Lewis-Pacific Swiss Society to celebrate 50th Schwingfest

To celebrate the 50^th year, there’s even more in store. An Schwingen Clinic on Friday night that is open to all will provide in depth lessons about the sport of Swiss wrestling. Friday night’s concert will feature Shelby Imholt and Werner Blaser with live accordion and yodeling. Werner Blaser has graced the LPSS with his yodeling and music for many years and many are pleased to have him back for this 50th celebration.

Shelby Aeppli Imholt grew up singing and yodeling Swiss music with her father from Zurich and is a featured yodeler with the Helvetia-Alpengluehn Singing Society of Portland, Oregon. In 2010, Shelby performed at the International School in Bern, Switzerland. After the concert, join in dancing to live Swiss Polka music with the Blaser Band.

Saturday starts off with Junior and Senior Schwingen competitions. In between rounds, the LPSS will be recognizing schwingers and crown girls that participated in the first Schwingfest in 1964 and all schwingers who participated throughout these 50 years. Live Swiss music will be played throughout the afternoon and the grill and beer garden will be open. The Steinstossen -“Stone Throw”- competition will be held after the Ausstich (wrestling finals) followed by dinner and a dance to live Swiss music featuring the “Blaser Band”. And if you find your Polka needs a little work, stop in for dance lessons before the Saturday dance. The schwingen winners will be awarded crowns imported from Switzerland and presented to them from beautiful crown girls at the dance.

The Buebeschwingfest – Swiss wrestling contest for the younger Schwingers ages 6-14 – takes place on Sunday. The Swiss Miss will serve Ice Cream in the afternoon and a dance and awards will follow.

A wall of memories will also be a feature of this year’s celebration. If you have any photos of past Schwingfests that you would be willing to donate to the club, please bring them to the event. These pictures and captions will be collected and compiled into a historical record of the first 50 years of this Schwingfest.

For more information visit www.lpss.info

Admission: Event passes are available for $25 for adults, $13 for ages 12-17.  Daily admission is also available on Friday $10 for adults, $5 for ages 12-17, Saturday $15 for adults, $8 ages 12-17, and Sunday $5 for adults, $3 for ages 12-17.  Children under 12 are free all weekend.