We will fly into Switz late on july 31st from London. Haven't booked flight yet, so can go from any airport to good location to experience August 1st festivities. Will be checking into apartment in Grindelwald on Aug 1st, but thought we'd see if a place along the way would have more in the way of festivities than G'wald, and check in later that day. Merci! :-)
Posted by
Genesee, ID
1840 posts
Those are some abbreviations you've got there.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16254 posts
There will be fireworks at some places on July 31, mainly cities on lakes. And then bonfires all over in the evening of August 1. During the day, towns and villages celebrate in various ways. Here is a Youtube video of last years' event in Interlaken:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=o5MidP5qD3Q
Ooom-pah music, a short speech (with an introductory welcome in English, Spanish, and Japanese), singing, yodeling, para gliders dropping in, and Alpenhorns. Looks like fun.
You might look for a good fireworks display on July 31 and head there for your first night, then travel to Grindelwald on August 1, stopping in Interlaken to see what is going on there. There are lockers for luggage storage in the Interlaken Ost station, or at least there were last time I was there.
Posted by
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
163 posts
Fly into Basel. Celebrate the festivities with fireworks at the Rhine on the evening of the 31st. Then on the 1st, head to Grindelwald. I'd book a hotel early though.
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16254 posts
I found conflicting information on whether the Stein am Rhein "Fire on the Rocks" fireworks will be July 31 or August 1 this year. This one says August 1:
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/events/event-29547687.html