On the first Saturday in December, the pre-Christmas mood takes hold of Beckenried. During the day, over 70 market stands propose handmade objects, gifts and various arts and crafts. Culinary specialties are typical local dishes like Bratchäs (roasted cheese), Aelplermagronen (pasta with bacon, cheese and apple sauce), broiled beef (a whole ox is being roasted on the skewer), apple pie, hot wine, and much more. In the evening, St-Nicolas enters the village with his coach and horse, accompanied by 400 Trichler (bell ringers), wonderfully lighted "Iffelen" (people wearing enormous lantern hats), horn blowers and whip crackers. The St-Nicolas procession starts at 20.00 hours at the Sternen hotel and arrives at 20.30 at the central village square. Here, the bell ringers start moving in big circles, producing lots of noise to chase out the evil spirits from the community.