Europe in America: New Glarus, Wisconsin

America’s Little Switzerland

Celebrating its 175th anniversary, the town of New Glarus, Wisconsin, was founded in 1845 by a group of 108 Swiss pioneers that emigrated from Switzerland for new economic opportunities. A visit to the small town takes you past miles of farmland, over rolling hills and through an occasional wooded area, very similar to landscapes you will find Switzerland. The chalet-style architecture of the shops, restaurants, and boutique hotels is reminiscent of a charming Swiss village. To this day, generations of Swiss travel to New Glarus to experience the American Swiss culture and enjoy the historic museums, authentic cuisine, unique shops, and lodging.

The New Glarus Cow Parade is a fun scavenger hunt to find all 16 cow statues scattered around town. Download the map and see how many you can find during your visit!

Events & Festivals

To experience Swiss culture, we recommend visiting during one of the annual festivals. Swiss Volksfest, also known as Swiss Independence Day, takes place in August with choral folklore music, yodeling, flag throwing, thalerschwingen, alphorn playing, and accordion music. On Labor Day Weekend, The Wilhelm Tell Pageant features a children’s lantern parade, alphorns, yodel showcase, art show, book sale, live music, savory food, and a street dance. Popular autumn events include the Swiss Historical Village Harvest Fest and the New Glarus Oktoberfest. The Harvest Fest showcases the daily routines and responsibilities of the past – cheese making, blacksmithing, yarn spinning, and basket weaving. Oktoberfest is your chance to sample award-winning beer from New Glarus Brewery, which is only sold in Wisconsin.

175th Anniversary Celebration: The weekend celebration has been postponed until 2021— check the New Glarus Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Information website more information. The event will showcase and honor the town’s Swiss roots and include a parade, fireworks, community picnic, and more.

Historic Museums

– Visit the Swiss Historical Village & Museum, owned and operated by the New Glarus Historical Society. This must-see living history museum first opened in 1942 and is extremely popular with visitors. Explore 14 buildings within the Swiss Settlement, depicting the life of Swiss immigrants during the 1850’s.

– The former home of Edwin Barlow, the man who brought the Wilhelm Tell play to America, is open for guided tours. The Chalet of the Golden Fleece Museum is a charming, Swiss Alps chalet-style residence with thousands of artifacts collected during Barlow’s travels abroad in the early- to mid-20th century. The owner spent his life promoting Swiss Heritage and the development of New Glarus as “America’s Little Switzerland.”

Outdoor Recreation

– The 40-mile Badger State Trail passes through New Glarus. The partially paved trail is popular for hiking and biking and stretches through Central Wisconsin from Madison to the Illinois border. Bike rentals are available in New Glarus.

– Sugar River State Trail starts in New Glarus and continues for 23 miles before terminating in Brodhead. The former railroad service line crosses the Sugar River and its tributaries by way of fourteen trestle bridges. Before you begin, stop in the restored historic railroad station in New Glarus to see displays of local culture and railroad history.

– Just a short distance from town is New Glarus Woods State Park. The 435-acre State Park offers hiking, picnicking, and camping. Access to the park is possible using the Sugar River State Trail.

Brew, Distill & Ferment

– New Glarus Brewery is located a few miles from downtown and was designed to look like a Bavarian village. The independent brewery ranks as one of the largest craft brewers in the United States even though the products are only sold in Wisconsin. The brewery is extremely popular with visitors and offers beer tastings and Hard Hat Tours of the production areas.

– Bailey’s Run Winery is another great stop to sample local wine grown from northern cold-climate grapes. The winery has a tasting room, artisan food plates, and live entertainment. Check the calendar of events to coordinate your visit with live music or other fun activities.