Zurich Film Festival
Every autumn, the Zurich Film Festival attracts thousands of movie enthusiasts, film stars and media professionals – and this year, you can be one of them. The event is held from October 3 until October 13th and tickets can be purchased online, at the Frame Cinema on Europaallee or the Festival Centre at Sechseläutenplatz. Ticket prices start from 20.20 Swiss francs apiece.
This year, highlights include Ralph Fiennes in Vatican thriller, ‘Conclave’ and the European premiere of ‘William Tell’, a big-budget epic telling the story of Switzerland’s iconic folk hero.
'William Tell' Review: A Rousing, Old School Hollywood Epic of a Well-Told Story by @dancindanonfilm | TIFF #TIFF24 https://t.co/72MRRTW1YB
— Erik Anderson (@awards_watch) September 7, 2024
Waldstatt Cattle Show
If you’re looking for a incredibly authentic slice of Swiss culture, why not head to the Waldstatt Cattle Show in the canton of Appenzell Outer Rhodes on October 3rd. This is when farmers arrive with their cattle from the alpine meadows in full traditional dress, for a series of competitions where prizes are awarded in a range of categories, including ‘Most Beautfiul Cow’.
This being Switzerland, there will of course be a great deal of traditional music, hearty food and beer. Best of all, entry is free!
Festa d’Autunno
Whether you are a Ticino resident or have always wanted to learn more about the region, we recommend heading to this year’s Festa d’Autunno (autumn festival) in Ticino’s largest city, Lugano.
The festival, which runs from October 4th until October 6th invites visitors to discover Ticino’s gastronomy, taste exceptional wines and explore Lugano’s shopping district while being serenaded by folklore music. Additionally, Lugano Region will also offer free guided tours for those interested in discovering the history of its city centre.
During the Lugano Autumn Festival, you will get to experience authentic Ticino life! Think music, polenta, chestnut dishes and more… Mark the weekend of Oct 5 for a trip to Lugano. 🎶 https://t.co/IdEuIksvL3 #FestaAutunno @LuganoRegion pic.twitter.com/WaPoRdD89V
— ️Newly Swissed️ (@newlyswissed) September 16, 2018
Herbstmesse (Lozärner Määs)
While on the topic of autumn fairs, Lucerne’s traditional autumn festival is a must-visit if you’re in the area between October 5h and October 20th. The fair will span from the Bahnhofplatz via Europaplatz to Inseli in Lucerne’s city centre and feature over 100 market stalls selling anything from baked goods to clothing items and hand-crafted gifts.
Luzern steht Kopf! S esch Määs z Lozärn! Die grösste Waren- und Vergnügungsmesse der Zentralschweiz! Grosser Lunapark! Attraktionen am laufenden Band!
16 Tage Herbstmesse-Hochbetrieb! 5.-20.10.19.
I_love_Lucernehttps://t.co/zvVsA5yoKx pic.twitter.com/vcB47L2UPu— Carl-Eduard Meyer (@streumeyer) September 30, 2019
Swiss Castle Day
History fans rejoice! The Swiss Castle Day returns for the ninth time. The annual event celebrates the incredible heritage of Switzerland’s over 500 castles, with a full schedule of events across the country.
One particular highlight of this year’s program is a medieval scavenger hunt across the Sasso and Montebello castles in the Ticino region.
Castello Sasso Corbaro in Switzerland 📌 📌 #castle pic.twitter.com/DSYQzuuwRG
— Lady of the Castles (@KasteelVrouwtje) January 7, 2020
Zurich Wine Festival
At the Zurich Wine Festival you can enjoy over 350 wines from around the globe and take part in over 15 master classes on the art of winemaking. The festival will be held at the Papiersaal Sihlcity between October 14th and October 20th.
Tickets to the wine exhibition cost 35 Swiss francs apiece (and allow you to taste as many wines as you wish), while a master class ticket for your chosen session last cost 49 francs – this year’s offering and prices will be released soon.
Käsefest Bern
Cheesemakers from all over the region of Bern will come together for the Käsefest Bern on October 12th to showcase their cheesy treasures at the city’s Waisenhausplatz. In addition to the cheese market, the event will offer musical entertainment, a cheese chalet, food bars and even cow milking.
Mountain Beer Festival 2024
There’s nothing like a beer – and there’s nothing like a beer after a long hike, so why not celebrate that? This is the idea behind the Bergbierfest Tschlin, which takes place on the 19th of October.
The hike starts at Tschlin in Graubünden and winds 13 kilometres to the village of Ramosch, where beer from several mountain breweries and music awaits.
Tickets can be purchased here, and include beer tastings and the evening concert.
Fast fünf Monate liegt die Bergbierwanderung Tschlin zurück – ein wunderbarer Ausflug durch die herrliche Schweizer Berglandschaft, begleitet von hervorragenden Bieren und lokalen Spezialitäten … pic.twitter.com/jNNQfPH1Hp
— Volker R. Quante (@brunnenbraeu) March 6, 2021
Basler Herbstmesse
Switzerland’s oldest and largest amusement fair – the Basler Herbstmesse – takes place from October 26th until November 10th. The Basler Herbstmesse is an integral part of the city’s cultural heritage and draws around one million visitors from Switzerland and overseas each year.
Visitors can enjoy a leisurly stroll from Barfüsserplatz to Messeplatz and from Petersplatz to the city’s cathedral while taking in traditional market stalls, exciting rides and many other nostalgic attractions.
Basler Herbstmesse😊😍🇨🇭 pic.twitter.com/C04qvo1GdI
— Abdurrahman Alokozay 🇨🇭 (@aalokozay) November 12, 2023
Lausanne Marathon
If you’re looking to keep fit while taking in magnificent scenery, then you may want to join 13,600 joggers in the Lausanne Marathon on October 27th at 10am. The 30th Lausanne Marathon will see runners jog between Lausanne and La Tour-de-Peilz, passing along the shores of Lake Geneva and through the UNESCO-listed Lavaux vineyards.
The best part? You can choose which type of marathon you’d like to run, be it a full marathon, semi-marathon, 10 kilometres or Nordic walking.
My Lausanne Marathon race report is up. I swear it took me longer to write about it than to actually run it!https://t.co/LLuY8d4nEM pic.twitter.com/MDV9uNirUM
— Arnaud Chevallier (@AMChevallier) October 29, 2019
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