Fête Des Vignerons

For three weeks the small lakeside town of Vevey in the Canton of Vaude, will transform into an open air stage and animated with hundreds of performers in a celebration so unique it only happens approximately every 25 years and is protected by UNESCO.

Here's a closer look:

An arena is built in Vevey’s historic market square, with a capacity for up to 20,000 spectators.

A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF A VINEYARD ...

The fete was historically born to reward skilled wine workers and has since grown into an enourmous spectacle.

Spectators are treated to a tweny scenes depicting the year in the life of the vineyard starting and finishing with the harvest. highlighting the work in the vineyeard like puring and training, the seasons, important moments in the social lives of the workers and the celebrating the knowledge of winegrowers. 

THE FESTIVAL IN NUMBERS ...

The first Fête took place in 1797, followed by 1819, 1833, 1851, 1865, 1889, 1905, 1927, 1955, 1977, 1999 and now 2019. 

The Fete includes 5,500 actors, 500 choristers, a brass band, a big band, percussionists, alpine horns the petit ensemble and the Fifres et Tambours musicians. 

Over 400,000 people can be found in the town which usually houses nearly 18,000 during the festival.