Thousands enjoy spectacle of 50th Lake Festival

The 50th Lake Festival took place in the city last Saturday attended by thousands of people who enjoyed themselves, listening to the various bands, admiring the flying skills of the pilots of the Patrouille Suisse and enjoying the spectacular fireworks display, some so much so that they stayed in the area until the early hours of Sunday morning.

Prior to the event starting, Daniel Schärer, the chairman of the Lake Festival, checked all was ready after extensive preparations and thanked the chair of the organising committee, Kathrin Sonderegger and her team for all they had done. “They deserve a great compliment,” said Schärer.

As previously reported, there was a wide musical entertainment on offer, in addition to acrobats Luzia Bonilla and Michael Kobi performing, bringing much joy to the many children watching.

When the Swiss national anthem was played, eyes turned to the skies to watch a spectacular display of aeronautics by the Patrouille Suisse, Captain Yanick Varley explaining that, in some of the formations, the wingtips were only four metres apart, and this at speeds of over 800kph. What was lucky was that the rain held off during the course of the display, only to restart not long afterwards, though visitors made use of the time to enjoy some of the fine food on offer.

While some may have then drifted away, more turned up for the evening’s events, Sonderegger hoping the number of those attending would go beyond 25,000.

There was yet further excitement at 10.30 pm as the lights were turned off and eyes became fixed on the sky again, this time for the half-hour fireworks display.

The Lake Festival, whose future has previously been in question, proving yet again it is definitely one of the highlights of the city’s summer.