In 1865, a team led by British explorer Edward Whymper reached the top of the Matterhorn, one of the highest peaks in the Alps. This year, Zermatt, Switzerland, will mark the 150-year anniversary of the event with festivities and special deals. The bigger ones begin this summer, including the July 13 reopening of the Hörnlihütte, the focal point of activity at the foot of the Matterhorn and the starting point for most climbers.

From July 9 to Aug. 29, Zermatt’s first open air theatre will stage “The Matterhorn Story,” a musical performance in English and German about the first ascent and its tragic consequences (four of Whymper’s seven-man team fell to their deaths on their descent).

Also on the docket are the famous, high-altitude Zermatt Unplugged concert, April 14-18,; the Cantonal Mountain Guides Festival, June 6-7; the District Music Festival, June 12-14; the World Mountain Running Championships, July 4; the Swiss Food Festival, Aug. 7-9; the Folklore Festival Zermatt, Aug. 9; the Zermatt Festival, Sept. 11-20; and Switzerland Travel Mart, Sept. 21-23. Find booking details and special packages at zermatt.ch/en. And even if you don’t make a formal event, there are always plenty of outdoor activities, like skiing.

For more information, see www.zermatt.ch/en/150.