Archive of News and Events

April 2012

1st April - watch sunrise from the top of Sorebois & enjoy a free breakfast. 6.30am www.zinal.net

3rd April - Evening sledging down from Bendolla, from 16.30, Grimentz www.grimentz.ch

6th-8th April - Easter celebrations in all the villages around the valley

15th April - final ski day in Vercorin

20th April - final ski day in St Luc

22nd April - final day of winter. Grimentz and Zinal close.

March 2012

7th March - Fondue followed by skiing by the light of the moon, Grimentz  www.grimentz.ch

9th March - Snow shoe at night to the "L‘Ecurie" for a fondue, Grimentz

10th & 11th March - First Track freeride competion, Chandolin www.chandolin.ch

23rd March - 5 o'clock jazz - St Luc   www.bellatola.ch

22nd-25th March - Zinal freeride competion www.zinalfreeride.ch

February 2012

3rd February - skin and snow-shoe at night in Zinal followed by spagetti party www.zinal.ch

4th February - an evenings star gazing at the St Luc Observatory 21-23.00  www.saint-luc.ch

7th February - Fondue followed by skiing by the light of the moon, Grimentz  www.grimentz.ch

9th February - Concert by St Petersbourg choir, Grimentz church 8.00 www.grimentz.ch

18th February - Mardi Gras carnival night with Guggenmusic, Zinal www.zinal.ch

21st February - Mardi Gras carnival night in Grimentz www.grimentz.ch

January 2012

1st January - New Years Day concert, St Luc  www.bellatola.ch

3rd January (and through out the winter) - snow shoe trip to a glacier cave  www.montagne-evasion.ch

3rd, 4th & 5th January - an evenings star gazing at the St Luc Observatory 21-23.00  www.saint-luc.ch

6th January - Fondue followed by skiing by the light of the moon, Grimentz  www.grimentz.ch

14th January - view the sun through a telescope St Luc Observatory   www.saint-luc.ch

18th January - ski up to Bendolla restaurant for breakfast - 6.30 Grimentz www.grimentz.ch

21st -22nd January - 26th Mauler Cup - international paragliding competions Zinal www.zinal.ch

December 2011

3rd December - Grimentz opens for weekend skiing

17th & 18th December - Christmas market in Grimentz finishing with huge firework display

17th December - All resorts open 7 days a week www.rma.ch

24th December - Christmas celebrations in all the villages

31st December - New Years eve celebrations in all the villages

November 2011

26th November - Zinal ski domain opens for weekend skiing  www.rma.ch

October 2011

11th October - guided tour of Grimentz including a visit to the Bourgeoise building www.grimentz.ch

22nd October - mark the end of summer with the Brisolee Royale in Grimetz a feast of local cheeses, meats and wine www.grimentz.ch

September 2011

2nd September - guided tour of traditional house in central Zinal. Booking with tourist office required. www.zinal.ch

17th September - Desalpe - Watch and join in the celebrations of the cows coming down from the high meadows garlanded with flowers

24th & 25th September - a weekend of male choir recitals from across the alps. Grimentz

August 2011

1st August - National Day celebrations. Fete and fireworks in Zinal

4th August - discover the fauna of the area with the local hunters. www.grimentz.ch

14th August - Sierre Zinal mountain marathon.  Come and watch or compete in the 31km, high mountain race with over 2200m of accent and 800m decent. Race is open to professional and ameteur runners. www.sierre-zinal.com

19th-20th August - Grand Raid, the 22nd Swiss Mountain Bike Race from Verbier to Grimentz www.grand-raid.ch

July 2011

1st July - and every Friday - guided tour of traditional house in central Zinal. Booking with tourist office required. www.zinal.ch

16th &17th July - Arts and crafts market in Vercorin

22nd-24th July - Vercorin Jazz festival. Just one of the musical events that takes place in the valley during the summer.

June 2011

2nd June - Funiculare in St Luc opens for walkers

18th June - Telecabine in Grimentz and Zinal opens for walkers . Lift timetable

18th June - Inalpe de Nava, Ayer. Celebration as the cows make their journey to the high summer meadows.

19th June - 'Wild cooking' - make dishes from plants gathered in the mountians

May 2011

1st May - last day of lift accessed skiing in Val d'Anniviers. Time to start skining.

April 2011

16th April - Moon party. Enjoy a fondue and moon-lit skiing above Bendolla, Grimentz. www.bendolla.ch

17th April - Spring cow fighting in Mission

23rd April - Waterslide competion. Grimentz

March 2011

2nd and 9th March - Wine tasting of over 100 wines from the region.16.30-19.00 Free entry, Polysalle, Zinal. www.zinal.ch

5th March - Mardi Gras party in Zinal with Guggen bands. www.zinal.ch

18th March - Moon party. Enjoy a fondue and moon-lit skiing above Bendolla, Grimentz. www.bendolla.ch

17th - 20th March - Zinal Freeride competition. www.zinalfreeride.ch

February 2011

4th February - Spagetti supper with snow shoeing and ski touring at night. Sorebois, Zinal.

18th February - Moon party. Enjoy a fondue and moon-lit skiing above Bendolla, Grimentz. www.bendolla.ch

23rd February - Wine tasting of over 100 wines from the region.16.30-19.00 Free entry, Polysalle, Zinal. www.zinal.ch

January 2011

7th January - Disco on ice. 16-19.00 - free. Zinal open air ice-rink

8th January - A day of mountain safety & off piste skiing with Grimentz instructors and Pro-riders

19th January - Moon party. Enjoy a fondue and moon-lit sking above Bendolla, Grimentz. www.bendolla.ch

22nd-23rd January - Mauler Cup. 25th International paragliding competition. Zinal. www.zinal.ch

29th-30th January - International ski carving competion. Zinal

December 2010

11th & 12th December - Feeries Christmas Market. Small stalls line the old village street of Grimentz. A pre-christmas must.

18th December - All resorts open for skiing

24th December - Father Christmas comes to Grimentz village - free vin chaud

31st December - Torch lit descents and fireworks bring in the New Year in all the villages

November 2010

13th November - The start of the winter ski season. Zinal ski lifts open for weekend skiing

October 2010

2nd October -  Brisolee, Zinal. Celebrate autumn at this raditional food and wine event

23rd October - Brisolee, Grimentz.Celebrate autumn at this raditional food and wine event

September 2010

18th September - Desalpe, the bringing down of the cows from the high meadows. Depart from Rouaz at 10.30 and descend into St. Luc.

25th September - Desalpe Grimentz. The bringing down of the cows into Grimentz. Join the celebrations in the village.

August 2010

1st August - Swiss National Day, Zinal. A day of festivities with firework display in the evening.

1st August - Arts and crafts market in St Luc.

8th August - Sierre - Zinal Mountain Marathon running race. 

21st August - 21st Grand Raid - 145km Mountain bike race from Verbier to Grimentz. Anyone can enter and there are 3 shorter versions.

28th & 29th August - Distilia - A weekend of sampling local grappas, and digestives. Grimentz.

July 2010

July - various concerts throughout the valley ranging from folk held in the restaurants in Grimentz 3rd - 4th July, to a classical piano recital on 27th in Grimentz church

17th-18th July - 25th Artisan‘s market, Vissoie village. One hundred Artisans display and sell their work in the old streets of Vissoie

24th-25th July - Fete to celebrate the new uniforms of the 'fifre & tambours', the village band. Ayer

June 2010

Spring flowers start to bloom in the fields around Zinal