GENEVA, Switzerland – From outdoor salsa parties to performance art; from classical music to flea markets; from the Lion King to a 5k race. Here’s a roundup of what’s on this month in Geneva (and some nearby towns).
- Concerts & Other Performing Arts
- Classical Music Concerts
- Exhibits (indoor & outdoor) / Performance Art
- Food and Drink / Markets / Mixers
- Geneva Latina
- Kids & Families
- Sports
- Plan ahead
Remember 14 & 25 May are holidays.
Concerts & Other Performing Arts, Film Festivals
- 7-10 May: Geneva Dance Festival. There are dance festivals all across Switzerland. In Geneva there will be free classes (from Hawaiian dancing to Bollywood) and dance performances all over the canton.
- 7-17 May: Mapping Festival, Geneva. Where electronica meets VJs.
- 8, 12-13 May: Theatre in English, Antigonick. Geneva.
- 8-16 May, Les Athénéennes, jazz and classical music festival in Geneva.
- 10 May: Claude Tabarini jazz concert. Geneva.
- 16-17 May: Weekend en fanfare, brass band concerts at Place du Molard, Bastions Park & Victoria Hall. It includes a movie under the stars. Free.
- 21 May: Tango, Italian & gipsy music in Grand-Saconnex. Free.
- 30 May: Fete de l’Espoir. A night of music in French, free.
- 28-31 May: Five Continents Film Festival, in neighboring France.
Classical Music Concerts
- 3 May: Bose-Pastor Duo with apéro following. Carouge.
- 3 May-4 June: Quatuor de Genève and other artists perform at the Art and History Museum on Sundays. Geneva.
- 8 May: New World Symphony at the UN in Geneva. Must request a UN pass if you don’t have one.
- 19-22 May: Ansermet Ensemble concert in Lausanne.
- 29-31 May: Festival des Musiques du Bas-Valais.
- 6-7 June: Geneva Camerata in Mezieres, Vaud (with a boat ride to Lausanne for only 2fr.)
Exhibits (indoor & outdoor) / Performance Art
- Until 3 May: Geneva Book and Press Fair
- 3 May: Garden Party at the Chateau de Prangins. Activities for kids, plants exhibit and exchange and more.
- 7 & 9 May: Art in Old Town, museums and galleries open in the evening starting at 17:00 and then again on Saturday 9 May all day.
- 7 May: Nights d’ascension. An evening of multi-sensorial art activities lead by Jelena Martinovic. Lausanne.
- 11-27 May: Art & Artisanat, at the UN. Email to request a pass if you don’t have one.
- 13-16 May: History Festival, history through still images, films, radio & conferences. Includes a tour of the newly built Maison de la Paix in Geneva.
- 15 May: Live multimedia performance at the Geneva Main Library. Free. 18:00.
- 16-17 May: Night of the Museums, Geneva.
- 16 May until 2016: Becoming Swiss, at the Maison Tavel documents and artifacts in remembrance of Geneva’s entry to the Swiss Confederation. Geneva.
- 28-31 May: Fureur de Lire, three days of activities dedicated to books and reading (even in the oddest of spaces.)
- Until 14 June: Calligraphy exhibit at Cite du Temps in Geneva. Free.
Food & Drink / Markets and Mixers
- 30 April-3 May: Plan-les-Ouates’ church fair.
- 6 May: Campbeltown Single Malts conference.
- 8-9 May: La Noyere spring market, including wine and Irish music concert.
- 8-10 May: The Art of Gardens, at the Coppet Castle. Exhibit and sale.
- 9 May: Vernier Spring Market, special sale of seasonal plants, petting zoo and more.
- 9 May: Aigle Spring Market, Vaud.
- 14-16 May: Open wine cellars in the Valais.
- 21 & 28 May: Swiss wine tasting, Halles de l’Ile, Geneva.
- 23-24 May: Open wine cellars in canton Vaud.
- 28 May: Food Trucks Festival, at the Riponne Plaza. Food dispensed from mobile trucks.
- 30 May: Geneva’s Caves Ouvertes, wine cellars open day.
- 2 June: Geneva’s Younger Professionals meet at Hotel d’Angleterre.
