Anyone invited to a 60th birthday party expects a celebration and a convivial get-together. However, Marcel Joliat’s guests were in for a very different surprise: instead of raising a glass, they picked up saws, cordless screwdrivers and brooms. Together, they renovated the Stafelbar, thereby giving Grächen a lasting gift. An extraordinary initiative that shows just how deeply rooted the bond between the guests and Grächen is.
On Saturday, 27 June 2026, holiday home owner Marcel Joliat invited 29 friends to Grächen to celebrate his 60th birthday. What had been announced as a birthday party turned into an extraordinary volunteering initiative.
The meeting point was at 10.00 am at the valley station of the Hannigalpbahn. As the birthday boy enjoys hiking, his guests initially assumed they were going on a group hike. However, the surprise came upon arrival at the Stafelbar: instead of hiking, manual skills were required. Marcel explained to his guests that they were to renovate the bar together. The initial bewilderment quickly gave way to a great enthusiasm for getting stuck in. In glorious sunshine and summery temperatures, everyone pitched in. The dedicated group – most of whom also own a second home in Grächen – went full steam ahead. There was sawing, screwing, assembling and repairing.
The result is impressive: new hanging racks for ski helmets were installed, the bar counter was given new panelling, the floor was repaired and the area around the Stafelbar was cleared of litter. “There was something for everyone to do,” says Marcel happily. To treat themselves to some well-deserved refreshments, the volunteers were treated to a raclette lunch.
The idea for this special birthday had been taking shape for some time. During his visits to Grächen, Marcel repeatedly came up with ideas for improving the Stafelbar. On his 60th birthday, he decided to take action. In December 2025, he presented his idea to Marc Brunner, head of TUG Gastro AG. Marcel then organised the necessary materials, whilst TUG Gastro AG covered the costs of the materials and transport. “The whole organisation was a real challenge,” says Marcel.
Once the work was done, the birthday boy and his guests rounded off the evening with a barbecue and a cosy get-together on the birthday boy’s terrace. And they had more than earned it!
The efforts of Marcel Joliat and his friends are anything but a matter of course. Through their voluntary commitment, they have made a valuable contribution to Grächen and shown what is possible when people pull together. On behalf of Destination Grächen St. Niklaus, we’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Marcel for his fantastic initiative, as well as to all his birthday guests for their spontaneous and energetic efforts. Thanks to their commitment, the Stafelbar now shines in new splendour – to the delight of locals and visitors alike. Come and visit us at the Stafelbar on a fine weekend and see for yourselves!
