What’s On in March 2016

Spring is almost here and the list of events in Geneva, Vaud and nearby France is filled with exciting outings to enjoy with the family. For more ideas, you can also take a look at our previous posts about skiing with the tiddlers, winter sledging and indoor playcentres.

Here’s our list of suggestions for March 2016, but remember to keep checking our blog, as we will be updating this post with more events each week!

CARNIVAL CELEBRATIONS

If you missed the Carnival celebrations which took place in February, don’t worry. You can still catch some great masked parades, Guggenmusiks (Carnival marching bands) and masked balls in the following villages of the Suisse Romande:

• 4th-6th March 2016: Moudon Carnival
• Saturday 5th March 2016: Carnaval de Genolier
• 5th-6th March 2016: Brandons in Grandson
• 11th-13th March 2016: Brandons in Yverdon-les-Bains
• 11th-13th March 2016: Avenches Carnaval
• 19th March 2016: Carnaval de Préverenges

 

EASTER ACTIVITIES

Find out about Easter egg hunts, family events and more in our post Easter Events & Activities 2016.

 

SUNDAY BRUNCH & INDOOR PLAY CENTRES

You can also check our previous posts to find all the best child-friendly places to enjoy a delicious and stress-free Sunday brunch with your little buttons or the best indoor play centres in Geneva, Vaud and nearby France. And if the Sunday blues hit you don’t fret, we’ve got some great tips for that too.

• Stuck for ideas on a Sunday? Find some ideas and suggestions here!

 

TOY & BOOK LIBRARIES

On those gray, drizzly days when nothing seems to placate your little buttons, remember you can visit your local ludothèques for a bit of free play and some light relief.

Public libraries are also a great place for your children: many host free events, workshops, story-times (usually in French but many times in other languages too). The bibliothèques in Geneva, Lausanne and neighbouring communes hold too many kids events each month to list them all here so here’s some links you can check regularly:

Geneva public libraries events & activities

Carouge public libraries events & activities

Lausanne public libraries events & activities

 

PATINOIRES

Most ice-rinks (patinoires in French) will be closing down at the beginning of March but you can still grab a few hours’ fun at the following ones:

• until March 2016: the Patinoires in Lausanne include the Patinoire de Montchoisi, the Patinoire de Malley, Flon Patinoire and the Patinoire de la Pontaise. See the official Lausanne website for more details.

• Open until 26th March 2016: the Patinoire des Charmilles in Geneva is smaller but it’s great fun for families: on Wednesdays & Saturdays from 2pm to 6pm they hold “Glisse en musique” skate & dance sessions for families that are really good fun! Entry is free and skates can be hired for 2CHF. Click here for opening times – the rink is closed on Mondays.

 

MARCH 2016 EVENTS LISTINGS:

• 1st-31st March 2016: Festival du Film Vert, a film festival with a green conscience taking place across 30 towns in France and Suisse Romande. The festival will be showcasing an amazing range of international movies that deal with important ecological issues that concerns us all. Take a look at the official website for full programme details.

 

• Wednesday 2nd March 2016: “Les oiseaux du Léman” – Ateliers Verts du Jardin Botanique in Geneva for kids aged 8-11 (in French). What better place than Geneva’s beautiful botanical gardens to learn more about nature, micro-organisms and plants ? These fantastic workshops take place on Wednesdays from 2pm to 4.30pm and cost 12 CHF per child. Places must be booked in advance at 022 379 70 68. Click here to download the full programme. There will be another workshop this month on Wed. 16th of March 2016.

 

• Wednesday 2nd March 2016: “Les mythes de Félix”, part of the Mercredis Family at the Musée d’art et d’histoire in Geneva (Rue Charles-Galland 2). Children aged 6 to 10 accompanied by an adult are welcome every Wednesday at 3pm to discover all about the museum collections in a fun, interactive way. FREE ENTRY, no advance booking required.

 

• Wednesday 2nd March 2016: MEGnomade – Sur les traces du lapin…, fun, interactive guided tour and workshop for ages 6+ at the MEG museum in Geneva (Musée d’ethnographie de la Ville de Genève, Boulevard Carl-Vogt 65-67). The tour is open to all and FREE OF CHARGE, meet the group at the information desk. Starting at 2pm until 3.30pm.

