GENEVA, Switzerland – Here’s my selection of events taking place in Geneva (and a few beyond) in May 2016. I will update the list throughout the month.
- Art Exhibits
- Concerts and other Performing Arts
- Film Festivals and Conventions/Conferences
- Special events and flea markets
- Fairs and Festivals
- Food and Wine
- Sports
Art Exhibits
- 19 May: an evening of art and wine, Nuit de Bains, Geneva (free)
- 20 May until January: The Amazon, Shamans and Thoughts of the Forest – An exhibit with more than 5,000 items from feathers to hallucinogenic plants from the mighty Amazon (free)
- Until 22 May: Japanese Art exhibit, Geneva (free)
- 21-22 May: Night at the Museum (Day of the Museums), Geneva. (free)
- Until 12 June: Inside Out, a photo exhibit of rarely seen professions (free)
- Until 30 June: Swiss bikes and motorbikes photography exhibit, Geneva. (free)
- Until 30 October: Money, objects of exchange – A wonderful collection of objects that were once considered better than money to exchange and/or barter, Geneva (free)
Concerts
- 6-14 May: Athénéennes classical and jazz music festival, Geneva
- 7-30 May: World Beat music concerts (Latin American electronic, flamenco, alternative classic and more), Geneva
- 12 May: Geneva Chamber Orchestra
- 20-21 May: Gypsy (Roma) Music Festival, Lausanne
- 21 May: French-Baroque Opera, Geneva
- 28 May: Fete de l’Espoir, Geneva – a day and evening dedicated to Francopohone music, free and for all
- 1 June: Mika in concert, Geneva
- 3 June: Phil Collins in concert, Lausanne
- 9 June: Alice Cooper in concert, Pratteln
- 27 June: Slayer in concert, Pratteln
- 1-16 July: Montreux Jazz Festival (including free concerts)
- 22 July-7 August: Verbier Classical Music Fest
Other Performing Arts
- 10-14 May: Richard III, in Monthey
- 12 May: International Stand-up Comedy Club, Lausanne
- 12-16 May: Dance Music Festival around Switzerland. Hit the streets and Dance! Geneva (some events are free)
- 13 May: The Simon and Garfunkel Story, Lausanne
- 13-22 May: Carmina Burana, it is not opera, it is not theatre, it is not a dance piece and yet it is all of the above.
- 22 May: Flashdance, the Musical, Geneva
- 25 May: L’Orda – Theater in Italian, Geneva
- 26-29 May: Swiss Theatre Festival – this third edition comes to Geneva
- 17-19 June: Crazy Horse Paris, Lausanne
Film Fests and Conventions/Conferences
- 6-8 May: Virtual Reality Forum & Festival, Crans-Montana, Valais
- 7 May: Swiss Parliament Open Doors Day (free)
- 10 May: Colombia: is peace closer than ever? At the Graduate Institute, Geneva (free)
- 27-29 May: Travel film festival, Aubonne, Vaud
Special Events and Flea Markets
- Full listing including vintage and home décor sales posted separately here.
- 7 May-26 June: La Ville-est-a-vous neighborhood street fairs in Geneva (free)
- 11 May: Open doors/Music workshop/atelier at the AMR, Geneva (free)
- 20-22 May: Mai au Parc, circus, concerts, dancing, theatre, vegan food festival and more (includes several free events), Geneva
- 22 May: Visit to cemeteries in the Rhone-Alpes Department in neighbouring France (free)
- 25 May: Salsa in the park – Outdoors dancing by Perle du Lac, Geneva (free)
- 5 June: Geneva synagogue open doors day (free)
Fairs and (Green) Festivals
- Until 17 May: Tulips in bloom and sale in Morges, canton Vaud. A must see (free)
- 14-22 May: Medieval Festival (Les Grandes Médiévales) in neighbouring France
- 21-22 May: Carnaval Vénitien d’Yvoire (France, Lake Geneva region) (free)
- 10-12 June: Festival de la Terre, Lausanne (organic, local, concerts, films, plants, food…) (free)
Food and Wine
- 5-7 May, Valais wineries open house (free)
- 7 May: Tomato Festival / Market in Bernex (free)
- 11 May: Red wine tasting at Soleil Rouge, Geneva (free)
- 19 May: White wine tasting at Bateau-Lavoir, Geneva (free)
- 22 May: Spring Brunch at the Farm (horses and petting zoo, ideal for kids), canton Geneva
- 27-29 May: Geneva Street Food Fest (just ’cause some people can’t get enough of eating out of a truck!)
- 28 May: Geneva wineries open house (CHF10)
- 28 May: Ardbeg Day, Whisky Tasting in Lutry
- 4 June: Farmer’s market in Bernex (free)
- 2-3 October: Whiskies and spirits tasting & conferences in Lausanne
Sports
- 7-8 May: Unicef Marathon in Geneva
- 10, 13 & 17 May: La Grange Park tour, Geneva (free)
- 14-15 May: Geneva Cup – an international M-16 football (soccer) tournament – kick it!
- 15 May: Cyclotour du Léman – bike around Lake Geneva
- 22 May: Family Games – head withe the family in town for a day of games and activities in Lausanne – free!
- 26 May: La Tour de Sauvabelin race/walk, Lausanne
- 10 June: Regatta Bol d’Or Mirabaud over Lake Geneva – great to see them leave from Geneva
- 11 June: Gliss’en Ville or how to go down a water toboggan through the streets of Geneva 🙂 – Tickets for sale now
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