Festivals in Switzerland: 2008
- Here's a list of the most important events in Switzerland for 2008. For more information about these and other events, please visit www.myswitzerland.com, www.topevents.ch, and www.whatsonwhen.com. Note that Catholic areas of Switzerland may observe different holidays than Protestant areas (as noted).
- NOTE: Before planning a trip around a festival, make sure that you verify the festival dates at the festival or local TI's website.
- Related travel information in Switzerland.
| Jan 1 | New Year's Day | Switzerland |
| Jan 2 | Harder Potschete (parade of masked children, awards) | Interlaken (Berner Oberland) |
| Jan 6 | Epiphany (religious festival, some closures) | Switzerland |
| Feb | Mardi Gras (also called "Karneval" or "Fasnacht," usually with parades, costumes, and other celebrations; dates vary--in Bern see www.baernerfasnacht.ch, in Zürich see www.zurichcarneval.ch, in Basel see www.fasnacht.ch) | Especially Luzern, Bern, Zürich, and Basel |
| March-May | International Jazz Festival (www.jazzfestivalbern.ch) | Bern |
| March 8-16 | International Easter Music Festival (classical, www.lucernefestival.ch) | Luzern |
| March 21 | Good Friday (some closures) | Switzerland |
| March 23 | Easter Sunday | Switzerland |
| March 24 | Easter Monday (some closures) | Switzerland |
| Mid-April | Sechseläuten (spring festival, parades, "winter" effigy burned; www.sechselaeuten.ch) | Zürich |
| April 27 | Open-Air Parliament (last Sun in April; public selection of delegates) | Appenzell |
| May 1 | Ascension Day (religious festival, closures) | Switzerland |
| May 11 | Whit Sunday (Pentecost) | Switzerland |
| May 12 | Whit Monday (religious festival, closures) | Switzerland |
| May 22 | Corpus Christi (religious festival, closures) | Catholic areas |
| Early June | Bern Dance Festival ("Berner Tanztage," international performers, www.tanztage.ch) | Bern |
| June 19-Sept 6 | William Tell Performance (open-air theater, www.tellspiele.ch) | Interlaken |
| Mid-June-early July | Zürich Festival (theater, opera, music, art exhibits, www.zuercher-festspiele.ch) | Zürich |
| July 3-5 | Estival Jazz (www.estivaljazz.ch) | Lugano |
| July 4-19 | Montreux International Jazz Festival (www.montreuxjazz.com) | Montreux (Lake Geneva) |
| July 4-12 | City Festival (art, music, theater, open-air performances, www.festivalcite.ch) | Lausanne (Lake Geneva) |
| July 17-20 | Gurten Open-Air Rock Festival (www.gurtenfestival.ch) | Bern |
| July 22-27 | Paleo Music Festival (www.paleo.ch) | Nyon (near Geneva) |
| Aug 1 | Swiss National Day (speeches, music, sports, fireworks, bonfires, closures) | Switzerland |
| Aug 13-Sept 21 | International Music Festival (classical, www.lucernefestival.ch) | Luzern |
| Aug 15 | Feast of the Assumption (religious festival, closures) | Catholic areas |
| Oct 3-5 | Festa d'Autunno (food and wine festival) | Lugano |
| Nov 1 | All Saints' Day | Catholic areas |
| Nov 17-23 | Luzern Piano Music Festival (www.lucernefestival.ch) | Luzern |
| Nov | Traditional Onion Market Fair ("Zibelemärit," farmer's market, confetti, jesters) | Bern |
| Dec | Christmas Fairs | Switzerland |
| Dec 6 | St. Nicholas Day | Catholic areas |
| Dec 8 | Feast of the Immactulate Conception | Catholic areas |
| Dec 25 | Christmas (closures) | Switzerland |
| Dec 26 | St. Stephen's Day (closures) | Switzerland |