Tavolata on course: Schwyz sets the table

The first Tavolata takes place in Schwyz in September, bringing people, music and menus to Reichsstrasse.

On Saturday, September 6, 2025, the center of the village of Schwyz will be transformed into one long banquet table. From Reichsstrasse to Hinterdorf, around 145 tables will be lined up for eating, drinking and celebrating. Tavolata 2025 is a premiere - and is full of ideas, passion and commitment. The organizing committee consists entirely of the board of the GfuG association.
"We had to deal with a few logistical and organizational issues at the beginning, especially with the infrastructure," says OC President Jonas Bünter. "But we're on course, the event is on track and the anticipation in the team is huge." Preparations have been underway for months - on a voluntary basis and with a great deal of dedication. The OC is particularly proud of how many local businesses and creative artists have already got involved.

Culinary delights from Schwyz - from curry to Chäsplättli
The gastronomic diversity is assured: More than a dozen local businesses have confirmed their participation. The palette ranges from international cuisine to classic Swiss dishes and surprising culinary ideas. Some of them will serve directly from the pub, others will operate specially set up outdoor stands - a challenge for the logistics, but an enrichment for the overall image of the event. The culinary offerings range from bowls, pinsa, Thai curry and schnitzel to cold platters, toasts and pulled pork.
Unlike "Brunnen kocht", for example, at the Tavolata you are served directly at your table: guests sit down at a table and can order whatever the caterer is offering. Classic "take-aways" are therefore not provided.


Culture for all the senses - and an active cultural partnership
The Tavolata is also intended to be a cultural festival for all the senses.  The focus is on the idea of street music and street art - right in the middle of the action.
Local bands, including Beenose, UnderCover, Dear Misses with Hanna Landolt, Harry Kälin, Tschuttplatz Heroes and Horst, the brass band, will be taking part. A special highlight is the collaboration with the Chupferturm, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary on the same weekend. Together, certain acts such as Gilbert & Oleg, Roland & Julian von Flüe and Kultur-Schock will perform both at the Tavolata and as part of the Chupferturm events. It is a fine example of cultural networking in action in Schwyz.

Power, structure and platforms: The long table as the centerpiece
The technical implementation of such an event is challenging. The power supply along the entire mile requires precise planning, as numerous catering establishments, lighting elements and music spots have to be supplied. Infrastructure manager Dominic Zaalberg speaks of an "unusual challenge", precisely because no fixed structures are permitted and yet reliable solutions have to be created.
An additional point concerns the design of individual catering zones. As not all participating businesses are located directly on the street, special wooden platforms have to be built for some outdoor stalls - an effort that is worthwhile, however, in order to enable as many vendors as possible to participate.

Lights instead of street lamps - an atmospheric highlight
Another element that will give the Tavolata its special character is the planned lighting. Thanks to the generous support of ebs Energie AG, the street lamps along the festival mile can be switched off. Instead, the entire area will be decorated with fairy lights - an atmospheric play of light that will create a special ambience, especially in the evening.
Some of the lights will be attached to existing buildings. The residents affected will receive an information letter in advance. "If we don't receive any feedback, we assume tacit approval," explains Dave Heinzer, who is responsible for this part of the infrastructure.

Flexible in any weather - bad weather option ready
The event will take place whatever the weather. If the weather does not allow the event to be held outdoors, the Tavolata will be moved to the participating restaurants without further ado. The musical program would then be flexibly adapted - the artists would move from pub to pub and present their performances there, just like on the well-known music pub tour.
The decision on the weather variant will be made by Wednesday, September 3 at the latest and will be communicated transparently via the website and social media channels. Either way, the aim is to create an atmospheric experience for guests.

Commitment desired - helpers wanted
A major event like this not only needs good ideas, but also lots of helping hands. The OC is still looking for motivated helpers for the set-up, children's program, artist support and cleaning work. Anyone interested can register directly on the website www.gfug.ch. Isabelle Annen, who is also responsible for the safety concept in the OC, is in charge of coordinating the volunteers.

Road closures and traffic routing - what residents need to know
To ensure that everything runs safely and smoothly, the entire festival mile will be closed to traffic from 7 a.m. on Saturday morning, September 6, until 5 a.m. on Sunday morning, September 7. Reichsstrasse, Sonnenplätzli and parts of Hinterdorf will be particularly affected. Residents are asked to remove their vehicles from the affected areas on Friday evening, September 5.
Detour will be signaled, alternative parking spaces will be designated and public transport will also be adjusted accordingly. Information on this will follow in August via flyers and the website.

Thanks to the Schwyz economy - sponsorship makes it possible
Special thanks go to the numerous Schwyz companies that support the event financially and ideally. "Without local sponsorship, it would simply not be possible to hold the event in this form," says Jonas Bünter. The GfuG association attaches great importance to the involvement of regional partners - a commitment that should also be reflected in the atmosphere and identity of the Tavolata.

A festival for Schwyz
OCP Jonas Bünter is confident: "We are really looking forward to this day. The Tavolata should be a celebration for everyone - for Schwyz, for the guests, for our culture." Up-to-date information about the event can be found on the gfug.ch/tavolata website and on the association's social media channels.


contact
OKP & Marketing
Tavolata Schwyz 2025
Jonas Bünter
marketing@gfug.ch

Further information
More information at
www.gfug.ch/tavolata


Note: This text was translated by machine translation software and not by a human translator. It may contain translation errors.