Slackline show at the Au Pays des Enfants Festival in Château-d'Œx

For three consecutive years, Slackline Events presented its slackline show in Château-d'Œx as part of the Festival au Pays des Enfants. Five days of family-friendly activities in the heart of the Pays-d'Enhaut region of Vaud, featuring a program that combines introductory workshops and acrobatic performances. Here’s how this event became a recurring fixture for the organizers, and what it actually brings to a family festival.

A family festival in the heart of the Pays-d'Enhaut

Every summer, the Festival au Pays des Enfants attracts thousands of visitors over five days in Château-d'Œx. Most of the workshops are free, while there is an admission fee for shows held indoors or under the big top. The village is transformed into a giant adventure course for children, featuring a 240-meter zip line that starts at the Temple and ends behind the soccer field.

The audience is family-oriented and spans generations, and visitors often return from one edition to the next. This is precisely what makes it so challenging for the organizers: they have to surprise a loyal audience that has already seen a lot.

The challenge: updating the programming without disrupting logistics

The challenge for the festival is twofold. On the one hand, it must offer an impressive lineup every year that even regular attendees have never seen before. On the other hand, it must keep logistics simple and stay within budget. These two objectives often conflict: spectacular attractions require large-scale setups, specific permits, insurance, and qualified staff.

The slackline activity checks both boxes. It’s spectacular to watch, easy to try, and requires no permanent infrastructure. That’s what prompted the organizers to include it in several consecutive editions—a decision that also helps optimize the budget and stabilize the program.

Our solution: an introductory workshop combined with an acrobatic show

The approach adopted in Château-d'Œx combines two complementary components.

On one side, there’s a beginner’s slackline workshop led by a professional instructor, open continuously throughout the festival. Visitors come, try it out, leave, and come back. No registration, no scheduled times—just open access.

On the other hand, an acrobatic slackline show performed three times a day in 15- to 20-minute segments. Somersaults, aerial maneuvers, and rhythmic sequences. This is always followed by a Q&A session with the artist, open to questions from the audience.

This combination creates a dynamic that we refer to internally as "the virtuous cycle": a visitor tries it out, then watches the performance, gains a better understanding of the technical challenges, and returns to try again with renewed motivation. This is what works best for festivals—far better than a one-off event.

A workshop open to all ages

The equipment is tailored to each age group. Large, long, and slightly higher slacklines are reserved for adults and teenagers. Short, low slacklines are available for children and seniors. And for toddlers who can’t yet balance on their own, a ground-level balance course allows them to participate at their own level.

To make learning fun, we use a system of challenge cards. Each card contains a task to complete on the balance beam—walking without assistance, turning around, taking a step backward, and so on. Once a card is completed, the participant draws another one. This format turns the workshop into a game, encouraging children to keep trying. Some children complete the course dozens of times a day.

The acrobatic show: three performances a day, followed by a Q&A session

The acrobatic show takes place on a slackline stretched at stage height, featuring a professional acrobat. The performance combines pure technique (backflips, balancing acts) with choreography. It lasts 15 to 20 minutes, designed to capture and hold the attention of a family audience.

The moment that makes all the difference is what happens right after. The performer picks up a microphone and stays with the audience to answer the children’s questions: At what age did he start? Is he afraid? How does he practice? How long does it take to master a backflip? This interaction lasts ten to fifteen minutes and turns the show into a moment of connection.

This is a format that few events offer. Most of the time, children watch spectacular performances on YouTube or TV without ever getting the chance to ask the person behind the feat any questions. This moment humanizes the performance and inspires young people to give it a try themselves.

Results and Impact

The organizers have retained the format for three consecutive editions—this is the clearest indicator of its success. This multi-year commitment simplifies logistics for the festival and reduces coordination costs compared to an annual bidding process.

For the public, the activities serve as a focal point. Children return several times a day, parents linger around the area, and the constant flow of people between the workshop and the show brings a corner of the village to life throughout the festival. Several media reports also highlighted the slackline program as one of the festival’s highlights, notably in a SwissInfo article.

Tips for organizers of family festivals

If you're planning a family festival in the mountains or in the city, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Combine a performance and a workshop into a single activity. A passive attraction gets boring after just a couple of visits. A participatory activity without a demonstration lacks impact. Combining the two keeps participants engaged throughout the entire event.

Plan across multiple editions. A recurring partnership streamlines coordination, secures the budget, and allows artists to build on their work each year rather than starting from scratch.

Plan activities tailored to each age group. A course for toddlers, a low-level course for children, and a more challenging course for teens and adults. This is what keeps the flow of participants moving.

Don't forget to encourage audience interaction after the show. A Q&A session turns a performance into a memorable experience, especially for children.

Let's discuss your project

If you’re organizing a family festival, a village fair, or a summer event in the mountains, contact us to discuss the package that best fits your program. Feedback from similar events, such as the show for the Family Festival in Verbier or the Wellness Festival in Courchevel, can also give you some insight.