 

• Wednesday 2nd March 2016: Le Cosmoscope – Animation du mercredi, Wednesday FREE workshops for children aged 7+ and accompanied by an adult at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). In connection with the current exhibition “Exoplanètes”, these free workshops will take place from 2pm until 4.30pm.

 

• Wednesday 2nd March 2016: Jours d’ouverture aux familles at the Maison de la Créativité in Conches (7, chemin Calandrini). These family activities will take place in the afternoon from 2.30pm to 5pm. Entry is 3CHF per adult and per child aged 2+.

 

• Wednesday 2nd March 2016: Les mercredis à la Villa Freundler, free Wednesday activities for children at the Villa Freundler in Plainpalais (Place de Saint-François 4). Activities include games, creative workshops, sports and they will run from 1.30pm to 6pm. FREE ENTRY, no advance booking necessary, children must be accompanied by an adult/carer.

 

• 3rd-13th March 2016: 86th International Motor Show at Geneva’s Palexpo. This motorshow needs no introduction, so we’ll just share some good tips: all tickets bought on site after 4pm are half price; there will be a day nursery in the Entrance Hall, caring for children aged 3 months – 7 years (1st hour free of charge, after that CHF 6 per hour). Last but not least, beware of the traffic congestion around Geneva’s airport for the duration of the motor show.

 

• 3rd-13th March 2016: L’autre salon, organized by the association PRO VELO Genève, runs in parallel with the International Motorshow and offers an eco-friendly alternative for all those people who’d rather cycle than drive. This is ‘alternative’ Geneva at its best: the programme is filled with very interesting activities (wheteher you’re a bike-pro or not) including bike parades, live music in various locations and vélo-polo. See their official website for the full programme, park the car and get on your bike!

 

• 4th-6th March 2016: Moudon Carnival, probably the wildest of them all as this year’s theme will be….aliens from far away galaxies! The kids parade takes place on Saturday 5th of March at 3.30pm.

 

• 4th-13th March 2016: International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights (FIFDH) at the Maison des Arts du Grütli in Geneva (16, rue du Général-Dufour). Don’t miss this extraordinary festival, which showcases films and documentaries about contemporary human rights: violence against women, poverty, torture, international justice and climate change.

 

• Saturday 5th March 2016: Kachina – Poupées-esprits du Nouveau Monde, workshop in French for children aged 5+ accompanied by an adult at the MEG museum in Geneva (Musée d’ethnographie de la Ville de Genève, Boulevard Carl-Vogt 65-67). Children will learn to make their own wooden dools. FREE ENTRY, but places must be booked in advance at 022 418 45 55 (from 9am to 11am and only in the 5 days prior to the event). The workshop will run from 2pm until 4.30pm.

 

• Saturday 5th March 2016: “Dinosaures, fossils et autres aventures de la Terre Animation Géosciences”, fun workshops for kids aged 6+ at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). A fun way to discover more about fossils and dinosaurs, these free Saturday workshops in French take place at 2.30pm and 3.30pm.

 

• Saturday 5th March 2016: Animaux imaginaires d’autres mondes – Ateliers créatifs par Caroline Carret FREE workshops for children aged 6-13 at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). In connection with the current exhibition “Exoplanètes”, these free workshops will take place at 1.30pm & 3pm. Places must be booked in advance.

 

• Saturday 5th March 2016: “La Maison Tavel à tout petits pas et grandes oreilles!”, part of the Moments famille à tout petits pas at the Maison Tavel in Geneva, suitable foryoung children aged 3 to 5 accompanied by an adult. Tickets are 5CHF per person. Tours will start at 10am & 11am. Reserve your places in advance at adp-mah@ville-ge.ch or by phone at 022 418 25 00.

 

• Saturday 5th March 2016: Samedi des Bibliothèques vaudoises, a special day for all public libraries in Canton Vaud, with activities, story times, workshops and much more. Take a look at the official website for a list of activities in all participating libraries. FREE ENTRY.

 

• Saturday 5th March 2016: Snowcross de St-Cergue (VD). A thrilling event as the Swiss championship of motoneige takes place from 11am at the Col de la Givrine. Free entry and many activities for all ages.

