Federal Costume Festival opens in Zurich

During the three days of the festival, people in traditional costumes and city residents, as well as tourists from all over the world, will meet in Zurich, said OC President Max Binder at the opening. In his short welcoming speech, the former SVP National Councilor from Illnau ZH announced a “happy, colorful, cozy festival.”

Rural and Urban

Denise Hintermann, President of the Swiss Traditional Costume Association, spoke of a “harmonious bond and a feeling of togetherness”. Maintaining traditions is not about keeping ashes, but about keeping the flame alive. This flame will burn until Sunday – the program includes one highlight after another.

At the Federal Costume Festival (ETF) in Zurich, traditions and innovations, rural and urban elements will come together. This was already apparent in advance; the event poster depicts a woman in traditional costume and a punk.

And the traditional costume exhibition at the Lindenhof not only shows traditional costumes, but also pieces that students of the Swiss Textile School have made under the title “Traditional Costume Inspired”.

Start with Sechseläutenmarsch

For the official start of the Federal Costume Festival (ETF), the Zurich City Band had previously played with drums in the busy, pulsating hall of Zurich Central Station – they naturally started with the Sechseläuten March.

After this and after the two short speeches, the festival congregation, which included 26 couples in traditional costumes from all cantons, moved from the train station to St. Peter’s Church. The opening procession also passed the 13-meter-high maypole on Bahnhofstrasse, which has been announcing the traditional major event since mid-May.

As the afternoon progressed, various music groups performed on stages in the city. Sales stands, such as a “Schlussgangshop”, opened, and in the “Flickstübli” torn buttons could be replaced or torn seams mended. In the evening, there was a large concert by traditional costume choirs, among other things.

Concerts, sold-out gala and parade

Numerous other concerts and performances will follow until Sunday evening. There will also be a folk dance and children’s festival on Sechseläutenplatz, and those interested can practice flag-waving or Chlefele on Bürkliplatz.

There will be a folk dance gala with a ball in the Congress Center, but it is long sold out. And on Sunday there will be a large parade with around 4,500 people in traditional costumes, which – like several other ETF events – will be broadcast live on television.

Five festival sites, seven free stages

The ETF is a major event: the organizing committee estimates the budget at around 4.5 million francs. There will be performances at five different festival sites: Münsterhof, Lindenhof, Bürkliplatz, Sechseläutenplatz and in the hall of the main train station. There are also seven free stages available.

The organizers announced that at the ETF in Zurich, music and tradition can be experienced, enjoyed and helped shape over three days. It is also intended to be a “participation festival” – so those interested can practice flag-waving or Chlefele at Bürkliplatz.

After 1939 and 1974, the city of Zurich is hosting the ETF, which takes place every twelve years, for the third time. One of the many highlights of the event is the big parade on Sunday. But the focus throughout is also on cultural exchange at the various festival sites.