Interlaken Events and Festivals

(Interlaken, Berne, Switzerland)

The events in Interlaken can be broadly grouped in summer festivals and winter activities, meaning that there are always things to do around town. However, there are some particular seasonal festivals worth looking out for if you are planning a visit to Interlaken.

During the summer, from late-June until the beginning of September, the William Tell Open-Air Theatre arrives in Interlaken and offers twice-weekly theatrical performances, which are staged within the Rugen Forest. Whilst these plays are actually in German, and English-language synopsis is available, so that you can follow the story.

Interlaken Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

Another summer highlight in Interlaken is the ever-popular Jungfrau Music Festival, which takes place each year in July and early August, and comprises a series of gala concerts, attracting renowned Swiss classical orchestras. The Jungfrau Music Festival also coincides with the International Brass Band Competition, which is always a crowd pleaser.

Interlaken's Unspunnenfest is another well-supported event here, held around the Unspunnen Castle ruins during September. The Unspunnenfest festival is not actually hosted every year due to flooding problems in past years, although if you are in Interlaken during the Unspunnenfest, this is one not to miss, featuring yodelling, stone putting (steinstossen), and many other Swiss-related activities.

In the past, the Red Bull Air Race World Series has been held close to Interlaken and may possibly take place here again in future years. September sees the arrival of the Jungfrau Marathon, where thousands of runners gather here to enjoy this rather high-altitude route. Come the winter months, between December to March, the main events around Interlaken tend to relate to the various winter sports on offer, such as skiing and snowboarding.

Interlaken / Switzerland National Public Holidays

• New Year's Day - January 1st
• Easter - late March / early April
• Ascension Day - 40th day after Easter Sunday
• Whit Sunday and Whit Monday - seventh week following Easter
• National Day - August 1st
• Christmas Day - December 25th
• St. Stephen's Day - December 26th