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[title]Summer may be slowly winding down by September, but there’s no reason why autumn can’t be a season of celebration, especially when you’re at Ballenberg Open-Air Museum, where visitors can experience an impressive 15 regional autumn festivals over two weekends at Fest der Feste.
Taking place on the weekends of September 25-25 and October 1-2, the event opens up a whole world of autumnal festival traditions, entertainment and culinary heritage from across Switzerland. These include: sampling wine from the annual Trottenfest wine showcase, experiencing an alpine fair – or ‘Älplerchilbi’ – from Obwalden, and finding out how Vaud celebrates the grain harvest at the Fête des Moissons, plus much more.
There’s also plenty to explore at the museum alongside these fascinating festival experiences. Make your way around 110 historical farmhouses and all kinds of storehouses from around Switzerland, have your heart warmed by more than 200 animals around the venue, and learn about traditional craft techniques.
When it’s time to eat, get back into the festival spirit by sampling risotto from one of the huge pots being cooked-up as part of Ticino’s Festa d’Autunno, or discover just how many delicious treats can be made from chestnuts at a taster of Castagnata, held in the southern Grisons valleys.
Work-off some of the gastronomic indulgence by trying your hand at traditional Swiss sports, such as carrying haystacks, stone-throwing or – if you’re feeling particularly brave – Swiss wrestling. If that doesn’t test your strength quite enough, you can always try and operate a hefty historical cider press. Finish your festival journey by dancing the day away to musical performances plucked from regions across the country.
Secure your part in this huge harvest celebration by booking tickets to the Fest der Feste. And find out more about Ballenberg Open-Air Museum at the venue’s website.