Geneva Events and Festivals

(Geneva, Switzerland)

Each year, a host of different festivals take place in Geneva, including endless traditional Swiss celebrations, markets and concerts. Many of these events take place within the Palexpo exhibition centre on La Voie de Moens, where you can enjoy the Salon International du Livre book fair each April, various paintings and sculptures at the Europ'Art in May, and the Geneva Ideal Home Exhibition in November, known locally as the Foire de Genève and attracting in excess of 300,000 people.

Music lovers should look out for regular concerts by the highly acclaimed Chamber Orchestra of Geneva (L'Orchestre de Chambre de Genève), or check the calendar for the vast SEG Geneva Arena on the Route des Batailleux, where many massive concerts, expos, festivals and other events are held. Those who prefer sport will find many different sporting events often hosted by the Stade de Champel stadium on the Route de Vessy, while for culture, live music and plenty of other things to do, check out the Salles des Fêtes de Thônex on the Avenue Tronchet.

Geneva Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• Chamonix World Cup Skiing - late January, a renowned ski competition takes place at Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, less than two hours from Geneva and is always a crowd pleaser

February

• Fête de la Feuille - late February / early March, a historic chestnut tree along the Promenade de la Treille has been closely watched for over 200 years at this time, since when its very first leaf opens it is a sign that spring has well and truly arrived in the city

March

• International Motor Show - held at the Palexpo exhibition centre and known for its many stylish vehicles
• Archipel Festival - late March to early April, modern music styles are performed at venues around central Geneva, such as both the Victoria Hall, and at the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire (Museum of Art and History), on the Rue Charles Galland

April

• Salon International des Inventions, Techniques et Produits Nouveaux (International Exhibition of Inventions, New Techniques and Products) - early April, more than 1,000 of the latest inventions are displayed at the Palexpo Exhibition Centre, offering visitors the rare opportunity to see items that may be used in the everyday life of tomorrow. This is a truly unique event and enjoys visitor numbers of around 100,000
• Salon International du Livre et de la Presse et du Multimédia (International Fair For Books and Press and Multimedia) - late April / early May, the largest book fair currently in existence, held at Geneva's popular Palexpo Exhibition Centre

May

• Europ'Art - early May, a chance to enjoy a diverse selection of art works, ranging from the modern contemporary style, to more classical and traditional pieces, all exhibited at the Palexpo Exhibition Centre, along with many trade stands and museum displays

June

• Bol d'Or (Gold Cup) - early June, hundreds of boats in all shapes and sizes race across Lake Geneva in this historic event, which first took place in the late 1930s
• Rose Competition - late June, held each June on the fourth Monday, rose growers from all across the world display their finest blooms and compete for prizes. All of the winning varieties of rose are then planted in the Parc La Grange to be enjoyed by summer visitors

July

• Pre Festival - mid to late July, a precursor to the simply massive festivities at the Geneva Festival, at the end of the month
• Fêtes de Genève (Geneva Festival) - late July to early August, one of the city's true summer highlights and enjoyed by many thousands of holiday makers, who come to watch the Lake Parade, enjoy the fairground rides, see the boat races, marvel at the fireworks display and soak in the party atmosphere. Lasting ten days, the Geneva Festival is amongst the biggest events in the whole of Switzerland and boasts more than 100 different concerts and visitors numbering many hundreds of thousands

August

• Fête Nationale du 1er Août / Swiss National Day - August 1st, a national holiday remembering the important alliance between the various central cantons in Switzerland. Expect live music, plenty of national flags, costumed parades and fireworks
• Piazza Grande Locarno / Locarno International Film Festival - early August, with many films screened around the city. A particular highlight is the open-air cinema constructed at the Piazza Grande, where thousands gather to enjoy the screenings
• Tropical Village Festival - early August, a major celebration of world music, lasting around ten days and currently attracting more than 100,000 visitors every year, held around the Quai Gustave Ador
• Circus Knie Tour - late August to early September, a chance to experience one of the best and most historic circuses in Switzerland, based at the Plaine de Plainpalais for around three weeks
• La Bâtie Festival - final Thursday of August to early September, lasting approximately a fortnight and featuring a range of theatrical performances, modern dance and homegrown talent from Geneva. First held in the late 1970s and now attended by around 45,000 visitors

September

• Suisse Romande Heritage Days - mid-September, held all over the Suisse Romande, when many important buildings open their doors to members of the general public, offering a rare chance to view many hidden treasures

October

• Cinema Tout Ecran - late October / early November, celebrating the very best in quality television films and programmes, which are screened at various central venues

November

• Foire de Genève - early November, the Ideal Home Exhibition at the Palexpo Exhibition Centre, with many hundreds of exhibitors and modern ideas about the best way to live your life
• Floralies Internationales (International Flower Show) - mid-November, a particularly colourful and fragrant event, with exhibitors arriving from all over the world to showcase their flower arranging talents, held at the Centre d'Expositions et de Congrès
• Christmas Tree Festival - late November to early January, the streets around central Geneva are filled with seasonal decorations and Christmas trees. The best lights tend to be along the banks of the Rhône River and also around both the Place de Chevelu and the Place St. Gervais

December

• Course de l'Escalade - early December, with approximately 20,000 participants, many of which are costumed, who race around the streets around St. Pierre Cathedral, before finally reaching the finish line at the Parc des Bastions
• Fête de l'Escalade - a party atmosphere fills the city of Geneva on the night of December 11th, when celebrations remember the 17th-century attack by the Duke of Savoy
• Concours Hippique International de Genève (Geneva International Horse Show) - early December, an event for horse lovers everywhere, with thousands flocking to the city's Palexpo Arena to enjoy dressage, horse jumping and endless equestrian-related trade stands
• Coupe Noël - mid-December, a fun event for the watching crowds, who gather to marvel at the brave souls who jump into the cold waters of Lake Geneva itself, based around the quay at the Jardin Anglais