Alpenfest

Gaylord remade itself as an Alpine Village decades ago, right down to a sister-city bond with Pontresina, Switzerland - and every July since 1965 it commits fully, dirndls and lederhosen included. The week opens with the Burning of the Boogg, a ritual borrowed from Zurich in which residents scribble their troubles onto slips of paper, stuff them inside a wooden snowman, and set it alight so everyone's worries go up in smoke. What follows is five days of yodeling contests, stone throwing, Die Groeste Kaffepause (the World's Largest Coffee Break), and the wonderfully absurd pairing of a ladies' ankle contest and a men's knee contest.

Dates

Jul 13-17, 2027

Town

Gaylord, Michigan

Venue

Downtown Gaylord (Alpenstrasse / Main St), Gaylord, MI 49735

Price

Free (carnival rides/some events ticketed)

Type

Heritage (Alpine)