Knabenschiessen: Zurich’s biggest excuse for a day of fun

If you’ve recently moved to Zurich, or have been living here for a while now, and heard someone say “Knabenschiessen”  (which roughly translates into "boys shooting") and thought, Sorry… what exactly are we shooting here? - welcome to Zurich:)

Today is Knabenschiessen, one of Zurich’s biggest annual public celebrations, and if you have children, it is one local tradition you’ll definitely want on your radar.

And yes, despite the slightly alarming name, nobody is shooting children. Promise.

So, what actually is Knabenschiessen?

If the name makes you wonder “Why on earth were children shooting rifles?” - there is a rather fascinating bit of history behind it.

The tradition goes back to 17th-century Zurich, when boys were given weapons training as part of their preparation for military service. Young boys practised with spears and other weapons, while older boys took part in more formal military exercises. The shooting competition was essentially the grand finale of this training: a chance for the boys to put their skills to the test - and, naturally, compete for prizes and bragging rights.

The first written record of the Knaben Schiesset dates to 1656, when around 150 boys took part. So while today we might see Knabenschiessen primarily as a huge Zurich tradition and family day out, its roots are firmly planted in the old Swiss tradition of preparing young men for military service.

The modern Knabenschiessen was established in its current form in 1899 at Albisgütli. And there has been a rather important update since then: girls have been allowed to take part in the shooting competition since 1991 (the year Switzerland celebrated the 700th anniversary of the Confederation). To take part in the shooting part - participants must be 13 to 17 years old and live, study, or train in the Canton of Zurich

Today, of course, most of us know Knabenschiessen for something considerably more exciting than marksmanship...

IT’S A HUGE FUNFAIR.

Knabenschiessen takes place annually on the second weekend of September and has grown into Zurich’s largest annual public festival, with food stalls, market stands, entertainment and, most importantly in the eyes of many small people, A LOT OF RIDES.

And this is where we come in.

Academicus is closed for Knabenschiessen so our team can enjoy the festivities too - and you’ll probably find us somewhere between the rides, snacks and squeals of delight.

There is something for pretty much every age.

• Little ones: gentle carousels and rides that don’t require quite so much bravery.

• Bigger kids: more adventurous rides and plenty of opportunities to test their “I’m definitely not scared!” confidence.

• Older children: well… let’s just say there are rides where you may find yourself wondering whether you are actually brave enough to accompany them.

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Our top tip? Go early.

The festival runs 12–14 September 2026, and the funfair gets busy. If you have younger children, heading over around opening time - 11:00 - is a very good strategy before the crowds really get going.

And if you’re new to Zurich, this is exactly the sort of thing we love about living here.

You don’t have to understand every tradition immediately. You don’t have to speak perfect Swiss German. You simply have to show up, join in and make some memories.

At Academicus, we’re shooting for the stars.

While we may not be spending our day shooting rifles, we are always aiming high.

At Academicus, we believe childhood is about so much more than keeping little people busy. It’s about broadening horizons, following curiosity and developing a lifelong love of learning.

It’s about giving children opportunities to discover:

“I wonder…”“Can I try?”“What happens if…?”“I can do it!”

And, of course, having a whole lot of fun along the way.

So once the Knabenschiessen rides have stopped spinning, come and join us at Academicus for a weekday activity - or a weekend event - full of learning, connection and memory-making.

During the week

Our weekday programmes give little learners a chance to explore, experiment, move, create and connect - from our Sensory Babies and Sensory for Toddlers classes to our English and Polish playgroups, afternoon playgroup programmes for older kids, and more.

And weekends? We think they’re made for making memories.

Join us for:

Sensory for Babies & Toddlers - because little brains are busy little things.

Family Concerts with LIVE music - because experiencing music together is rather magical (and happens to be super beneficial for your child's developing brain).

Ballet Storytimes - because stories, movement and imagination make a pretty wonderful combination.

So today, go ride the carousel. Eat the questionable amount of sugar. Cheer your brave little daredevils on from the sidelines.

And make the most of being part of this wonderfully quirky city we get to call home.

Happy Knabenschiessen, Zurich!

And remember: while the city is shooting for the bullseye today, we’re shooting for the stars.

See you very soon!

Here's to raising smarter, more confident & resilient children - and more often than not, it starts with us.

Your partner in success,

Mags Salton

MA Applied Linguistics & Education

AMI Certified Montessori Assistant to Infancy

Matrescence Expert

Founder of Academicus

Mother of Three