New Glarus Volksfest celebrates Swiss heritage on August 6

Volksfest is New Glarus’ celebration of Swiss Independence Day! The event at the Wilhelm Tell Shooting Park on 2nd Street includes Swiss traditions of music, alphorns, flag throwing, and Talerschwingen (“singing” coins in a milk bowl - it’s rad). 

I played recordings of hyperlocal yodels and polkas from Green County before we heard performances by the David Austin Band and D’Schwiizer Gruppe, choral folklore music sung by the New Glarus Mannerchoir and the Monroe Swiss Singers, and yodels by the Jodlerklub. Not sure there was a dry eye when the Kinderchoir (kids’ choir) sang Edelweiss. And the turnout was so strong, the concession stand ran out of Hoesly’s brats. Wonderful event and great weather! 

The Swiss Center of North America is located in New Glarus, Wisconsin and serves the United States and Canada. Their mission is to preserve the heritage of and relationships with Switzerland. They welcomed General Consul for Switzerland Pascal Bornoz for a visit and he gave a welcome at Volksfest. It was a symbol of the connection the people of New Glarus and the Swiss Center have with Switzerland. The musical talent on display at Volksfest keeps the language and traditional music heard by the local ears of “America’s Little Switzerland.”

Read more about the event in the printed program.

Be sure to visit New Glarus for their Oktoberfest celebration on the weekend of September 21-24. The beer and polka under the big tent downtown are worth the drive.

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