Swiss National Day

 I thought everyone might be interested in hearing about the up-coming Swiss Day. As you can read below, there will be quite a celebration ending with fireworks! I'm not sure where we will watch the fireworks yet, we were told that you can see them good from our house. We'll be taking the camera to get lots of pictures. I'm excited about checking out this fun day. It's really a shame that Chris {Mac} and Linda won't be able to make it up for the weekend....you see, she let her Passport expire and is now having to wait for a new one!

 

1th August 2010, Swiss National Day

Bern awaits you on August 1 with an enticing 1st-of-August schedule of events. You can find out all about the official celebrations here: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (also Saturday, July 31, 2010) Open House at the House of Parliament Visitors will be able to view the chamber of the National Council, the chamber of the Council of States, the Hall of the Dome (Kuppelhalle), and the Wandelhalle lobby. On August 1 at 11:00 a.m., President of the National Council Pascale Bruderer Wyss and President of the Council of States Erika Forster-Vannini will be taking questions from the public in the chamber of the National Council. Wait times are to be expected. 10:30 a.m. / 11:30 a.m. / 5:30 p.m. / 6:30 p.m. (meeting point: Zytglogge) Guided tours of the Clock Tower (Zytglogge) Number of participants limited to 20 persons per group 11:30 a.m. – approx. 1:30 p.m. "Bärner Jodlerpredigt" yodeling concert at the Cathedral (Münster) 2:00 p.m. – midnight Food and drink in Minister Square (Münsterplatz) 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Paper lantern workshop and children's play area on the Cathedral Terrace (Münsterplattform) Paper lantern making, face painting, game tables, balloons, storytelling 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. River rides starting from the Schwellenmätteli restaurant with the "Pontonierfahrverein" boating club of Bern Starting at 5:00 p.m. Various concerts in Minister Square (Münsterplatz) 4:00 – 4:45 p.m. Organ concert Evergreens, pop, and classics at the Church of the Holy Ghost with Jürg Brunner 9:00 p.m. Paper lantern parade (starting from BearPark) Music by the brass band of the Salvation Army of Bern; free ice cream for kids taking part 9:30 p.m. Bonfire at the "Ostsignal" on Gurten Mountain 9:30 p.m. Official celebration in Minister Square (Münsterplatz) with a speech by the president of the city council Urs Frieden and rapper Greis, followed by an impromptu ringing of the bells 10:00 p.m. Procap sea of lights in Parliament Square (Bundesplatz) 10:30 p.m. Fireworks on Gurten Mountain in 6 tableaux Musical accompaniment of the fireworks tableaux live on Energy Bern, 101.7 MHz Best viewing locations: Cathedral Terrace, Monbijou Bridge, Nydegg Bridge, Kirchenfeld Bridge, Aargauerstalden, Rose Garden, and House of Parliament Terrace.