ZIWA

What's on in Zürich and Switzerland

Summer 2010




Summer is my favourite season here in Switzerland. When the weather is fine, enjoy bathing in the clear lakes, take a leisurely boat trip or attend an open air performance. Zurich hosts a number of exotic festivals too during the summer months, such as the Street Parade, the Caliente Latin festival and the Tango Week. Sports events are also numerous on the summer calendar. So treat yourself to a break at home and make the most of the relaxed atmosphere here in our city and the surrounding towns.

In and around Zürich:

  • Rapperswil Jazz Festival, 25 to 27 June 2010
    Three days of music in the open air with food and drink aplenty. Featuring Level 42, Manfred Mann's Earth Band and the Earth, Wind and Fire Experience and others, including local bands. Tickets available online or just go along by boat or train
    www.bluesnjazz.ch
  • Zürcher Festspiele, until 11 July 2010
    The Zürich Festival is a medley of opera performances, concerts, plays, dance and fringe theatre at various locations in and around the city.
    www.zuercher-festspiele.ch  www.opernhaus.ch
  • World Cup 2010 viewing in Zürich, till 11 July 2010
    If you want to see the matches in a bar or on the big screen, check out this site:  www.englishforum.ch/839125-post26.html
  • Boats on the Zürichsee, throughout the summer
    Special themed boat trips run throughout the summer season from Bürkliplatz - try the BBQ ship, the 1 August evening dinner special, brunch boats, fondue ships, rock nights and more. As well as the usual short, middle and long round trips and the daily cruises to the Obersee.  www.zsg.ch
  • School holidays
  • Exhibitions at the Rietberg Museum
    • Divine seduction - Krishna in Indian painting, on now till 28 November 2010
    • Falcons, cats and crocodiles - Fauna in Ancient Egypt, from the New York Met and the Egyptian Museum, Cairo, till 14 November 2010
    • Bhutan - Sacred art from the Himalayas, 4 July - 17 October 2010
    www.rietberg.ch
  • Exhibitions at the Kunsthaus
    • Thomas Struth Photographs, till 12 September 2010
    • Adrian Paci Motion Pictures, till 22 August 2010
    • Giant Herbs and Monster Trees - Drawings and Prints by Carl Wilhelm Kolbe, starts 12 September 2010
    www.kunsthaus.ch
  • Jazz and Latin Concerts in Zürich
    • Caetano Veloso, 1 July 2010 at the Kongresshaus
    • Oscar D'Leon y su Orquesta, 8 July 2010 at the Volkshaus
    • Devendra Banhart, 13 July at Kaufleuten
    • Joanna Newsom, 24 September at the Volkshaus
    • Book now for Jazznojazz , 27-30 October 2010
    www.allblues.ch
  • Zürifäscht 2010, 2 to 4 July 2010
    A huge carnival weekend on and around the lake featuring circus acts, dragon boat races, fairground attractions and much more. Also incorporating Caliente! too this year.
    www.zuerifaescht.ch
  • Caliente Latin Festival, 2-4 July 2010
    The finest in Latin, Brazilian and Caribbean culture, at Hafendamm Enge  www.whatsonwhen.com
  • Seeüberquerung, Wednesday 7 July 2010 (reserve dates 14 July and 25 August)
    The annual supervised swim across the lake from Mythenquai to Tiefenbrunnen will take place if the minimum water temperature is 21 degrees C.  www.seeueberquerung.ch
  • Live at Sunset, 14-25 July 2010
    International popular and classical music acts at the Dolder Eisbahn  www.whatsonwhen.com
  • Events and shows at the Maag Event Hall
    • Watch the World Cup football in this huge indoor arena, till 11 July 2010
    • Moving City, 14 August 2010
    www.maagmusichall.ch
  • Orange Open-air Cinema at Zürichhorn, 15 July - 15 August 2010
    Program published 22 June, booking opens 6 July 2010. This year featuring A Single Man, Up in the Air, A Serious Man, It's Complicated, Robin Hood and more. Have a great evening out under the stars. Reserve your seat early, then enjoy one of the many food and drink outlets in the open-air arena beside the lake.  www.orangecinema.ch
  • Iron Man Triathlon, 25 July 2010
    The big event for men on Sunday 25 July starts at Zürichhorn with the swim, then cycling 180 km. around the lake to Landiwiese, then the run along the Seestrasse up 'Heartbreak Hill' through Rüschlikon and back to Landiwiese. It's a big spectator event all along the route.  www.whatsonwhen.com
  • Tango week, 25 July to 1 August 2010
    At various locations around Zürich, you can learn the moves and watch or take part in the open-air performances beside the lake.  www.whatsonwhen.com
  • More Music at the Volkshaus
  • Urban Festival Zürich , 31 July 2010
    Featuring Xavier Naidoo. At Turbinenplatz in Zuri West   www.urbanfestival.ch
  • Swiss National Day, 1 August 2010. A national celebration, this year on a Sunday
    Commemorating the signing of the Swiss Confederation in 1291, this national festival is celebrated everywhere. Local celebrations have given way in recent years to one major event in each city and lakeside town. This year, some of the celebrations start a day early, on the Friday. You can enjoy brunch or dinner aboard a special boat steamer on the Zürichsee on Saturday. The fireworks will be on as usual  www.zsg.ch
  • Concerts at the Hallenstadion
    • Energy 10  10,14 August 2010
    • DJ Bobo - Fantasy Tour   26,28 August 2010
    • Zürich Police Music Festival  3,4 September 2010
    • Guns N' Roses  8 September 2010
    • Sting  28 September 2010
    • Peter Gabriel  29 September 2010
    www.hallenstadion.ch
  • Street Parade, 14 August 2010
    This has become a huge annual event. The parade begins in at 13.00 at Utoquai and proceeds towards Bellevue, Quaibrücke and Bürkliplatz, arriving at Hafendamm Enge. Check details before setting out. There are street parties all over the town and four large open air stages. It gets very crowded so leave your car at home. Fun but noisy!
    www.streetparade.ch
  • Weltklasse Zürich, 19 August 2010
    Golden League athletics event at Letzigrund. A must for athletics fans with a great atmosphere.  www.weltklassezuerich.ch
  • Theater Spektakel, 19 August to 5 September at Landiwiese A varied program of theatre events in the specially constructed hall. Extra trams and buses will run
    www.whatsonwhen.com
  • Theatre 11 at Oerlikon
    Yamato - the drummers of Japan, 24 to 29 August 2010  www.theater11.ch
  • Swiss Teddy Festival , 28, 29 August 2010
    At Albisguetli.  www.whatsonwhen.com
  • Dörflifäscht, 28,29 August 2010
    Local festival in the Niederdorf in the heart of Zürich's old town. Music, food stalls and street events make this a lively occasion.  www.whatsonwhen.com
  • The Long Night of the Museums, 4 September 2010 from 19.00
    Once a year, Zurich's museums and galleries stay open late. A single ticket grants night-owls admission to more than 40 museums and attractions, as well as the Zurich Zoo. The price includes free public transport via shuttle bus, tram, ship and even rental bike - if you're feeling sporty. Special lectures, concerts and other live performances add to the festivities, while refreshments provide much-needed sustenance for museum-goers.
    www.langenacht.ch
  • 5th Expat Expo, 5 September 2010 11.00 till 17.00
    Over 100 exhibitors this year. Featuring food and drink tasting, financial advice, prizes and vouchers, entertainment, free gifts and free admission to the Gartensaal at the Kongresshaus. ZIWA will also be there! Why not bring the family?
    www.expat-expo.info
  • Knabenschiessen, 10-12 September 2010 at Albisguetli
    The traditional boys' shooting competition is now also open to girls. There's big fair all weekend with special trams laid on - lots of fun. Monday afternoon is a half-day holiday in Zürich city.  www.knabenschiessen.ch
  • Zurich Film Festival , 23 September to 3 October 2010
    Ticket booths in the Limmatquai. Films showing at the Corso and Arthouse Le Paris.
    www.zurichfilmfestival.org
  • Freestyle - international snowboard, skateboard and BMX event, 24 - 26 September 2010  at Landiwiese  www.whatsonwhen.com
  • Züspa lifestyle, sport and fashion fair , 24 September to 3 October 2010
    Zürich's largest public fair showcases the latest home and leisure trends and features. At Messe Zürich  www.zuespa.ch
  • Slow Up Zürichsee , 26 September 2010
    The streets around the lake are closed to motorised traffic for one day. Families cycle, stroll or skate around the lake in peace  www.whatsonwhen.com
  • Circus Monti, September to October 2010 at Kaserneareal this year
    www.whatsonwhen.com