 

• Saturday 5th March 2016: Carnaval de Genolier, a small but nice celebration in one of the smaller villages in Vaud (not far from Nyon). The carnival will begin at 2.30pm with a kids parade and Guggenmusik. The parade ends with the burning of the Bonhomme d’hiver and a party in the local “salle de gym” (Salle communale du Gossan, Chemin du Cimetière) where there will be music, shows for children and food stalls. Thank you Eva for sending in this recommendation. Her advice is to get there early, as later on the road from Nyon will be blocked for the duration of the Carnival.

 

• 5th-6th March 2016: Journées d’ouverture du Parc Pré Vert du Signal de Bougy, our favourite park re-opens for the season with great family activities including story-time from 9am to 10am on Saturday 5th; kids workshops on both days and free clown show on Sunday at 3pm. Places on the kids workshops must be booked in advance at  058 / 568 31 50 or info@signaldebougy.ch

 

• 5th-6th March 2016: Brandons in Grandson, watch the Bonhomme d’Hiver being burned just outside Grandson’s beautiful castle.

 

• Sunday 6th March 2016: Free entry to all museums and exhibitions in Geneva, a special initiative organized by the city of Geneva offering free access to permanent and temporary exhibitions on the first Sunday of every month.

 

• Sunday 6th March 2016: “Tohu Wa Bohu en voyage – Spécial Amériques” story-time songs and music for children at Geneva’s MEG museum (in French). Suitable for toddlers from age 2, the first session will take place from 4pm to 4.45pm in the museum’s foyer, and the second one from 5pm until 5.45pm. FREE ENTRY, no advance booking required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

 

• Sunday 6th March 2016: Petits Rendez-Vous for children at Geneva’s MAMCO. These are free, interactive guided tours for kids aged 5 to 10 accompanied by an adult. The tours start at 11.15pm. FREE entry, no advance booking required.

 

• Sunday 6th March 2016: “Sommes-nous seuls dans l’Univers?” – free guided tours for families and children  aged 7+ and accompanied by an adult at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). In connection with the current exhibition “Exoplanètes”, these free Sunday tours will take place at 11am & 2pm on all floors.

 

• 6th-21st March 2016: “Le printemps des petits”, theatre and dance festival (in French) for children at the Maison de Quartier Asters-Servette in Geneva (47, rue Schaub). The programme includes story times, “danse en famille”, circus shows and kids workshops. You can download the full programme here. Tickets are 5CHF per child, it’s advisable to book in advance at 022 734 06 33 or by email at mq.asters@fase.ch

 

 

• Wednesday 9th March 2016: “Tronches de vie”, free puppet show in French suitable from age 3 at the Espace Grosselin in Carouge (Rue Jacques-Grosselin 31, sous-sol). There will be one show at 2.30pm. FREE ENTRY.

 

• Wednesday 9th March 2016: “Agile comme un chat”, part of the Mercredis Family at the Musée d’art et d’histoire in Geneva (Rue Charles-Galland 2). Children aged 6 to 10 accompanied by an adult are welcome every Wednesday at 3pm to discover all about the museum collections in a fun, interactive way. FREE ENTRY, no advance booking required.

 

• Wednesday 9th March 2016: Le Cosmoscope – Animation du mercredi, Wednesday FREE workshops for children aged 7+ and accompanied by an adult at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). In connection with the current exhibition “Exoplanètes”, these free workshops will take place from 2pm until 4.30pm.

 

• Wednesday 9th March 2016: Petits Rendez-Vous for children at Geneva’s MAMCO. These are free, interactive guided tours for kids aged 5 to 10 accompanied by an adult. The tours start at 3.15pm. FREE entry, no advance booking required.

 

• Wednesday 9th March 2016: La visite au fil des contes, guided tour and story-time for ages 6+ conducted in French by Floriane Facchini at the  MEG museum in Geneva (Musée d’ethnographie de la Ville de Genève, Boulevard Carl-Vogt 65-67). The tour is open to all and FREE OF CHARGE, meet the group at the information desk. Starting at 2pm until 3.30pm.

 

• Wednesday 9th March 2016: Les mercredis à la Villa Freundler, free Wednesday activities for children at the Villa Freundler in Plainpalais (Place de Saint-François 4). Activities include games, creative workshops, sports and they will run from 1.30pm to 6pm. FREE ENTRY, no advance booking necessary, children must be accompanied by an adult/carer.

