Switzerland has a strong tradition of both civic and folk festivals, alongside some internationally significant cultural events.
Fasnacht (Basel, February/March) is the biggest carnival in Switzerland and one of the oldest in Europe. It begins at precisely 4am on the Monday after Ash Wednesday with Morgestraich — all city lights go out and thousands of lantern-carrying, costumed participants pour into the streets accompanied by drums and piccolo. It lasts 72 hours. The Basel Fasnacht is listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Sechseläuten (Zurich, April) marks the arrival of spring. Guild members parade through the old town in historical costume, and the celebration culminates with the burning of the Böögg — a snowman figure stuffed with fireworks — atop a bonfire. According to tradition, the faster the Böögg's head explodes, the better the coming summer.
Montreux Jazz Festival (July) is one of the most respected music festivals in the world, held on the shores of Lake Geneva since 1967. Despite the name it has always covered a wide range of genres. Most outdoor stage performances are free; ticketed hall concerts book out months in advance.
Swiss National Day (1 August) celebrates the founding of the Confederation with fireworks, bonfires on hilltops, and community gatherings across the country. It has the feel of a genuinely national celebration rather than a government-imposed holiday.
Zibelemärit (Bern, fourth Monday in November) is the famous onion market: farmers from across the Bernese Mittelland bring braided ropes of onions, onion soup, tarts, and other allium products to sell in the old city. It ends with children pelting each other with confetti.
Christmas Markets (December) are excellent throughout German-speaking Switzerland. Zurich's market inside and outside the main station is particularly atmospheric. Geneva celebrates the Escalade in December, a festival commemorating a 1602 military victory over Savoy forces, with a costumed procession through the old town and the traditional smashing of chocolate cauldrons.
Art Basel (June) is the most important contemporary and modern art fair in the world, drawing galleries, collectors, and museums from across the globe to Basel for a week each June.