English Corner

Full promenade at the Zug Lake Festival. No fireworks this year, but more sound. Picture: Zug Lake Festival

Switzerland's event highlights in June

In the upcoming weeks, many public viewings will be offering live broadcasts of the European Football Championship in Germany. The calendar of events is also well-filled. We present ten recommended events taking place in Switzerland in June.

Lenzerheide Motor Classics (GR)

Over 200 historic racing and sports cars as well as motorbikes, sidecars and three-wheelers are presented at the Lenzerheide Motor Classics. These are not the kind of speed races familiar from similar events. Instead, the drivers are keen to cover the unique route together in different racing fields and offer the audience a spectacular show. Every year, around 300 enthusiastic participants join the event, showcasing everything from classic cars to exotic sports cars. The motorsport highlight kicks off on Friday evening with a guided parade through Lenzerheide.

When: 7 to 9 June 2024.
Further information: www.lenzerheidemotorclassics.ch

Motorsport fans get their money's worth in Lenzerheide. Image: dream-cars.ch

Roman Day Vindonissa (AG)

On Roman Day at Vindonissa, visitors can immerse themselves in the dramatic world of gladiator fights and the everyday life of ancient Rome from 2000 years ago. Gladiators battle for fame and honor in the Windisch amphitheater, offering an authentic spectacle against a historical backdrop. Legionaries demonstrate their marching skills, and visitors can sit in a Roman schoolroom. The show kitchen fills the air with the aromas of period specialities. Children have the chance to train as gladiators, while traders display jewellery, ceramics, and other products. Admission is 15 francs for adults and 10 francs for children up to the age of 16.

When: 9 June 2024.
Further information:
www.museumaargau.ch

Ancient spectacle against a historical backdrop on Roman Day. Image: Facebook / Roman Day Vindonissa

Greenfield Festival in Interlaken (BE)

The Greenfield Festival is the largest rock festival in Switzerland and has been held every year since 2005 at the airfield in Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland. It opens the festival season of the major Swiss open-air festivals. The beautiful Alpine panorama with views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau attracts over 70,000 visitors from Switzerland and all over Europe every year. The line-up consists of over 40 international bands. In previous years, rock stars such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rammstein, Foo Fighters, Die Toten Hosen, Die Ärzte and The Smashing Pumpkins have graced the stage. This year's line-up includes Green Day and The Prodigy.

When: 13 to 15 June 2024.
Further information:
www.greenfieldfestival.ch

Zurich Pride Festival (ZH)

Since 1994, Zurich has regularly hosted Christopher Street Day to protest against discrimination and advocate for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community (LGBTQ+ stands for "lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer," with the + sign representing solidarity with all other sexualities). In 2009, Zurich hosted Europride, leading to the renaming of Christopher Street Day to the Zurich Pride Festival. Each year, the festival site at Landiwiese transforms into a vibrant hotspot welcoming both LGBTQ+ members and heterosexuals alike. The highlight of every Zurich Pride Festival is the demonstration parade through Zurich city center.

When: 14 and 15 June 2024.
Further information: www.zurichpridefestival.ch

The Zurich Pride Festival has a fixed place in the June event calendar. Picture: ZH Tourism

Streetart-Festival Chur (GR)

Chur is the hometown of internationally renowned street artist Fabian Florin, known as "Bane." He has created several extraordinary graffiti artworks in Chur, including the largest mural in Switzerland. As the founder and president of the "Verein für urbane Kultur Graubünden," Bane is actively promoting urban culture and development, notably through the Chur Street Art Festival. This year marks the third edition of the Chur Street Art Festival. Around 60 national and international urban artists will transform the city center and old town into a vast canvas. From the train station to Welschdörfli, visitors can expect to see unique works of art adorning building facades, the entrance of a multi-storey car park, shop windows, and mobile walls.

When: 21 to 23 June 2024.
Further information: www.streetartfestival.ch

Lake Zug Festival (ZG)

The Lake Zug Festival returns to the lakeside promenade and this year ensures an unforgettable day with many local acts, a special children's programme and food stalls. Visitors can look forward to a performance by the headlining band Delilahs on Landsgemeindeplatz at 10.30 pm. The youngest guests will also get their money's worth this year: the children's band «Billy and Benno» will be performing on the Rössliwiese from 4.00 pm. There will also be a new Sunset Dance on the Gärbiplatz, where DJs Flaver & Lui invite you to dance together to music from sunset until dark.

When: 22 June 2024.
Further information: www.zug.sport/zuger-seefest/

Böögg burning in Heiden (AR)

The Böögg burning, which was cancelled in Zürich this year due to strong gusts of wind, will be held on 22 June in Heiden at the invitation of the cantonal government of Appenzell Ausserrhoden. A simple folk festival with friendly encounters between the inhabitants of Appenzell Ausserrhoden and the guests from Zurich is planned. With music, singing and entertainment as well as sausage and bread, Sechseläuten 2024 will conclude with the burning of the Böögg in Heiden. The Canton of Zurich will be represented by the President of the Cantonal Government, Natalie Rickli. The supporting programme and the burning of the Böögg will take place on the Streuliwiese next to Dunantplatz in Heiden.

When: 22 June 2024.
Further information: www.sechselaeuten.ch

For once, the Böögg burning will not take place on Sechseläutenplatz in Zurich. Picture: ZH Tourism

Stadtfest Luzern (LU)

Every year, Lucerne's Old Town and Bahnhofstrasse are transformed into a festival centre. From Löwengraben via Mühleplatz through the Old Town to Kapellplatz and the Lucerne Theatre, the people of Lucerne are offered a varied programme as part of the city festival. This year is no exception: Visitors will be able to enjoy a children's programme at Löwengraben, wine tastings at the wine market, small carnival events at Kapellplatz and a baker's breakfast on Bahnhofstrasse. There will also be exciting additional features: On Bahnhofstrasse, a stage with pop music will get people dancing. FC Lucerne will also be present on Theaterplatz.

When: 28 and 29 June 2024.
Further information: www.luzernerfest.ch

Last year, around 70,000 visitors attended the Lucerne City Festival. Image: Lucerne City Festival

(RSU)