Silvesterchlausen

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Ken Fager

Participants during a past Silvesterchlausen in New Glarus.

Silvesterchlausen

Silvesterchlausen. Gesundheit! Seriously, Silvesterchlausen is a time-honored Swiss New Year’s tradition that includes revelers in costume, parading the streets of, in this case, New Glarus, yodeling and ringing cowbells…in other words, the Swissest thing ever. The procession starts at 2 p.m. at the Swiss Center of North America, 507 Durst Road, and wends its way through the town. At 6 p.m., more Swiss music will fill The Alpine wine bar, 130 5th Ave. And when is it not a good time to spend some time in New Glarus? Yodel-ay-ee-oo, yo-del-la-dee-doo, doo-be doo-be doo.

media release: The Zuckerfluss Schuppel, in partnership with the Swiss Center of North America, will be celebrating the centuries-old Swiss festival Silvesterchlausen on Saturday, January 10, 2026.  This is the sixth annual Silvesterchlausen performance in New Glarus and has been featured in the Wisconsin State Journal, Our Wisconsin magazine, and on the Appenzeller Late Night Show in Switzerland.

Silversterchlausen is an ancient New Year’s celebration from Appenzell, Switzerland. It is a procession of costumed performers carrying large cowbells and yodeling, making stops throughout downtown New Glarus. New Glarus is proud to have the first and only group from outside of Switzerland to celebrate this festive custom.

This free, family-friendly event will begin at 2:00pm at the Swiss Center of North America (507 Durst Road, New Glarus, WI 53574) and move throughout downtown New Glarus, stopping on street corners to perform so all can enjoy the music throughout the village.  The procession will last roughly two hours. An evening of Swiss musical entertainment hosted by the New Glarus Jodlerklub will begin at 6:00pm at The Alpine (130 5th Ave, New Glarus, WI 53574).

More information can be found at https://www.swisstown.com/events-ng/silvesterchlausen 

The Swiss Center of North America works to promote appreciation for and awareness of Swiss heritage, culture, and pride. The Swiss Center celebrates Swiss roots and works to make sure Swiss heritage does not disappear in North America. Collections include the 15,000-item Tritt Library and Archives, as well as donations of Swiss clothing, textiles, folk and fine art.