sight and temperatures just under 20°C. The parades are a go, and the Zurich snowman is set to burn on schedule this time.
What's the Significance of the Böögg?
The Böögg is the main event at Zurich’s Sechseläuten, hands down. Picture a giant snowman, stuffed with fireworks, sitting high on a woodpile in the middle of the city.
He’s not just there for show. The Böögg stands in for winter itself. Burning him is Zurich’s way of saying, “We’re done with the cold. Bring on the sun.”
This tradition has deep roots, tracing back to times when people would burn effigies to symbolically drive away winter and welcome the arrival of spring.
Here’s how it goes down: At exactly 6:00 PM, the Böögg gets set on fire at Sechseläutenplatz. As the flames take over, guild members on horseback circle the blaze three times.
But everyone’s eyes are on the Böögg’s head. It’s loaded with explosives, and when it finally blows, that’s the moment. People swear the faster it explodes, the better the summer ahead.
Slow burn? Expect more rain and gray skies.
Once the Böögg’s head explodes, locals grill sausages over the embers and the city’s guilds keep the party going with music and lantern-lit strolls.
Burning the Böögg pulls the whole city together. It’s history, tradition, and a fresh start all rolled into one wild evening. What started as a rowdy prank for kids is now Zurich’s biggest spring party, and the Böögg is the undisputed star.
Guest Canton Zug: What’s New at Lindenhof in 2025
After 18 years, Zug returns as this year’s guest canton. They’re bringing their A-game to Lindenhof with their “Kirschen, Krypto & Klischees” exhibition.
Here’s what’s on offer:
- Zuger Kirschtorte (cherry cake), Chriesiwurst (cherry sausage), and Walchwiler Bergkäse (mountain cheese)
- Baarer Bier and Etter Kirsch schnapps
- Live music from local students and bands
- A shop with Zug-made products and tourism experts ready to answer your questions
- Playful takes on Zug’s reputation for wealth, crypto, and luxury cars
Visitors will discover whether Zug residents actually swim in money, if there truly are more mailboxes than apartments, whether the canton lacks entertainment options, if everyone drives luxury vehicles, and whether people pay for pastries with cryptocurrency...
Street Closures and Getting Around
Large parts of Zurich’s center districts 1 and 2 are closed to traffic on Sunday and Monday. Expect detours, rerouted trams, and packed sidewalks.
If you’re coming for the Zurich snowman, plan to walk or use public transport, but check for changes before you go. The Zurich Stadelhofen train station is just a brief walk from the main action, so we always recommend getting there by train.
Fun Facts (And Mishaps) About the Zurich Snowman
The Böögg has seen his fair share of wild mishaps and legendary blunders over the years. In 1921, a student-allegedly spurred on by communists-set the pyre alight hours too early, forcing organizers to scramble for a replacement so the show could go on.
The Zurich snowman has toppled off his perch more than once, and in 1923, heavy rain made burning him impossible.
Wartime brought its own chaos: in 1944, with Sechseläutenplatz turned into a potato field, the festival moved to Enge harbor-where the Böögg promptly fell into Lake Zurich before onlookers fished him out and tossed his head into the fire.
Fast forward to 2006, and the Böögg was kidnapped from his builder’s garage, replaced with a ransom note and a chocolate bunny. The culprits, calling themselves “1. Mai Strasse frei,” left the city scrambling for a stand-in snowman, but the festivities carried on as planned.
More recently, the Böögg has been burned far from home: in 2021, pandemic restrictions sent him to the Schöllenenschlucht Gorge. And in 2024, high winds pushed the burning to Appenzell Ausserrhoden, months after the original date.
If you thought Zurich’s snowman was just a simple tradition, these stories prove the Böögg has survived more plot twists than most movie heroes!
The Zurich snowman is a living tradition that brings the city together every spring. If you want to see Zurich at its most authentic, this is the weekend to do it.
Bill Harby
