"Heidi-Fest" in New Glarus, Wisconsin

Summer Festivals in Swiss Settlement

New Glarus, Wisconsin is a picturesque Swiss village located in Southern Wisconsin, near Madison. New Glarus is America's "Little Switzerland".

The town is a Swiss settlement that has kept the flavor of the Swiss immigrants that settled there. Located amid the alpine-like hills and valleys of the rich farm country in South-central Wisconsin is a charming experience. New Glarus is a great destination for a day, or for a weekend, within driving distance from Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago.

New Glarus is a small town with some shops, restaurants and a historical village with a cemetery. There are restaurants in New Glarus that feature the Swiss favorite - fondue: made with meat, cheese and chocolate (in separate pots, of course).

New Glarus was settled by Swiss pioneers about 150 years ago. The Swiss Historical Village Museum takes visitors back in time, with 14 buildings in a village museum. The museum tells the story of Swiss immigration, settlement and pioneering life. Buildings include a settler's log home, traditional Swiss bee house, a log community building, a replica cheese factory, a blacksmith's shop, smoke house, sausage shop, farm implement building, fire house, general store, print shop, log church, Swiss cemetery and original school house.

The Chalet of the Golden Fleece Museum displays one-of-a-kind antiques and treasure, with three full floors of painted furniture, antique silver, paintings, Swiss scissor cuttings, glassware, china and more.

Heidi Festival - Taste and Treasures is the 42nd annual Heidi Fest in New Glarus. The festival is held in the last weekend in June. In 2007 the festival will be June 22-24.

The charming Heidi Festival is a weekend event filled with great food, entertainment, music and fun for the entire family. The Heidi Fest events are complements by the Taste & Treasures of New Glarus. The downtown streets of New Glarus will be filled with sidewalk sale displays. Merchants will display bargains for shoppers, along with locally produced foods and beverages. There will be a craft fair in the park on Saturday and Sunday.