 

• Wednesday 9th March 2016: Jours d’ouverture aux familles at the Maison de la Créativité in Conches (7, chemin Calandrini). These family activities will take place in the afternoon from 2.30pm to 5pm. Entry is 3CHF per adult and per child aged 2+.

 

• Wednesday 9th March 2016: “A vos souhaits ! “, free kids workshop in French for ages 7-12 at the Musée Romain de Nyon (9 rue Maupertuis) from 2pm until 4pm. FREE ENTRY but places are limited and must be booked in advance at 022 316 42 80 or at musee.romain@nyon.ch

 

• 9th-13th March 2016: Peppiland, an itenerant outdoor bouncy castle park will come to ‪‎Nyon‬ from Wednesday 9th of March to Sunday 13th of March at the parking Colovray (opposite Nyon’s outdoor swimming pool). Entry is 10CHF per child for the day. Opening times will be 2pm until evening on Wednesdays and 11am until evenings on all other days.

 

• 11th-13th March 2016: Brandons in Yverdon-les-Bains, this year’s theme will be “les gens de La Fontaine” so make sure you dress up as one of La Fontaine’s animal characters. Don’t miss the Bal des enfants on Saturday 14th at 3.15pm and the night parade where they carry the Bonhomme d’Hiver (starts at 7.15pm).

 

• 11th-13th March 2016: Avenches Carnaval, the kids’ parade starts at 3.30pm on the Saturday and will be followed by many activities & street entertainment throughout town from 8pm.

 

• Saturday 12th March 2016: Journée de découverte du scoutisme this is the first open day held to allow young teenagers to learn more about scout groups in Switzerland. Click on their official website to find a french-speaking scout group near you and visit them on Saturday 12th of March to find out about their activities!

 

• Saturday 12th March 2016: “Dinosaures, fossils et autres aventures de la Terre Animation Géosciences”, fun workshops for kids aged 6+ at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). A fun way to discover more about fossils and dinosaurs, these free Saturday workshops in French take place at 2.30pm and 3.30pm.

 

• Saturday 12th March 2016: Animaux imaginaires d’autres mondes – Ateliers créatifs par Caroline Carret FREE workshops for children aged 6-13 at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). In connection with the current exhibition “Exoplanètes”, these free workshops will take place at 1.30pm & 3pm. Places must be booked in advance.

 

• Saturday 12th March 2016: Jours d’ouverture aux familles at the Maison de la Créativité in Conches (7, chemin Calandrini). These family activities will take place in the morning and afternoon: 9.30am to 12pm and 2.30pm to 5pm. Entry is 3CHF per adult and child aged 2+.

 

• Saturday 12th March 2016: if there are any budding pirates in your household, you won’t want to miss the “Carnaval pirate” in Saint Genis Pouilly (France) on Saturday 12th of March 2016. Activities will kick off at 10.30am with the kids’ costume parade and there will be games and kids workshops from 1.30pm until 6pm in the centre of town and at the Centre Culturel Jean Monnet (11 Rue de Gex). FREE ENTRY.

 

• 12th-13th March 2016: GENEVE CHÊNE-BOUGERIES Festival de marionnettes et Cie. A great puppet-show festival (in French) from age 3 at the Salle Jean-Jacques Gautier in Chêne-Bougeries (Route du Vallon 1). Tickets cost 10CHF per person. There will be puppet shows and workshops (advance booking required), click here to download the full programme.

 

• 12th-13th March 2016: chocoholics rejoice as the Festichoc is back in Versoix for its 12th edition. This is the best chocolate festival in the Suisse Romande: with over 26 exhibitors and chocolatiers present you will be able to taste some delicious chocolate, learn how these scrumptious creations are made and also take part in a Chocolate Egg hunt on Sunday at 11.30am. See the official website for full details.

 

• 12th-20th March 2016: Habitat-Jardin, a fantastic home decor & garden exhibition at the Expo Beaulieu in Lausanne. With 500 exhibitors this is the place to go to find that special piece of furniture you’ve been pining for, or everything you need to indulge your inner gardener. Open from midday to 8pm during the week and from 10am to 6pm at the weekend. Tickets are 16CHF for adults and entry is free for children up to the age of 16.

