Swiss National Day usually is held on the Saturday closest to August 1. It commemorates the day in 1291 on which three Alpine cantons (similar to states in the U.S.) swore the oath of confederation. This is regarded as the foundation of Switzerland.

In Helvetia, the day is celebrated with a cookout in the Meadow, singing of folk songs, yodeling, folk dances, fahnenschwingen (tossing of the Swiss flag), talerschwingen (rolling a Swiss coin around the inside of an earthenware bowl to create a rhythm), alpine horns, and a square dance.

A typical schedule is:

• 5:00 p.m. Cookout in the meadow: bratwurst, fresh veggies, chips and dip, homemade cookies, and more.
• 6:00 p.m. Traditional Swiss dancing, music, and singing.
• 8:00 Square dance at the Community Hall.