OLMA is the Swiss agricultural and food fair: livestock halls, machinery, regional producers, a guest canton each year, and a parade through St. Gallen. Its national fame rests on the Säulirennen, a race of young pigs around a sawdust track in the arena, which is broadcast and taken more seriously than it sounds.
The eating is governed by a rule visitors break once: the OLMA bratwurst is eaten without mustard, and asking for any is noticed.
Olma Messen publishes attendance per edition; we have not collected a dated one.
It is anchored to the second Thursday of October and runs eleven days. St. Gallen's abbey library, a UNESCO site and one of the most beautiful rooms in Europe, is five minutes from the fairground and is the reason to extend the visit.
PlanningAnchored to eleven days from the second Thursday of October; the guest canton changes each year.