Details of festivities announced

Locals will have noticed that the construction of Oberdorfstrasse in the municipality is coming to an end. Now details have been released about the festivities to take place on the occasion of the official opening of the new road on Saturday 13 October.

When it is opened, not only will Oberdorfstrasse be the first direct route above the railway lines from the Hörndli area to the centre and on to the Walchwilerberg, it will alleviate traffic congestion in the centre of Walchwil itself.

Festivities that day will start as early as 1.30 pm with a programme for children at the Gemeindesaal (town hall), though the official opening of the new road will take place at 3pm near the Oberdorf chapel to rousing music performed by the local music society and the Echo vo de Bärenegg Alphorn Group, followed by drinks.

Celebrations continue with various other bands performing and refreshments served on Dorfplatz from 5 pm onwards. A bar will be available from 10 pm in the Kirchgemeindesaal and continue to serve drinks until 2 am.

Of note is that Dorfstrasse will be closed that evening to enable celebrations to continue in a traffic-free environment. As mayor Tobias Hürlimann said, thanks to the opening of the new road, everyone would be able to get home. He also explained that the opening ceremony was coinciding with the traditional Chilbi (fair) weekend as, for many of those involved, this was already a firm fixture in their calendar.

The last major celebration held in Walchwil was in 1998 to commemorate the 200^th anniversary of battle between the French and people from the canton of Schwyz in 1798, which took place near what is now Hinterbergstrasse. People from the municipality of Walchwil went to the help their neighbours defeat the French, but as many as seven of them were killed.

1798 was also a significant year for the people of Walchwil as it became free of being subservient to the city of Zug, resulting in it having significantly increased powers of self-determination. In fact, this continues to affect the municipality today, the millions of francs needed for the construction of Oberdorfstrasse having to found by Walchwil itself. With the new road opening up the possibility of further development in the municipality, it is thought 2018 will also go down as a significant year in its history.