The town of Nendaz was looking for an alternative to fireworks to close out its August 1st National Day celebration. The challenge: to create a magical, nighttime aerial spectacle capable of bringing together 5,000 people under the Valais sky without pyrotechnics. Slackline Events a unique show centered around a highline stretched 15 meters above the ground and the giant puppet Céleste. The result: thirty minutes of aerial poetry that made everyone forget the fireworks.

Why replace fireworks with an aerial show?

More and more Swiss municipalities are looking for an alternative to fireworks for National Day. There are a number of reasons for this: summer droughts and cantonal bans on fireworks, increased concern for animal welfare and noise pollution, the environmental impact of explosives, and rising costs for permits. Drone shows are one solution, but their cost—often exceeding 50,000 CHF for a high-quality display—makes them unaffordable for most municipalities with fewer than 10,000 residents.

The aerial slackline show offers a third option: a spectacular, eye-catching, magical, and luminous display, all within a budget comparable to that of a traditional fireworks display.

The Nendaz Brief: A Spectacular, Aerial, Nighttime Experience

The specifications provided by the organizers in Nend were clear. The show had to be aerial (the audience looks up), nocturnal (visible in the dark), luminous (lighting up the sky), musical (creating a shared emotion), and magical (silencing the crowd). In other words, everything a fireworks display provides—without the explosion.

The brief also included a significant geographical constraint. Nendaz is a municipality in the canton of Valais nestled in the heart of the 4 Vallées, with a deeply rooted identity centered on the mountains, tradition, and nature. The show was meant to engage with this context, not overwhelm it.

Our solution: the Céleste puppet and a 50-meter highline

To address these challenges, Slackline Events implemented a unique stage setup that combines two aerial elements designed to work together.

The highline is stretched between two 15-meter-tall freestanding masts, 50 meters apart. It creates a 750-square-meter aerial stage, larger than most traditional event stages, but entirely 15 meters above the audience. The anchoring system is redundant, and all highliners perform while tethered—a non-negotiable safety requirement for this format. Technical details and full capabilities are described on our page dedicated to highline performances.

Céleste, the giant puppet created by the Compagnie Les Déplumées and Inkonito, stands 10 meters tall. Filled with helium and equipped with LEDs, it moves through the air as if it weighed nothing. Its internal lighting makes it visible from several hundred meters away once night falls.

The show lasts 30 minutes. It features an original soundtrack, light projections, and a recorded voice-over that narrates the story from start to finish.

A story set in Valais

The story was written specifically for Nendaz. Céleste, a creature from the stars, slowly descends toward Earth, drawn by the lights of a mountain village. A man sees her. He decides to join her, climbs a mast, and then launches himself onto the highline. In the middle, 15 meters above the crowd, they meet. The show concludes with an aerial choreography between the floating puppet and the moving tightrope walker.

The story draws on themes specific to Valais—verticality, the relationship with the mountains, the encounter between humans and a world of imagination greater than themselves—and adapts from one performance to the next. This is one of the structural advantages of the format: the same technical setup can accommodate a different narrative for each municipality, each festival, and each opening.

Logistics: an aerial setup for 5,000 spectators

An outdoor show for 5,000 people isn’t just about the performers. Slackline Events the entire operation: setting up and taking down the freestanding masts, installing and securing the highline, providing a sound system suitable for the venue’s capacity, light projections, sound and lighting control during the performance, coordinating public safety measures with the local municipality, and dismantling the setup the following day. The organizer has no technical coordination to handle.

The format requires an open space at least 70 meters long by 30 meters wide, as well as permission to install two guyed masts. Most village squares, parking lots, sports fields, or esplanades meet these requirements.

The aftermath: the crowd has forgotten about the fireworks

The show was the highlight of the festival. The audience remained silent for most of the performance—a silence born of rapt attention, not boredom—and then gave a long round of applause at the end. Local coverage was positive. The town indicated that the format would be repeated or recommended to neighboring towns [[to be completed: customer testimonial if available]].

The challenge of replacing a familiar format (fireworks) with an unexpected one (a tightrope walker and a celestial puppet) was successfully met. And it is precisely this shift from the expected to the unexpected that makes it a moment the audience will remember.

Tips for municipalities looking to replace fireworks

For organizers considering this type of format, there are a few points worth considering in advance.