 

• Sunday 13th March 2016: “Sommes-nous seuls dans l’Univers?” – free guided tours for families and children  aged 7+ and accompanied by an adult at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). In connection with the current exhibition “Exoplanètes”, these free Sunday tours will take place at 11am on all floors. The guided tour in English “Are we alone in the universe?” will take place at 2pm.

 

• Sunday 13th March 2016: Vide-Grenier : marché aux puces couvert at the Halles CFF in Morges (opposite the train station). This is largest indoor flea market in the area, if you’re looking for a vintage piece or a bargain this is the place to go! 120 sellers will be present, entry is free.

 

• 13th-19th March 2016: Rock the Pistes Festival at the Portes du Soleil (France). If you love skiing and rock music then this is the right festival for you: with great live concerts right on the best ski slopes in Europe, fun is pretty much guaranteed (and the best thing is, you can enjoy a live rock concert without having to book the baby-sitter!). Visit the official website for full details.

 

• Wednesday 16th March 2016: “Voyage en forêt tropicale au pays des orchidées” – Ateliers Verts du Jardin Botanique in Geneva for kids aged 8-11 (in French). What better place than Geneva’s beautiful botanical gardens to learn more about nature, micro-organisms and plants ? These fantastic workshops take place on Wednesdays from 2pm to 4.30pm and cost 12 CHF per child. Places must be booked in advance at 022 379 70 68. Click here to download the full programme.

 

• Wednesday 16th March 2016: Petits Rendez-Vous for children at Geneva’s MAMCO. These are free, interactive guided tours for kids aged 5 to 10 accompanied by an adult. The tours start at 3.15pm. FREE entry, no advance booking required.

 

• Wednesday 16th March 2016: Les mercredis à la Villa Freundler, free Wednesday activities for children at the Villa Freundler in Plainpalais (Place de Saint-François 4). Activities include games, creative workshops, sports and they will run from 1.30pm to 6pm. FREE ENTRY, no advance booking necessary, children must be accompanied by an adult/carer.

 

• Wednesday 16th March 2016: MEGnomade – Sur les traces du lapin…, fun, interactive guided tour and workshop for ages 6+ at the MEG museum in Geneva (Musée d’ethnographie de la Ville de Genève, Boulevard Carl-Vogt 65-67). The tour is open to all and FREE OF CHARGE, meet the group at the information desk. Starting at 2pm until 3.30pm.

 

• Wednesday 16th March 2016: “À la carte!”, part of the Mercredis Family at the Musée d’art et d’histoire in Geneva (Rue Charles-Galland 2). Children aged 6 to 10 accompanied by an adult are welcome every Wednesday at 3pm to discover all about the museum collections in a fun, interactive way. FREE ENTRY, no advance booking required.

 

• Wednesday 16th March 2016: Le MAH à tout petits pas – Mercredi Family pour les tout-petits free guided tours for children aged 3 to 5 accompanied by an adult at the Musée d’art et d’histoire in Geneva starting at 10.30am and 3.30pm. No previous booking required, FREE OF CHARGE.

 

• Wednesday 16th March 2016: Le Cosmoscope – Animation du mercredi, Wednesday FREE workshops for children aged 7+ and accompanied by an adult at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). In connection with the current exhibition “Exoplanètes”, these free workshops will take place from 2pm until 4.30pm.

 

• Wednesday 16th March 2016: Jours d’ouverture aux familles at the Maison de la Créativité in Conches (7, chemin Calandrini). These family activities will take place in the afternoon from 2.30pm to 5pm. Entry is 3CHF per adult and per child aged 2+.

 

• Wednesday 16th March 2016: “Ne m’appelez plus jamais mon petit lapin”, free theatre show in French suitable from age 4 at the Espace Grosselin in Carouge (Rue Jacques-Grosselin 31, sous-sol). There will be one show at 2.30pm. FREE ENTRY.

 

• Wednesday 16th March 2016: from 9.30am to 11am, “It’s storytime!” storytime in English for children at the Bibliothèque Aux Mille Feuille in Gland (38 grand rue). FREE ENTRY.