- Full flea market listing – including vintage and home décor sales – posted separately here.
Geneva Latina
- 3 May: Kizomba & Salsa dancing. Geneva.
- 3 May: Domingo de Salsa, Geneva.
- 9 May: Jorge Celedon in concert. Geneva.
- 9 May: Salsa Night for Charity, CHF15 to get in. All entry fee proceeds go to an education project in Ecuador.
- 10 May: Salsa dancing, Geneva.
- 14 May: Puerto Rican salsa dancing, Geneva.
- 16 May: Victor Manuelle in concert in Geneva.
- 17 May: Kizomba dancing, Geneva.
- 22 May: Salsa at Perle du Lac Park. Geneva.
- 23 May: Clave de Son Festival, Meyrin.
- 24 May: Salsa dancing, Geneva.
- 30 May: Flamenco dancing show, Geneva.
Kids & Family Activities
- Until 14 May: Circus Nock at Plainpalais.
- 1-10 May: La Cour des Contes. Storytelling festival in French-speaking Switzerland.
- 3 May: Amaranta Porqué, Colombian storyteller Nicolás Buenaventura Vidal, will narrate tales in French & Spanish, at the MEG. Free.
- 5-21 May: The Lion King, musical theatre from Broadway, in English in Basel.
- 6 May to end August: Wednesday at the Museums in Geneva. (English version to follow).
- 9 May: Geneva Main Library reopens with theatre, music, exhibits and more. 10:00-20:00. Free. For kids and adults.
- 9 May: Swiss Parliament open doors. Bern. Free.
- 16-17 May: Night of the Museums, great fun for everyone. Geneva.
- 15 May until April 2016: Exoplanetes – Earth & Sun, a planetary exhibit at the Planetarium. Geneva. Free.
- Until 17 May: Tulips in bloom in Morges, canton Vaud. A beautiful flower display, covers several blocks. A must see.
- 28-31 May: Fureur de lire. A festival of books and reading throughout the Vieille Ville.
- 29-30 May: La Jonction est a vous. Games, flea market, food and more!
- 29-30 May: Geneva fire stations open house. A full day of activities and hands-on visit for kids and adults. In St. Jean, Paquis, Bains and the quai du Rhône.
Sports
- 2 May: Samedis du vélo, biking on Saturdays around canton Geneva. Guided, easy bike rides. Once a month.
- 2 May: Harlem Globetrotters in Geneva.
- 2-3 May: Geneva Marathon.
- 3 May: Lavaux Up. Walk, bike, skate between Cully and Vevey and through the lovely Lavaux.
- 9 May: Outdoor sports / fitness classes for everyone. Free. Grand-Saconnex.
- 15-23 May: Geneva Tennis Open.
- 17 May: Dimanche à pied, or Sundays by foot around canton Geneva. Guided, thematic, easy to moderate walks. Once a month.
- 22 May: Masters of Dirt, Zurich.
- 23-24 May: Geneva Darts Open at the Queue d’Arve. Watch the arrows!
- 24 May: Naval Parade, Lake Geneva.
- 29-31 May: Fete de la Nature. Take to the green, work out, explore, play in nature. All throughout the Swiss French-speaking region.
- 31 May: Race for Gift. 5k & 10k in Geneva.
- 21 June: Trail running in Gex – La Croz’ et Raide.
Save the Date:
- 1 June: Course, The Edible Garden, Geneva
- 1-6 June: Geneva’s Out of the Box Dance Biennale.
- 3 June: Sir Elton John in concert in Geneva.
- 7 June: Old cars and motorcycles exhibit in Ferney-Voltaire, France. Registration now open to exhibit.
- 10 June: KISS in concert in Zurich.
- 16 June: Foo Fighters in St Gallen.
- 18-21 June: Art Basel, Basel.
- 20 June: Nitro Circus Moto Mayhem, Geneva.
- 21 June: Trail running in Gex – La Croz’ et Raide.
- 3-5 July: Pixar in Concert. Animated Pixar characters accompanied by the Sinfonietta de Lausanne.
- 4 July: Lake Parade, Geneva.
- 3-18 July: Montreux Jazz Festival.
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