Désalpe de L'Etivaz
A living tradition! See you on 26 September 2026
On 26 September 2026, L’Etivaz will be in a festive mood to celebrate the return of the herds after a summer on the mountain pastures! Despite a season marked by drought, the tradition continues: the herds will parade through the village – perhaps in slightly smaller numbers this year, but with just as much enthusiasm and conviviality as ever.
On the programme: entertainment, a craft market, local specialities, a cheese competition, a petting zoo and a preview tasting of the first wheels of L’Etivaz AOP produced during the summer of 2026.
A lovely day to celebrate our traditions, our animals and our local area!
Find out when the herds pass through the heart of L'Etivaz.
Program
From 9.00 am, cattle parades, folk entertainment, a large craft market, a farm animal discovery area, a cheese-making demonstration and tastings from the cheese competition for the public and children on the festival square.
Farm Animal Discovery Area: come and meet the animals, get up close to them, stroke them and learn more about their lives and their role on the farm.
At around 2 pm, the professional judging panel will be tasting the cheeses, live on the festival square.
At around 3 pm, the results of the cheese competition will be announced, followed by the presentation of the awards: the public’s favourite, the children’s favourite and the professional jury’s choice.
From 7 pm, a meal in the heated canteen, with a band and a youth bar, as well as the prize-giving ceremony for the cheese competition.
Prices
Inputs: CHF 10.-/ adults, free for under-16s. The price also includes transport by TPC bus and shuttle bus to the festival.
Shuttles and parking
Take advantage of the free shuttle service to l'Etivaz.
- From L'Arsat (free parking between Les Mosses and La Lécherette)
- From La lécherette (large parking lot)
- From Château-d'Oex (opposite the bookshop and from the Landi grounds at the bottom of the village, free parking)
This service is available from from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.. A welcome desk will be set up at the departure of each shuttle to provide information and offer cheese tasting. We will also be selling entry pins directly at the various reception points.
Buses and shuttles in the evening:
From the Landi to L'Etivaz at 6.00 pm, 7.00 pm and 8.00 pm
Timetable for the descent from L'Etivaz onto the Landi: 6.30pm, 7.30pm then pyjama bus all evening from 11.30pm.
Opt for the shuttles and save time! Let us take you to the event centre at l'Etivaz without the hassle of finding a parking space.
Desalpe partners
Gstaad Züglete
The Barlatay Supertrail
TPC
Radio Chablais
Gstaad Züglete
The Barlatay Supertrail
Herd passage times
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