History
From an idea to Zurich's best-known Christmas event
2022
The Singing Christmas Tree comes to Waldkirch (Breisgau, Germany).
What began in Zurich in 1998 found its way to Waldkirch in 2022: a close partnership emerged, giving rise to the German original of the “Singing Christmas Tree”. Since then, the singing Christmas tree has turned the Museumsplatz in the historic abbey district into an atmospheric stage for choirs from Waldkirch and the region – a delightful and successful complement to Zurich.
2006
Move to Werdmühleplatz
The Singing Christmas Tree grew ever more popular, attracting more and more visitors. The Pestalozziwiese site became too small, so the event moved to Werdmühleplatz. There, the Christmas market was launched to complement the singing – and it has been its home ever since, right next to Bahnhofstrasse.
Today
A Zurich Christmas tradition
Since its first edition in 1998, the Singing Christmas Tree has won hearts in Zurich, across Switzerland and, for some years now, worldwide – reaching an audience of millions through the media. The daily crowds prove its enduring popularity with participants of all ages. Part of it all is the traditional Christmas market with its atmospheric huts and culinary offerings.
2017
20 years of the Singing Christmas Tree
In the anniversary year, co-founder Beat Seeberger passed away unexpectedly. Despite the great loss, André Kofmehl and his team carried on with the same passion, preserving the original idea of singing in the Advent season.
1998
An idea becomes reality
What was meant to enrich the Advent season in the city centre led to the idea of celebrating the lost tradition of seasonal singing in a new way. On the Pestalozziwiese in front of Globus, Beat Seeberger and André Kofmehl realised their vision: communal Christmas singing in public space. A scaffold shaped like an illuminated Christmas tree became a stage for children's and youth choirs and created a place of encounter in the middle of Zurich.
“We wanted to revive Christmas singing and create encounters in public space.”
André Kofmehl, co-founder and host