(EMAILWIRE.COM, July 19, 2005 ) NEW YORK -- Building on the tremendous success of Swiss National Day New York in 2004, the city’s Swiss community invites one and all to its country’s 714th birthday party on Saturday, July 30, noon until 10:00 PM, at Pier 54 on the Hudson. The National anthem and an address by H.E. Ambassador Raymond Loretan, Consul General of Switzerland, will celebrate the occasion at 5:00.

In a rendition of village life in the famous Jungfrau region of the Alps, the event will allow Americans of all ages to learn more about their Sister Republic, Switzerland. Co-hosted by numerous New York Swiss associations and the Hudson River Park Trust http://www.hudsonriverpark.org, the celebration showcases traditional and contemporary Swiss culture, products and cuisine. Admission is $5.00 for adults; children under 16 are admitted free.

Swiss Alpine Wrestling; Greco-Roman and Freestyle Wrestling: Witness first hand the traditional Swiss wrestling sport of “Schwingen,” practiced for centuries as a friendly show of strength by farmers in the Swiss Alps. Competitors will include the reigning Swiss national champion and champions from the West Coast Swiss Wrestling Association. Contrast this to the Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling disciplines, more familiar to a US audience, demonstrated by top male and female athletes of the Metropolitan Wrestling Association.
Video: http://www.schwingfeste.ch/rang2005/bilder/rang2005_078_schlussgang.mpg,
http://www.swissworld.org/dvd_rom/eng/customs_2003/content/folklore.html,
www.mwausa.org.

If wrestling is not your bag, marvel instead at the traditional throwing of the “Unspunnen stone,” traditionally weighing no less than 180 pounds, (ours will be a slightly lighter replica), by Alpine herdsmen. www.unspunnenfest.ch

The Swiss Alpine Village will offer samples of the country’s various food and crafts products, demonstrations of “milking chair curling”, flag waving, kids’ activities and the always-popular painting of wooden cows. The village is the centerpiece to a variety of sportive, gastronomic and musical events, scheduled for attendees’ enjoyment throughout the day.

Swiss Savoir-Vivre – Under the authentic Swiss festival tent, gourmets and wine enthusiasts can sample flavors and textures representing Switzerland’s multi-cultural population. Enjoy the best in food, wine and other specialties from the nation’s French, Italian and German regions.

Cool Jazz, Steamy pan-Latin Sounds, Alphorns, Folk Music and Yodeling too – Swiss bassist Chris Fey and his band “About Now,” veterans of the Montreux and Ascona Jazz festivals, as well as other venues, will perform. There will be demonstrations by the International Alphorn Society www.alphorninternational.com, Swiss folk music from the Appenzell region played by String Equinox, and yodeling contests. From 10:00 PM on, and back by popular demand, the DJ-hosted "After Party" on the Railroad Barge on nearby Pier 63 will offer steamy sounds by the local pan-Latin outfit PACHA. www.pacha.us and live Brazilian music.

For more information and the latest updates on Swiss National Day visit: http://www.swisspeaks.org

SwissPeaks ’05
633 Avenue of the Americas, 30th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Lukas Fitze: lukas.fitze@eda.admin.ch
Office: 212 599-5700 Ext. 1052
Mobile: 917.415.6459

Contact Information:
consulate general of switzerland
lukas fitze
Tel:
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