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WHAT'S ON IN SWITZERLAND

7 unmissable events in Switzerland in March 2024

From folk festivals to a classical music celebration and the annual Fête de la Tulipe, here are some events to check out this March across Switzerland.

Published: 22 February 2024 09:14 CET
Updated: 25 February 2024 08:55 CET
Young boys prepare to scare away winter during a Chalandamarz procession in the Canton of Graubunden.
Young boys prepare to scare away winter during a Chalandamarz procession in the Canton of Graubúnden. Photo: Marco Hartmann / Graubunden Tourism

Here are some of the best cultural, sporting and festive events across Switzerland taking place across the country this March. 

Chalandamarz

Throughout Graubunden, March 1st

Kick off March with a folk festival designed to shake the winter blues. Throughout the canton of Graubünden, at Chalandamarz, young boys, dressed in traditional costumes parade through the streets of towns and villages, cracking whips and shaking belts of bells, to scare off evil spirits. 

As is the case with most Alpine celebrations, once the parade is done, it’s time to party.

Look on the website of communities throughout the region to find procession dates – usually March 1st – and times. 

Nostalgierennen 

Rosswald, March 2nd

It’s the race of the year… 1924, that is. Every year, contestants gather in their finest vintage costumes and ski equipment at the Valais village of Rosswald for a day of racing. Not only are their prizes for the winners of each race in a number of age categories, but there are also prizes for the best and most authentic vintage ensemble. 

If you want to get involved – or just to watch the spectacle – you can find more information on the race day website. 

Coveted. Cared for. Martyred. 

Landesmuseum Zurich, from March 15th

Switzerland is a treasure house of medieval art, insulated from much of the destruction that raged across the rest of Europe over the last few centuries. Therefore, when a Swiss museum puts on an exhibition of treasures from this period, it’s a real treat.

Starting March 15th, ‘Coveted. Cared for. Martyred.’ at the Landesmuseum Zurich examines the mediaeval relationship with the human body – from healing to the martyrdom of saints. Alongside paintings, statues and prints from across Switzerland, there are also works borrowed from museums and galleries in Austria and Germany. 

The Landesmuseum in Zurich.

The Landesmuseum in Zurich. Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash

Shapes Festival

Leysin, March 18th – 24th

The Globe-trotting Shapes Festival comes to the Alpine resort of Leysin, close to Geneva, Lausanne and Montreux in mid-March. Gathering some of the worlds greatest electronic music artists, this year’s line up includes Saichi Terada, MCDE and Kode9. 

Expect seven days of electronic music, skiing, snowboarding and partying in one of the world’s most scenic locations for a dance music festival. 

Tickets and more information can be found on the festival website. 

Lucerne Festival

Throughout the city of Lucerne, from March 22nd

The Lucerne Festival is one of the world’s premiere classical music festivals, stretching throughout the year in curated blocks of programming. Commencing March 22nd, the Frühlings-Fest 2024 segment offers a preview of the year’s events, with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra and soloists performing works with an emphasis on Beethoven. 

More information and tickets can be secured on the festival website. 

International Jazz Festival Bern

Throughout the city of Bern, starting March 19th 

International musicians are getting ready to head to Bern for the city’s 49th jazz festival.

Talented musicians like D.K Harrell, the Paquito D’Rivera Quintet and Toronzo Cannon will take to the stage at Marians Jazzroom.

Tickets are already on sale – so music lovers should move quickly if they want to check it out. The event is on until May 25th.

Tulip Festival 

Morges (Lake Geneva), starting March 29th

The Fête de la Tulipe or Tulip Festival is an annual event held in the city of Morges every year featuring more than 140,000 flowers and around 350 varieties of tulips. 

This year’s theme is ‘Countries of the World’. You can visit to walk around and admire the flowers, but you might also want to take part in activities.

The programme features lots of events, including music and dance – and even a ‘seed bomb workshop’ on March 31st. 

The event lasts right through until May 12th.

With reporting by Rachel Loxton

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CULTURE

Sting, Deep Purple return to Montreux Jazz Festival

Deep Purple, Sting and Lenny Kravitz will return for this year's Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, while Duran Duran will close the event with their debut appearance, organisers announced Thursday.

Published: 19 April 2024 12:02 CEST
Sting, Deep Purple return to Montreux Jazz Festival

“This 58th edition preserves the values that make the Montreux Jazz Festival unique,” said chief executive Mathieu Jaton.

“Our intimate stages, the constant pursuit of an optimal musical experience for both festival- goers and artists, and our musical DNA, blending heritage acts and new trends, remain at the very heart of our aims.”

Dionne Warwick, the Smashing Pumpkins, Massive Attack, Air, Kraftwerk, PJ Harvey, The National, Andre 3000, Paloma Faith and Loreen are among the other major acts appearing at the festival, which runs from July 5th to 20th

.For more than half a century, Montreux has been a magnet for big names in the music business, as well as for rising stars. It has retained its jazz label despite dramatically expanding its repertoire since the first edition in 1967.

Around 250,000 people are expected to visit the festival, which takes over much of the waterfront in the picturesque town on Lake Geneva in western Switzerland.

Veteran British heavy rockers Deep Purple will be appearing for the 10th time, extending their deep connections with the town: famously, their hit “Smoke on the Water” chronicles witnessing the 1971 fire that destroyed the Montreux Casino.

Sting’s eighth appearance will see him perform in a trio for the first time, with a guitarist and drummer joining the singer/bassist.

Acts paired 

Acts will be appearing on double bills. Alice Cooper is teamed with Deep Purple; Editors are paired with the Smashing Pumpkins; jazz singer-pianists Diana Krall and Jamie Cullum appear on the middle Saturday, while Soft Cell and Duran Duran will bring down the curtain on the festival.

French duo Air will be playing their debut album “Moon Safari” in full, paired with Massive Attack.

“The 2024 edition preserves the Montreux Jazz Festival’s values and distinctiveness in its programming choices, its intimate venues and the quality of the listening experience,” organisers said.

“Faithful to its musical DNA, the festival continues to explore the heritage and current status of American and British music, accounting for over 70 percent of the programme.”

In total there will be 64 shows in the two ticketed venues: the outdoor Lake Stage, with a capacity of 5,500, and the Casino Stage, which can hold 1,300 standing and seated concert- goers. There are 13 other free stages.

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