National Swiss Winegrowers Day

National Swiss Winegrowers Day is a vibrant and timeless celebration in Switzerland dedicated to winemaking. People dress up in colorful costumes representing different aspects of vineyard life—such as insects (ants, grasshoppers, ladybugs) and pests (slugs or starlings), as well as young lovers frolicking among the vines and even drought, a real disaster for winegrowers!

History

National Swiss Winegrowers Day has been organized by the Brotherhood of Vinegrowers (Confrérie des Vignerons) in the town square of Vevey, on the shores of Lake Geneva, since 1797. The festival is held once every generation—usually every 14 to 28 years, as determined by the organizing committee. The most recent festival took place in July and August 2019, 20 years after the previous one in 1999.

Vevey is close to the famous Swiss terraced vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2016, UNESCO recognized the festival itself as part of Switzerland’s intangible cultural heritage.

A significant portion of the festival’s budget goes toward building a special arena, large enough to host up to 1 million people from around the world. Overlooking the lake, this venue features an Olympic- or Super Bowl-style show with dancers, music, and other performances. The 2019 festival included 5,500 dancers, actors, and extras, with the highlight being awards given to outstanding winemakers.

Interesting Facts

On National Swiss Winegrowers Day:

• The festival anthem, the old Alpine song Ranz des Vaches, is always played.
• All 26 cantons (regions) of Switzerland take part in the festivities.
• The 2019 festival performance told the story of winemaking through the eyes of a little girl named Julie.

How to Take Part

You can join in National Swiss Winegrowers Day by watching a broadcast of the festival and enjoying Swiss wines—it’s a great way to celebrate!

When is National Swiss Winegrowers Day in 2025?

National Swiss Winegrowers Day is devoted to celebrating cheerfulness and fun. It takes place every year on August 29.

Observations