It’s the largest celebration every year in Switzerland, a party no one living in Switzerland should miss—Swiss National Day, August 1.
The holiday—inspired by the Federal Charter Day, set in early August—is a massive celebration attended by up to 120,000 people in the city center. The festivities start at 5pm of July 31st and continue until 2am of August 1, ringing in the holiday with food, music, drinks, memories with good friends, and a spectacular fireworks display.
The National Day observance was moved up to July 31 in 1993, and after this it has only continued to grow into the celebration that it is today.
The ‘Bundesfeier’ firework display takes place at 11pm, and fireworks are set off from two boats in the middle of the Rhein on either side of the Mittlere Brücke.
The trams and buses will run up till the end of the festivities, so be sure to check out their schedule at: www.bvb.ch/aktuell/aktuelle-infos/2012/07/24/bundesfeier-am-rhein-2012.
So take the night off, grab some friends, and enjoy the colour, lights, and noise of Switzerland’s National Day.