 

• 16th-20th March 2016: Voix de Fête music festival in Geneva. A programme filled with live concerts and events by the best musicians and artists of the Suisse Romande, France, Canada, Belgium and Africa. Don’t miss the free circus workshops at the Salle Communale de Plainapalais and the live music shows in the city’s coolest bars, part of the festival’s “Bars en Fête” spin-off.

 

• Saturday 19th March 2016: “Dinosaures, fossils et autres aventures de la Terre Animation Géosciences”, fun workshops for kids aged 6+ at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). A fun way to discover more about fossils and dinosaurs, these free Saturday workshops in French take place at 2.30pm and 3.30pm.

 

• Saturday 19th March 2016: Animaux imaginaires d’autres mondes – Ateliers créatifs par Caroline Carret FREE workshops for children aged 6-13 at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). In connection with the current exhibition “Exoplanètes”, these free workshops will take place at 1.30pm & 3pm. Places must be booked in advance.

 

• Saturday 19th March 2016: “Scoubidou, la poupée qui sait tout”, musical theatre show for children at La Julienne in Plan-les-Ouates, starting at 5pm.

 

• Saturday 19th March 2016: Carnaval de Préverenges, between Morges and Lausanne (VD). This lovely village celebration will tick all the boxes with its kids parade, Gugenmisuk and fun activities for all ages. FREE ENTRY.

 

• Saturday 19th March 2016: Carnaval in Chavannes-de-Bogis (VD). Celebrations will begin at 2pm with the Guggenmusik and kids costume parade through the centre of the village. From 3pm onwards there will be fun activities, music and games at the Salle Communale. The Bonhomme d’Hiver bonfire will start at 6pm. FREE ENTRY.

 

• 19th-20th March 2016: Festival Perrault, a superb reading event for children at the Château de Nyon (VD). Children will be able to see 8 different shows and take part in story times (in French), as well as snuggle up with beautiful illustrated editions of Perrault much-loved classics, from Cinderella to Little Red Riding Hood and Bluebeard, in the many ‘reading corners’ which will be set up on site. FREE ENTRY, no advance booking required. Suitable from age 5, open from 2pm until 6.30pm on Saturday 19th and from 2pm until 5.30pm on Sunday 20th of March. Click here to download the full programme.

 

• Sunday 20th March 2016: MEGnomade – Sur les traces du lapin…, fun, interactive guided tour and workshop for ages 6+ at the MEG museum in Geneva (Musée d’ethnographie de la Ville de Genève, Boulevard Carl-Vogt 65-67). The tour is open to all and FREE OF CHARGE, meet the group at the information desk. Starting at 2pm until 3.30pm.

 

• Sunday 20th March 2016: Giant Easter Egg Hunt starting at 9am from the Villa Freundler in  Plainpalais, Geneva. There will be over 500 chocolate eggs to be found so make sure you’re there on time! FREE ENTRY.

 

• Sunday 20th March 2016: “Sommes-nous seuls dans l’Univers?” – free guided tours for families and children  aged 7+ and accompanied by an adult at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). In connection with the current exhibition “Exoplanètes”, these free Sunday tours will take place at 11am & 2pm on all floors.

 

• Wednesday 23rd March 2016: Petits Rendez-Vous for children at Geneva’s MAMCO. These are free, interactive guided tours for kids aged 5 to 10 accompanied by an adult. The tours start at 3.15pm. FREE entry, no advance booking required.

 

• Wednesday 23rd March 2016: Le Cosmoscope – Animation du mercredi, Wednesday FREE workshops for children aged 7+ and accompanied by an adult at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). In connection with the current exhibition “Exoplanètes”, these free workshops will take place from 2pm until 4.30pm.

 

• Wednesday 23rd March 2016: Jours d’ouverture aux familles at the Maison de la Créativité in Conches (7, chemin Calandrini). These family activities will take place in the afternoon from 2.30pm to 5pm. Entry is 3CHF per adult and per child aged 2+.

 

• Wednesday 23rd March 2016: “Pezzettino”, free puppet show in French suitable from age 3 at the Espace Grosselin in Carouge (Rue Jacques-Grosselin 31, sous-sol). There will be one show at 2.30pm. FREE ENTRY.

 

• Wednesday 23rd March 2016: Les mercredis à la Villa Freundler, free Wednesday activities for children at the Villa Freundler in Plainpalais (Place de Saint-François 4). Activities include games, creative workshops, sports and they will run from 1.30pm to 6pm. FREE ENTRY, no advance booking necessary, children must be accompanied by an adult/carer.

