Zurich: Events

The city shakes off any remains of winter with the spring festival and parade, Sechseläuten, held on the third Monday of April. During the Züri Fäscht (www.zuerifaescht.ch), held once every three years at the start of July (the next one is 4 July 2010), a huge fairground takes over central Zürich, topped off with a lavish fireworks display. The Zürcher festspiele, mid-June to mid-July, concentrates on music and the arts, while the emphasis of the month-long Theaterspektakel is, you guessed it, theatre. National Day (1 August) is celebrated with fireworks. In early August, the beats get going with Street Parade, a large-scale electronic music event with international DJs on the decks, and the Züri Jazz Woche takes over the stage in early September. In November, Expovina, held on boats on the Bürkliplatz, offers samples of international wines, and Fasnacht brings lively musicians and a large, costumed procession.