Start planning six months in advance. Installing freestanding poles requires a safety report, coordination with the public works department, and sometimes a cantonal permit.
Choose the location before deciding on the format. A central, flat location with good headroom makes all the difference. Village squares are often better suited than a stadium.
Combine with a daytime event. A public slackline workshop in the afternoon helps sustain engagement and draws the crowd to the venue before the show.
Make provisions for inclement weather. The air show can proceed in moderate wind and light rain, but not during a thunderstorm. A rescheduling window must be included in the contract.
Communicate the "why." Publicly explaining the reasons for choosing an alternative to fireworks (drought, animals, the environment) builds support rather than inviting criticism.
Thinking about local narratives. A performance is more memorable when its story engages with the local area—a name, a mountain peak, or a local legend is all it takes.

Let's talk about your August 1st

If your municipality is considering an alternative to fireworks for National Day, the format can be tailored to your venue, budget, and narrative. For similar examples in Valais, see also the highline show for the Family Festival in Verbier and the slackline performance celebrating Valais heritage in Sion. The full collection of Slackline Events case studies provides a broader overview of possible formats.

To discuss your project, please email us at info@slackline-events.com.

FAQ

Can fireworks really be replaced by an aerial show?

Yes, provided it meets the emotional criteria of a fireworks display: aerial, nocturnal, luminous, musical, and unifying. A highline performance combined with a luminous puppet like Céleste checks all five of these boxes. The difference: it lasts 30 minutes instead of 8, and it creates a quiet atmosphere of focus rather than a wave of noise.

How much does a slackline show cost for August 1st?

The budget depends on the format (highline only, highline + marionette, addition of daytime workshops), travel, audience capacity, and duration. For a complete package like the one in Nendaz (highline + Céleste + sound + lighting + 30-minute show), expect a budget comparable to that of a fireworks display for a medium-sized town. A customized quote can be generated in just a few minutes.

What kind of infrastructure is needed to set up a highline?

An event-style highline requires two sturdy anchor points spaced 30 to 70 meters apart. If suitable structures (such as bell towers, buildings, or existing structures) are not available, Slackline Events two 15-meter freestanding poles. The footprint is approximately 70 × 30 meters, equivalent to a standard village square or an open parking lot.

Can the Céleste show be adapted for other events?

Yes. The program is also suitable for inaugurations, festivals, medieval festivals, evening corporate events, and the opening of the tourist season. The narrative is rewritten for each performance to reflect the client’s specific context.

Should we have a backup plan in case of bad weather?

Yes. The air show can tolerate moderate winds (up to 30 km/h in gusts) and light rain, but not thunderstorms or strong winds. The contract always includes a rescheduling window and a procedure for making a joint weather decision on the day of the event.

How many people can attend the show?

The setup is designed for venues with capacities ranging from 500 to 10,000 spectators. For larger crowds, the sound system and viewing angles must be adjusted. In Nendaz, 5,000 people attended the show without any visibility issues, as the system was entirely suspended 15 meters above the ground.

How long does it take to set up an outdoor highline?

The entire setup (masts, highline, sound system, lighting, safety checks) takes one day. Takedown takes half a day. For a show on the evening of August 1, the team arrives on site the day before.

What are the environmental benefits of an air show?

The show produces no pyrotechnic residue, causes no sudden loud noises, and poses no fire hazard. This is a strong selling point for municipalities committed to addressing climate issues or located in forested areas where fireworks are prohibited during periods of drought.

Slackline Events also Slackline Events workshops during the day?

Yes, and it’s the most cost-effective approach when it comes to engaging the public. A slackline introductory workshop held in the afternoon attracts families, generates social media content, and naturally draws the audience to the evening show.

Is the show suitable for families with children?

Yes. The show is suitable for all ages, poses no risk to the audience, and contains no content unsuitable for children. The storytelling is intentionally accessible to children ages 6 and up, but offers multiple layers of meaning for adults.

Slackline Events also Slackline Events acrobatic ground shows?

Yes. In addition to the highline, an acrobatic slackline —or trickline— show can be set up during the day using a lighter setup, 1.5 meters above the ground. This is the ideal format for village squares, festivals, or corporate events leading up to the evening show.

How do I book a show for August 1?

It’s best to get in touch between January and March of the relevant year. Since August 1 is a very popular date, some event formats are already fully booked by spring. An initial email to info@slackline-events.com will help us determine the format, budget, and schedule.

An alternative to fireworks for August 1 in Nendaz