Zug, 05.05.2020

Zuger Chriesimärt yes, Chriesisturm no

The board of IG Zuger Chriesi has decided not to carry out the Chriesisturm 2020 (Cherry run) due to the Corona pandemic. The Chriesimärt (cherry market) , on the other hand, is expected to take place on 22 June.

On 28 April 2020, the Federal Council announced that major events in Switzerland with more than 1,000 participants will remain banned until at least the end of August. This makes it clear that the Chriesisturm 2020 cannot take place at the start of the Zug cherry harvest, writes the IG Zuger Chriesi (Zug cherry Interest group) in a press release. The spectacular race through the narrow streets of the old town of Zug is watched by far more than a thousand spectators. After the race, they all get together in the Landsgemeindeplatz for a cheerful folk festival and enjoy together the first fruits of the local cherry harvest.

Chriesigloggä of Zug and Baar will ring out
"Even though it hurts, it's right to do without the Chriesisturm this year. We must all make a contribution to curbing the corona pandemic and preventing new infections," says Peter Hegglin, president of IG Zuger Chriesi, in the press release. The narrow space in the alleys of the old town of Zug, which is usually one of the great attractions of the Chriesisturm, would have made it much more difficult to maintain the minimum social distance and other protective measures. Regardless of any decision by the Federal Council, this led the IG's board of directors to cancel this year's popular folk festival, which is known beyond the canton's borders.

Zug Chriesimärt (cherry market) in previous years

On the other hand, the IG Zuger Chriesi does not want to do without the traditional ringing of the Zug and the Baar Chriesigloggä (cherry bells). The bell ringing at the Zug city church of St. Michael and the Baar parish church of St. Martin will symbolically herald in the Chriesi harvest, and thereby defy the pandemic at noon on June 22.

Zuger Chriesimärt to take place
The Zuger Chriesimärt (cherry market) is expected to take place this year, however. According to this tradition, which has been maintained since 1627, the cherry farmers of the region will offer harvest-fresh cherries for sale on the Zug Landsgemeindeplatz for a few weeks from Monday to Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Depending on the cherry ripeness, the market could start earlier. "We are pleased that, with the Chriesimärt, which is organised in cooperation with the city of Zug and the cherry farmers, we can offer people a bit of joie de vivre in the current difficult situation. The Zug cherries will continue to have their wonderful taste in the 2020 pandemic year," emphasizes IG President Peter Hegglin.