The cold festival, now in its sixth year, celebrates the area’s reputation as the chilliest place in Switzerland, after it registered a record low of -41.8C in 1987. 

 

Due to its specific microclimate this so-called ‘Siberia of Switzerland’ regularly records extremely low temperatures in winter and has already reached -29.9C this year. 

 

However on Saturday the weather wasn’t playing ball. 

 

With temperatures at around 1-2 degrees and a distinct lack of snow, festival organizers were forced to cancel several planned attractions, reported news agencies, including dog sled rides, cross-country ski and snowshoe initiations and a snow sculpture activity which was replaced by wood carving. 

 

Nevertheless, visitors still packed out the restaurants, according to organizer Vincent Matthey – if only to shelter from the strong winds that battered the area during the afternoon.

 

It’s the second year in a row that the village has not lived up to its Siberian reputation on the day of the festival. Last year the mercury registered a spring-like nine degrees.