2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship 
Every year during the first weekend of December, the city of Fribourg honours its patron saint, St. Nicholas, with a special celebration.
HISTORY:
In Fribourg, the anniversary of the Saint's death is a festival firmly rooted in tradition. At the end of the day, St. Nicholas, escorted by the whipping fathers, rides out on a donkey and greets the crowds, handing out sweets to the children. At the end of the procession, he addresses the people of Fribourg, who have come to celebrate him, with a speech inspired by the events of the past year. The procession is accompanied by a market selling sweets and handicrafts. Patron saint of Russia, the city and canton of Fribourg, sailors and children, St. Nicholas was bishop of Myre (in present-day Turkey) in the Byzantine period around the 4th century.
PARADE:
As soon as night falls, St. Nicholas leaves Collège St-Michel, mounted on his donkey and greeting and blessing the crowds. Escorted by the whipping fathers and his entire troop (donkey driver, cantor, carriage-bearer, butcher), he distributes biscuits all along the route. He advances towards the Cathedral to the sound of the St-Michel choir, the Marmousets, the Enchanteurs, the Fifres and the Fanfare of the Collège St-Michel. From the terrace of St-Nicolas Cathedral, he addresses the city's "Children" in French and German.
The procession officially departs at 5pm.
The speech begins at around 6pm. A giant screen rebroadcasts it live on the Place de l'Hôtel-de-Ville.
ROUTES :
rue du Collège St-Michel - rue de Romont - rue de Lausanne - rue du Pont Muré - stop in front of St-Nicolas Cathedral - speeches - return via rue de Lausanne and rue St-Michel...
THE FESTIVAL TAKES PLACE EVERY YEAR ON THE FIRST WEEKEND IN DECEMBER.
Program for the 3 days of festivities here
Saturday: Public transportation is offered by the City and Agglomeration of Freiburg in zones 10 and 11.
On Saturday the Bourg is closed to traffic from 7am. (to be confirmed)
On Sunday the rue Pierre-Aeby will be partially closed to traffic between 10am to 6pm.
Parking proposition:
Parking Belle-Croix (Coop Fribourg-Sud, Villars-sur-Glâne, P+R Corbaroche (Marly), P+R La Grange (Platy, Villars-sur-Glâne), P+R Heitera (Schoenberg, Fribourg) and P+R St-Léonard (Fribourg).
Fribourg Tourisme et Région
Place Jean-Tinguely 1
Case postale 448
1700 Fribourg
+41 26 350 11 11