Further afield:

Summer is also the time for the big music and film festivals in Switzerland. But many get booked up months in advance, and so do the nearby hotels.
  • Montreux Jazz Festival, 2 to 17 July 2010
    Featuring Phil Collins, Roxy Music, Norah Jones, Jesseye Norman, Diana Krall, Simply Red and others  www.montreuxjazz.com
  • Stein am Rhein - "Wie einst Oliver Twist" Open Air theatre performance, 2 to 25 July 2010
    Oliver Twist is just as valid today as then. Charles Dickens occurs in the play as a time traveller, who also restores the connection to the original novel  www.opernair.ch
  • Frauenfeld Open Air rock concert is in its 16th year, 9 to 11 July 2010
    Special railaway tickets available for this and other events.
    www.railaway.ch  www.openair-frauenfeld.ch
  • Kyburgiade, 4 to 8 August 2010
    A festival of chamber music at Kyburg Castle, 15 km. north of Zürich
    www.kyburgiade.com
  • Locarno Film Festival, 4 to 14 August 2010
    A big international event in the Ticino town. www.pardo.ch
  • Jazz Night Zug, 12, 13 August 2010
    On the Landsgemeindeplatz in Zug beside the lake, this is a great outdoor music experience with mainly local musicians. Get there early for a seat in one of the terrace restaurants.
    www.jazznight.ch
  • Lucerne Festival, 12 August to 18 September 2010
    Classical concerts at the KKL beside the lake in Luzern. There are still some tickets available. Enjoy a glass of sparkling wine on the terrace during the interval and admire the beautiful view at dusk over the lake and the old town.  www.lucernefestival.ch
  • Winterthur
    • Special exhibition "In dialogue - the two Oscar Reinhart Collections", till 1 August 2010  www.whatsonwhen.com
    • Music Festival, 18 to 29 August 2010
      As the summer is coming to an end, Winterthur turns up the heat once more www.musikfestwochen.ch
    • Sarasin Swiss Open - Polo Championships 2010, 24 to 29 August 2010 www.polopark.ch
  • Fête des Vendages, Neuchâtel, 24 to 26 September 2010
    Parades of music and flowers to celebrate the grape harvest. Plus lots of wine to be tasted!   www.fetes-des-vendages.ch


by Julia Newton and Joan Nicholas, 23 June 2010