The Swiss overcome their serious reputation with a host of wild, wacky and wonderful festivals!

Silvesterkläuse (Urnäsch)
The Silvesterkläuse celebrate the New Year on January 13th in a custom almost entirely confined to the area surrounding the village of Urnäsch in the half-canton of Appenzell Outer-Rhodes. The best known Kläuse wear elaborate masks and costumes with huge cowbells and carry enormous headdresses depicting typical local scenes. These are known as "beautiful" Kläuse, while the "ugly" Kläuse wear demonic masks, and rough garments. "Forest" Kläuse dress in foliage and brushwood. The Kläuse go from farmhouse to farmhouse, where they perform a special kind of yodel, and bring New Year greetings.

International Balloon Festival (Château-d'Oex)
For eight colourful days in the end of January, the Alpine village of Château-d’Oex accommodates around 80 hot air balloons coming from 20 different countries. It is quite a spectacular sight to behold! For more information visit www.festivaldeballons.ch/?Lang=EN

Vogel Gryff Festival (Basel)
The Vogel Gryff festival is held in Kleinbasel, the part of Basel on the right bank of the Rhine River, the traditional rival of the richer area on the left bank. The date of the festival rotates according to a three year cycle between 13, 20 and 27 January. Three heraldic figures, "Vogel Gryff" (a griffin), "Wild Maa" (wild man) and "Leu" (lion) dance in the streets of the town, accompanied by three drummers, three standard-bearers and four "Ueli" (jesters), who collect money for the needy of Kleinbasel. It starts with the Wild Maa floating down the Rhine on a raft. He symbolically presents his back to the left bank, indicating the disdain of the people of Kleinbasel for their wealthier neighbours.

Epiphany
Epiphany falls on January 6th, and is known as Three Kings Day. Traditionally it marks the day when the three kings presented their gifts to the baby Jesus. A widespread custom on this day is "star singing". Some of the singers are dressed as the three kings and carry a star with them as they sing in the streets, village squares or go from house to house. In the Lötschental in Canton Valais the festival takes place on January 5th, when elaborately dressed kings parade on hobby horses accompanied by jesters.

Whip-Cracking Festival (Schwyz)
In Schwyz on 6 January, a whip-cracking competition is held on a stage in the town square, while children show off their skills in the side streets. The crowd is also treated to a colourful procession called "Japanese"- a carnival dressed in Japanese-style costumes, accompanied by three horse riders and a band, who throw sweets to the children.

Carnival
It’s carnival time in many towns with lively parades, musicians and elaborate costumes. Carnival in Switzerland may not be quite the spectacle that it is in Rio, but anybody who thinks the Swiss are conservative may be surprised at the festivities. During the carnival season, participants let their hair down and enjoy life to the fullest. Masks and costumes help people take on a new identity while they parade through the streets. Carnival is held throughout Switzerland, but the dates and details vary from canton to canton. It is normally just before or just after the beginning of Lent. Carnival is best known in Basel, but it’s also lively in Zurich, Lucerne and Fribourg.

Cow Fighting Festival (lower Valais)
Every Sunday, from March through May, the feisty Eringer breed of cows will be competing with each other in the hope of winning one of the coveted winners’ bells suspended from hand-worked leather collars. Don’t expect to see bloody fights. The cows stamp their hooves, bellow, and dare their opponents to approach, before locking horns with a show of pushing and shoving. There are rarely any injuries. Cows that do not want to participate are simply allowed to leave the ring. Cow fighting is an ancient tradition in Switzerland. These days Eringers are bred solely for combat, rather than for their milk and meat.

May Day
The return of the month of May has always been a time of rejoicing and celebrations, marked by special customs in different regions. In Begnins at Lake Geneva, such a local custom has been preserved for centuries. It is now a festival which is entirely reserved to children, delighting them with presents, games, tea parties and other entertainment. Other special celebrations take place in Gallen and Vaud.

