Every spring, fields of wild narcissus bloom and transform the meadows above Montreux and Vevey, Switzerland, into what locals call Neige de Mai, the “May snow.”

Between 1897 and 1957, the white blossoms were celebrated with the yearly Narcissus Festival, which culminated in a procession of floral floats that signified the end of the traditional high season in Montreux.

From May 2 to June 7, 2015, that tradition will be revived when the Fête des Narcisses is held once again in the Montreux Riviera after a 58 year pause.

The highlight will be May 30, when a floral float parade moves through the streets of Montreux, evoking the festival’s golden years.

There will be marked mountain trails through the blooming fields, set against a dramatic backdrop of Lake Geneva and the Alps.

The history of the festival, which began in the Belle Époque, will be honored by exhibitions in Montreux, La Tour-de-Peilz and Vevey. A folkloric market in Vevey will offer traditional wares associated with the festival, and the finale will be a gala evening and the election of the “Narcissus Queen” in Montreux.

(Photo courtesy of La Fête des Narcisses)