Switzerland: Events

February is carnival time, or Fasnacht , in many towns, but Basel really funks it up with elaborate parades beginning at a bleary 04:00 . The Zürich techno Street Parade in August is becoming one of the biggest annual street parties in the world. In the lower Valais, from March to October, cows battle it out in the Combat de Reines (cow fighting) to see which beast is most suited to lead the herd up to the summer pastures. The world-renowned Montreux Jazz Festival takes place in July. National Day (August 1) is celebrated with fireworks throughout the country, and Swiss wrestling in the Emmenthal area east of Bern. On the fourth Monday in November, Bern hosts its famous Zibelmarit (Onion Market), where traders take over the whole town centre and many a tear is shed.