Lugano Festival Jazz
For five days in the medieval town of Lugano, 17 free jazz concerts entertain jazz fans from around the globe. It is now one of the biggest festivals of its kind in Europe. Visit this site for more information: www.estivaljazz.ch

Piazza Blues Festival
On the last weekend in June, the open-air Piazza Blues Festival attracts multitudes of jazz and blues fans to Bellinzona. To ensure that night owls don't get bored after the concerts, there are regular jam sessions during the festival that last into the early hours of the morning. With the exception of these jam sessions, admission to the Piazza Blues Festival is free. Visit this site for more information: www.piazzablues.ch

JazzAscona New Orleans & Classics Festival
This popular festival features New Orleans jazz and Classic jazz with over 400 hours of music on 12 stages with 250 artists. It takes place in Ascona during ten days from the end of June to the beginning of July. Since its beginning, the festival has featured a number of jazz legends and maintains its characteristics of a convivial festival and a privileged meeting point for all jazz lovers. Call or email for more information: Tel: +41 (0)91 791 00 91 / Email: buongiorno@maggiore.ch

Montreux Jazz Festival
At the foot of the Alps on the banks of Lake Geneva, the Montreux Jazz Festival delights and entertains thousands of jazz fans with sixteen days of outdoor and indoor concerts by over 250 jazz bands. For more information and advance ticketing, visit www.montreuxjazz.com 

Paleo Rock Festival (Nyon)
This lively festival takes place over a week in late July in a field outside town, with an excellent line-up of musicians attracting hundreds of thousands of revellers. The festival mixes headline concerts and new discoveries in Nyon’s biggest party and one of Europe’s biggest rock festivals. Tickets are cheaper if you buy them early, and a six-day pass offers great savings. Round-trip transport from Nyon to the site and back is free. For more information visit www.paleo.ch

Grindelwald Yodelling Festival (Bernese Oberland)
Under colourful parasols, people meet under the open sky, surrounded by meadows, flowers and rushing mountain streams to hear the sound of Switzerland. This ages old folk festival takes place at the beginning of July at Bachläger Alp on First Mountain (2,000 metres). Email the Grindelwald Tourist Centre for more information: touristcenter@grindelwald.ch

Geneva Festival
Enjoy ten days of warm August nights and days of music, dancing, drinking, and celebrating all things Geneva. One of the biggest and most popular summer events in Switzerland, the Geneva Festival attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world. Before the festival officially begins, the Club Stage at the English Garden offers free concerts and shows every evening. The festival kicks off with a firework show and for the next ten days Geneva turns into a rocking party with music and dance performances, the annual Cafe Waiters Race, more dazzling fireworks and other fun-filled activities for the whole family. Contact the Geneva Tourism Office on +41 (0) 22 909 7000.

Interlaken Music Festival
The Interlaken Music Festival is one of the most important events on the Swiss classical music calendar. Performers at this annual summer spectacle always include leading international orchestras and soloists. Symphony and chamber music concerts fill the air during end of August. Visit www.interlaken-classics.ch for more information.

Lucerne Music Festival
This international music festival was established in 1938, when Arturo Toscanini conducted a memorable Concert de Gala in front of Richard Wagner‘s former residence on Tribschen. In the following decades, the festival emerged as one of today’s leading concert festivals. World-renowned orchestras and conductors perform for guests in this truly enchanting medieval town. 

Ouchy Jazz Festival (Lausanne)
A very popular lakeside weekend, Ouchy Jazz is filled with live music of all kinds (blues, rock and of course, jazz). The pier is packed with people, musicians, dancers and food stalls making it more of an overall summer fest than strictly a musical one. This is great for kids who can splash around in the fountains or swim in the lake. Admission is free. Held at Place de la Navigation, Ouchy, Lausanne. Phone: +41 (0) 21 613 7321

International Film & Television Festival (Geneva)
This world-renowned festival is held in Geneva to honour some of the most creative and innovative works made for television or cinema. The festival also includes a Children's Day, film previews, and a film market. Events take place for six days from the end of October to the beginning of November at Cinéma Tout Ecran, Maison des Arts du Gruetli, Geneva. Visit the official website for more information: www.cinema-tout-ecran.ch/2005/index_e.html

Christmas Tree Festival (Geneva)
Geneva comes alive throughout the Christmas season with numerous events, but one of the newest is the installation dozens of artistically decorated Christmas trees throughout the city. The festival invites artists from across Switzerland and Europe to create themed trees with artistic lighting effects and other innovative touches. Some of the best trees are clustered around Place St-Gervais, Place de Chevelu, Place de l'Ile and other areas around the river. The entire event is free. Phone: +41 (0) 22 342 4300

New Year's Day: 1 January
Epiphany Day: 6 January*
Good Friday: March / April
Easter Sunday: March / April
Easter Monday: March / April
Ascension Day: 40th day after Easter
Whit Sunday & Monday: 7th week after Easter
Labour Day: 1 May*
National Day: 1 August
Assumption Day: 15 August*
All Saints' Day: 1 November*
Christmas Day: 25 December
Saint Stephen’s Day: 26 December