What is a Swissfest? It's a BERNE Swissfest! The Berne Swissfest is an etnic festival that began more than 50 years ago. It was started by a group of young people from the little Berne church to bring back their Swiss heritage. These young people had a dream. They wanted to tell others about their Swiss heritage and in doing so, preseve that heritage. They wanted to play and sing the music, read the poetry and learn about their ancestor's land, called Switzerland. They had a desire to remind the congregation and the community of those who had left their Swiss homeland and came to America. They wanted to retell the stories of their grandfathers, grandmothers, great grandfathers and great grandmothers who worked long and hard in order to own their own land, milk their own cows, build their own homes and establish their own families and community.
The first "Swiss Nacht" filled the church, even though it was a bitterly cold February evening. Another year, a second evening was planned... dinner ... music .. "telling of Switzerland"! Again, more visitors came than had been expected ... and horrors ! ... for the second time they ran out of food. The Berne mothers were most unhappy. This is not the way to treat guests in Berne! Swissfest continued to be sponsored by the young people of the church.
"Help!", said the young people. "Please help!", said a couple of youth advisors. The Swiss festival had become too large for the handful of kids. The congregation of the church came to rescue. Always trying to improve... and to increase authenticity... and to better accommodate the increasing number of visitors... the festival continued on for the third, the fourth, the tenth, the twenty-fifth... and on .. and on... and on. New activities were included. New chalets were built. More costumes were made. Hand-sewn flags of the cantons were made. Alphorns were purchased. New foods were prepared. New recognition was being received; from surprising sources. The Mayor of Bern, Switzerland sent a flag (which has now been retired). Greetings were received from Presidents of Switzerland. Swiss Consul Generals visited. A famous Swiss entertainer, Vico Torriani, entertained and brought along a folk-group to help, plus 400 tourists from Switzerland. Friends came for near and far to the festival, by now called "Berne Swissfest".
And so it has been. A little church program blossomed into a "Swissfest". Swissfest still holds on to its original purpose, to preserve the Swiss heritage of the Swiss pioneers who settled the Berne area. Swissfest seeks to provide a good, homespun, fun-filled, authentic Swiss celebration to all its visitors. Swissfest is "truly family entertainment" Swiss style.
To YOU, friends of Swissfest, let it be said again as it has been said for these past festivals... "It is hoped that those who come to the Berne Swissfest might be taken to Switzerland for a few hours ... that through the music, costumes and setting, you might feel that you had visited that pictue post-card country."
This is Swissfest! This is BERNE Swissfest! A festival with the charm of an Old World Festival.
Swissfest became that famous, it had sometimes more than 10'000 guests.
back to Swissfest features
Information:
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by mail:
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Berne Swissfest, 23148 County Highway 24, West Concord, Minnesota 55985
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by phone toll-free:
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1-800-322-2478
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by e-mail:
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bernechurch at pitel . net |
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by Facebook:
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updated: January 15th, 2011 by Will Andrist, Berne, Switzerland