“TheAlpineBeardContest in
Chur is all about real beards
and realmen”
Chur’sAlpine
BeardFestival
was set up30
years ago to
fill thegaps
between
competitions
inahorse-
jumping
tournament
Santa in
Finland
Kakslauttanen
This Lapland resort is
most famous for its glass
pods, includingnew
cabin-podhybrids that
mean youcan see the
NorthernLights inextra
comfort. But it’s also
got aconvincing version
of Santa’shome,with a
charmingly funny Santa.
kakslauttanen.fi
Rovaniemi
Rovaniemi’sSantaClaus
Village isundoubtedly
touristy,butwithSanta’s
office,postofficeand
undergroundcaves,
aswellasreindeers
andSnowmanWorld,
you’ll struggle tofind
moreSanta-based fun
anywhereelse.
santaclausvillage.info
Vuotunki
The villageof Vuotonki,
close to theRussian
border ineastern
Kuusamo, is a slightly
quieter alternative
toRovaniemi,with
tobogganing and
sausage-grillingbefore
visitingSanta’s cottage.
nordicholidays.com
TIM E WHITE; CORBIS; PLAIN PICTURES
TheAlpineBeardContest, too, is a
littledifferent frommost, in that theonly
category is “natural”, which sets it apart
from theever-growing ranks of beard
andmoustachecompetitions around
theworld. At thebiannualWorldBeard
andMoustacheChampionships, styling
is everything. The almost 20categories
includeAlaskanWhaler (all beard, no
moustache), Dalí (slendermoustachewith
long tips) orGaribaldi (broad, full and
round, lengthnot toexceed20cm).
“That’s notwhat this one’s about,” says
Baebler. “It’s about real beards and real
men.”
churerfest.ch
Norwegianflies toGeneva fromOslo,
CopenhagenandStockholm.Bookflights,
ahotelandarental caratnorwegian.com
TheAlpineBeardContest, which
celebrated its 30th anniversary this year,
is part of thewiderChurer Fest, which
sees asmany as 100,000peoplecome
to the small town for food stalls,musical
performances and funfair rides.
But for Baebler, it’s all about thebeards.
“Theywere all real characters, anddid feel
totally authentic. One guy, Geni, invited
us back tohis farmhouse for adrink.We
wanted to stay in touch, and asked about
his phonenumber –but hedoesn’t have
aphone, andonly goes to the villagepost
office tocollect hismail once aweek.”
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