Swiss National Costume Festival opens with colourful fanfare in Zurich

The Swiss National Costume Festival 2024 kicked off on Friday at noon at Zurich's main train station. In total, 100,000 visitors from all over Switzerland are expected to attend by Sunday. Over the festival’s three days, traditional costumed people and city dwellers as well as tourists from all over the world will come together in Zurich, said organising committee president Max Binder. In his short welcoming speech, he wished everyone a "cheerful, colourful and cosy festival". Denise Hintermann, president of the Swiss Traditional Costume Association, spoke to the crowd about a "harmonious bond and a feeling of togetherness". Maintaining traditions is not about preserving ashes, she said, but about keeping the flames going. And this particular flame should burn brightly until Sunday, as the festival programme includes one highlight after another. A musical start To mark the official start of the festival, Zurich's city music band and tambourines played in the bustling, pulsating ...