RIPON — Northern San Joaquin Valley’s largest Swiss music festival and Swiss-style wrestling competitions takes place this Saturday and Sunday at the Swiss Hall in Ripon.It starts Saturday with the Schwingfest - Swiss-style wrestling - and dance on Saturday. Sign-ups start at 10 a.m. with competition getting underway in earnest by 1 p.m. The day includes a light lunch at 12:30 p.m. with a dinner afterwards until 7 p.m. Dancing follows dinner.Then on Sunday the Gottedienst (Mass) is being officiated by Father Sam West at 9 a.m. The colorful Umzug (parade) featuring costumes, flowers, flags and more is at 10 a.m. The musikfest starts at 10:30 a.m. with a light lunch at 12:20 p.m.The Musikfest continues at 1:30 p.m.Dinner is served after the Musik finale until 7 p.m. Dancing follows dinner.Twenty-one musical groups or individuals are participating in the Musikfest. It features everything from orchestras to accordion duets to a band accompanied by the alphorn and singing.The Swiss Hall is at 110 N. Manley Road in Ripon.
Ripon Swiss Hall hosts music, wrestling fete this weekend