 

• Wednesday 23rd March 2016: from 9.30am to 10.30am, “Sonnez les matines” songs in French for young children at the Bibliothèque Aux Mille Feuille in Gland (38 grand rue). FREE ENTRY.

 

• 24th March-3rd April 2016: Yatouland Easter, the indoor play centre in Vernier (Chemin de Batailles, 22) will be exceptionally open for the Easter break from 11am until 6pm. Entry will be 15CHF per child and there will be many fun activities including an Easter egg hunt on Monday 28th of March 2016.

 

• 25th-28th March 2016: Spectacle « Bichos do Brasil », a delightful music & puppet show suitable from age 4 at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne. This show is part of the museum’s “Cap sur Rio” programme and delivers a truly enjoyable Brazilian flavour to a family day-out! The show will run from 4pm to 5pm in the museum’s Auditorium. FREE ENTRY with no advance booking required but places are limited so make sure you get there early!

 

• 25th March-3rd April 2016: Easter egg hunt and fun activities for children at C L’Aventure indoor play centre in Annemasse (France). The indoor play centre will be open from 10am until 7pm except for the 25th, 29th, 31st March and 1st of April 2016. Entry is free for children under the age of 1; 6.50 Euros for children aged 1 to 3 and 10.00 Euros for ages 4 to 12.

 

• 25th March-10th April 2016: Pâkomuzé, family activities across 36 museums in Lausanne, Pully, Yverdon & the Vaud riviera.

 

• Saturday 26th March 2016: “Dinosaures, fossils et autres aventures de la Terre Animation Géosciences”, fun workshops for kids aged 6+ at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). A fun way to discover more about fossils and dinosaurs, these free Saturday workshops in French take place at 2.30pm and 3.30pm.

 

• Saturday 26th March 2016: Animaux imaginaires d’autres mondes – Ateliers créatifs par Caroline Carret FREE workshops for children aged 6-13 at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). In connection with the current exhibition “Exoplanètes”, these free workshops will take place at 1.30pm & 3pm. Places must be booked in advance.

 

• 26th-28th March 2016: Chasses aux oeufs au Vitam’Ludic, Easter egg hunts at Vitam’ indoor play centre in Neydens (France). Starting at 10am and open to children aged 4 to 12. The Egg Hunts will take place in the Grands jeux section. Free activity but participants will need to buy an entry ticket to the Grands jeux section.

 

• 26th-28th March & 9th-24th April 2016: and one more Easter egg hunt, this time in the company of Father Xmas at the Hameau du Père Noël in nearby ‪France‬! The egg hunt will take place on the 26th, 27th and 28th of March and from the 9th to the 24th of April 2016.

 

• 26th March-8th May 2016: Morges Tulip Festival. Spring wouldn’t be spring without the Morges Tulip Festival with its 120,000 tulips of 300 varieties, blossoming along the lakeside promenade of the Parc de l’Indépendance in Morges. The first varieties start blooming around mid-April (weather permitting) and there are plenty of activities planned for the duration of the festival. Find out more here.

 

• Sunday 27th March 2016: “Sommes-nous seuls dans l’Univers?” – free guided tours for families and children  aged 7+ and accompanied by an adult at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). In connection with the current exhibition “Exoplanètes”, these free Sunday tours will take place at 11am on all floors. The guided tour in English “Are we alone in the universe?” will take place at 2pm.

 

• Sunday 27th March 2016: Chasse aux œuf de Pâques at Parc Pré Vert du Signal de Bougy (VD). The Easter egg hunt will start at 11am and finish at 12pm. FREE ENTRY, no advance booking necessary. You can read more about the Parc Pré Vert du Signal de Bougy in our previous post.

 

• Sunday 27th March 2016: “Grande chasse à l’oeuf, dimanche de Pâques”, a great Easter egg hunt for children under 10 in the lovely gardens of the Château de Voltaire in Ferney-Voltaire (France). Entry is 3 Euros per child, no advance booking necessary. From 10am to 1pm.

