It’s that time of year again when Switzerland is filled with a plethora of festivals to choose from to make the most of the summer. Whilst the weather can sometimes be a bit unpredictable, this doesn’t mean a cancellation, so best be prepared with your hat, sunscreen and raincoat. Don’t miss out on these much-loved festivals for varying ages and music tastes.
June
Greenfield Festival ~ 8 – 10 June ~ Interlaken: This festival takes place tomorrow so clear your diary and head over to Interlaken! This year features music from famous rock artists Slipknot, Die Ärzte, Sabaton, Parkway Drive, Amon Amarth, and many more. With a view of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, you are in the heart of the Bernese Alps. Tickets are still available on the website.
Circus Knie ~ 8 – 18 June ~ Basel: Circus Knie is world-renowned and this year features an aquatic show which includes illuminated water curtains, foundations and lighting effects! This year’s artists include the comedian Marc Haller aka “Erwin from Switzerland”, a Cyr-Wheel performance, a human pyramid 14 metres high, acrobats, a BMX show, music from Evgeniya Aknazarova, and so much more. It’s guaranteed to be a night that you’ll remember. Tickets are still available via the website which is in German and French. The circus is touring through Switzerland and will be in Lucerne in December.
Festi’Neuch ~ 15 – 18 June ~ Neuchâtel: Taking place Thursday to Sunday next week this is an electronic and hip-hop festival in Neuchâtel. The Open Air Festival has over 40 artists playing live across the four days. The website is only in French.
B-Sides Festival 2023 ~ 15 – 17 June ~ Sonnenberg, Kriens: The B-Sides Festival has a wide musical range of indie and alternative music with Dalai Puma & HSLU Big Band, Japanese Breakfast, Anouchka Gwen, Film 2, Yet no Yokai and Aisha Devi taking to the Main Stage across the three days. The festival was founded in 2005 and apart from music there are varying artistic projects, children’s programmes, workshops and DJ sets. Sustainability is a key theme including not only the environment and nature but equality and community advocating inclusion, openness, diversity and the courage to try something new. There is a PDF available to download in English.
Openair Rock am Weier ~ 16 – 17 June ~ Wil: For another year the Rock am Weier takes place for free, and has a variety of artists playing across the two days. You can make a donation at the entrance to the festival to help support the running of the event. The aim of the festival is to ‘enrich the cultural life of the city of Wil’, with a multifaceted lineup and program. In addition, there will be food and market stalls to enjoy.
Stadtfest Luzern ~ 23 – 24 June ~ Luzern: The motto for the festival is: Vo Lozärn för Lozärn – Entdecke. Fiire. Begägne. A charity event of the ‘Lucerne helps’ foundation that supports the social and cultural institutions, projects and services that directly benefit the people of Lucerne Canton. Last year’s event had over 50,000 visitors. The Festival will kick-off on Friday evening at 6pm with Rüss River Zämp & Näbu Blus Sauzme at Mühleplatz and the well-known Funk-Brass band Spinning Wheel at Theaterplatz Festival.
Openair St. Gallen ~ 29 June – 2 July ~ St. Gallen: Openair St. Gallen has had some major world acts since its conception in 1977 and this year will be no exception. The headlining acts are Macklemore, Lewis Capaldi, The Lumineers, Kraftklub, Peter Fox, Sam Fender, and lots more amazing artists. As one of Switzerland’s biggest and longest running openairs there is an attendance of more than 110,000 people with the Sitterbühne (stage), named after the river that surrounds the festival site, holding up to 25,000 fans. There is a 50% discount on train tickets when you show your festival pass at the counter and a free shuttle bus from the Lagerstrasse and Breitfeld car parks that pass via Abtwil to the festival site. There are only a few tickets left so hurry before they sell out!
