The Traditional Cherry Race in Zug
Photo courtesy Zug Tourismus
Monday 22nd June 2026
Each summer, the lakeside town of Zug celebrates the beginning of cherry season with a wonderfully quirky and much-loved event: the Chriesisturm – or Cherry Race. This festival is a mix of and local produced tradition and is a great spectacle to watch. This year it is taking place on 22nd June 2026.
A Rich Cherry Heritage
Canton Zug is one of Switzerland’s leading cherry-growing regions. Cherries grow in abundance here and the fruit has been central to local life and culture for centuries. So much so, that each June, the start of the cherry harvest is marked with the ringing of the “Chriesigloggä” – the Cherry Bell – at St. Michael’s Church, followed by the Zug Cherry Market (Chriesimärt) and the famous Cherry Race through the Old Town.
A Race With a Twist – Ladders and Baskets Included
The Chriesisturm commemorates an 18th-century tradition, when the bell signalled that cherries in the communal orchards (the Allmend) were ripe for picking. Local cherry pickers would race to the trees, carrying wooden ladders and large baskets (Chriesihutten) strapped to their backs to collect the first fruit.
That tradition is now re-enacted in modern form. Today’s runners still carry oversized ladders or wear traditional baskets during the Leiterrennen (ladder race) and Huttenrennen (basket race), dashing through the narrow streets of Zug’s historic centre. It’s quite a sight – and there’s even a special children’s race!
The Zug Cherry Market and More
In addition to the races, Zug also hosts a Cherry Market from 11:00 am on the main square, Landsgemeindeplatz, selling a wide variety of cherries – including many rare types. It’s the perfect place to sample fresh produce, cherry schnapps and of course, Zuger Kirschtorte, the original cherry cake of Zug. If you’re interested in culinary heritage, the Zug Cherry Museum in the Treichler building is also worth a visit – it’s where the first cherry cake was created.
The Zug Cherry Race and Cherry Market makes for a fantastic day out for all ages.
See Some Impressions on Instagram here:
The Traditional Cherry Race in Zug
📍 Where: Landsgemeindeplatz, Old Town Zug
📅 When: Monday, 22nd June 2026
🍒 What:
– 11:00 – Cherry Market opens
– 12:00 – Ringing of the Cherry Bell & start of the races
– 13:00 – Prize ceremony at Landsgemeindeplatz
🌐 Find Out More Info here.
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