 

• Sunday 27th March 2016: Chasse aux oeufs de Pâques at Fort l’Écluse (France) from 10am until 4pm. The entry price is 2,5 euros per person. Fort l’Écluse, Lieu-dit “Longeray”, Route de Genève, 01200 Léaz (France).

 

• 29th March-1st April 2016: “Ainsi font les marionnettes”, kids holiday workshops organized by the Théâtre de Marionnettes de Genève at the MEG museum in Geneva (Musée d’ethnographie de la Ville de Genève, Boulevard Carl-Vogt 65-67). Children will learn to make their own puppets and use them to perform! The workshops are in French and suitable for ages 7 to 12. They will run from 11am until 5pm and cost 200CHF for the week. You can reserve your places at j.fretz@marionnettes.ch or 022 807 31 06.

 

• 29th March-1st April 2016: Vacances à la romaine, kids workshops in French for ages 7 to 12 at the Musée Romain de Nyon (9 rue Maupertuis). These fun sessions will look at the history and customs of ancient Rome, from mosaic art to unravelling ancient coded messages. Running from 2pm to 4pm all week, they cost 16CHF per child and must be reserved in advance at 022 361 75 91 or musee.romain@nyon.ch. Click here to download the full programme.

 

• Wednesday 30th March 2016: Petits Rendez-Vous for children at Geneva’s MAMCO. These are free, interactive guided tours for kids aged 5 to 10 accompanied by an adult. The tours start at 3.15pm. FREE entry, no advance booking required.

 

• 30th-31st March & 1st April 2016: MEGnomade – Sur les traces du lapin…, fun, interactive guided tour and workshop for ages 6+ at the MEG museum in Geneva (Musée d’ethnographie de la Ville de Genève, Boulevard Carl-Vogt 65-67). The tour is open to all and FREE OF CHARGE, meet the group at the information desk. Starting at 2pm until 3.30pm.

 

ONGOING:

• until 4th April 2016: Exoplanète, a great exhibition at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou) to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the discovery of the first exoplanète, a planet situated outside our solar system by the Swiss astrophysicists from the Observatoire de Genève, Michel Mayor & Didier Queloz. This exhibition is accompanied by a number of kids workshops, guided tours, astronomical observation and many more events in the months to come.

 

• until 4th April 2016: Terre & Soleil exhibition at the Musée d’Histoire des Sciences in Geneva (Rue de Lausanne 128). The exhibition explores the change from a universe centred on the earth to a dynamic system of planets orbiting around the sun. You can continue the journey beyond our solar system to the discovery of other planets, the exoplanets, with the current exhibition at the Natural History Museum in Geneva. The first exoplanet was discovered in 1995 by Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz, while they were working for the University of Geneva observatory.

 

• until May 2016: Exposition de la maquette de la ville de Genève. The architectural model of the city of ‪Geneva‬ looks pretty awesome, it comprises of 145 modules and it took 40 years to complete! It is now on display for the first time and open to the public on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11am until 6pm at the “Exposition de la maquette de la ville de Genève” — 25 rue du Stand — Geneva. The exhibition opened on the 15th of April 2015 and will run until May 2016. You can call +41 22 418 20 63 for more info or to book a guided tour.

 

• until 25th September 2016: Destination Rio at the Olympic Museum in Ouchy (Lausanne). The Olympic Museum celebrates Rio 2016 with a programme dedicated to the culture of Brazil and Rio, host of the upcoming Olympic Games. This exhibition-adventure takes you on a lyrical tour of the city, which will give you the irresistible urge to dance. The photos, the choice of music and the artwork will convey the incredible energy of the Brazilian people. The programme will kick off during the Carnival in Rio and culminate with the two weeks of the Games in the summer. FREE ENTRY.

 

• until 30th December 2016: Medieval Factory, interactive exhibiton suitable from age 7 at the Espace des Inventions in Lausanne. Discover all the great medieval inventions still in use today! Free entry on the 1st Saturday of each month. Open Monday to Saturday from 2pm to 6pm; Sunday and Bank Holidays from 10am to 6pm. Tickets are 7CHF for adults and 3CHF for children.

 

• The permanent exhibition “Noblesse Oblige” at Prangins Castle is a great day-out for the whole family, take a step back in time with your children to see how a noble Swiss family lived in the 18th century! Find out more about this fantastic family exhibition in our previous post.