What’s On in September

The summer holidays have flown by so fast and it’s time to go back to our routines but don’t worry as there is still a great deal to do with children in this wonderful area during the autumn months.

Make the most of our events listings for the month of September and remember to keep checking our blog on a general basis as we will be updating this post with more events each week. Happy rentrée to all!

APPLE-PICKING:

Autumn is the season to go apple-picking with the kids, just find the closest farm to you and bring a sturdy bag. Make sure you check with them when picking starts, as it may be more towards the end of September/beginning of October.

Some farms will let you pick pears and plums too — such a great alternative to supermarket shopping!

 

INDOOR PLAY CENTERS, TOY & BOOK LIBRARIES

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

Find out more about toy libraries that allow free play for kids in our previous post.

 

• Click here to find the best indoor play centres in Geneva, Vaud and nearby France, and remember you can always pop round into your local toy library for a bit of free-play. Here’s a link about great ludothèques in the area.
• 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

 

SEPTEMBER 2017 LISTINGS:

• 31st August – 26th November 2017: “Albertine et Germano Zullo, La Grande Exposition” at the Musée Alexis Forel. A superb exhibition of Geneva’s best-loved literary couple: illustrator Albertine and her writer husband Germani Zullo. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 2pm until 6pm.

 

• 1st-3rd September 2017: “Le livre sur le quai” book festival in Morges (VD) will offer a programme jam-packed with great authors like Amélie Nothomb, Mark Levy and Albertine, kids activities, workshops, story-times and a dedicated section for English-speaking writers. The festival’s English programme will include author talks as well as writing workshops for adults and teenagers. Free entry, see the official website for full programme details.

 

• 1st-3rd September 2017: Street Food Festival Nyon on the Quai de Rive, Espace couvert and parking de Rive. Opening times will be 5pm until midnight on Friday 1st September; 11am until midnight on Saturday 2nd and 11am until 5pm on Sunday 3rd. FREE ENTRY. Click here for the full programme.

 

• 1st-16th September 2017: La Bâtie – Festival de Genève, an unmissable line-up of fantastic concerts, theatre & dance shows, workshops, exhibitions and much more. There will be shows and workshops for kids too. Visit the festival’s official website for full programme details and to book your tickets.

 

• Saturday 2nd September 2017: Fête au village: course de caisse à savon in Commugny (VD). A lovely village festival boasting a super-fun mini car race! The mini cars must be built from small wooden crates, find more info and photos here.

 

• Saturday 2nd & 30th September 2017: Atelier Pizza, from 10.45am to 11.30am at Signal de Bougy. For ages 5 to 12, let your little ones learn the ropes of authentic pizza making with a professional pizzaiolo, they will also be able to eat up their yummy creations once they’re cooked. The workshop costs 20CHF per child, places must be reserved at signal.bougy@gmvd.migros.ch or +41 58 568 31 50.

 

• until 2nd September 2017: Serre aux papillons at the Schilliger garden centre in Gland (VD). A fabulous indoor butterfly enclosure that will keep the kids enthralled on a rainy day! With over 19 different butterfly species flying freely in the shop’s flower market, it’s a truly amazing sight. Free entry to the Schilliger store and grounds. Schilliger Gland, route Suisse 40 – open Monday to Friday from 9am until 6.30pm and from 9am until 6pm on Saturday.

 

• 2nd-3rd September 2017: Schtroumpfs La ville est à vous returns for its 14th edition with street parties, second-hand sales and activities for children. Take a look at the official website for all upcoming weekends and join in, because the city belongs to you! Here’s the list of all the upcoming street parties in Geneva: 9th-10th September: Jonction; 16th-17th September: Geisendorf; 7th-8th October: Eaux-Vives.  

 

• Sunday 3rd September 2017: 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 3rd September 2017: Bubble Running Geneva, a fun race for the whole family, taking place in Geneva from midday until 4pm. Run along the lake in a cloud of colourful bubbles!

 

• Sunday 3rd September 2017: La Journée du Cinéma Allianz, all cinema tickets are 5chf per person!

 

• Sunday 3rd September 2017: “Cap sur l’Europe avec Tohu Wa Bohu” 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 3pm to 3.45pm in the museum’s foyer, and the second one from 4pm until 4.45pm. FREE ENTRY, no advance booking required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

 

• Sunday 3rd September 2017: Paddle for Cancer Dragonboat Festival on the shores of the Lac de Joux in l’Abbaye, Switzerland. The ESCA Paddle for Cancer dragonboat festival is the annual cancer awareness raising and fundraising event organised by the English Speaking Cancer Association (ESCA)  in Geneva. As well as the boat race itself, the festival offers activities for children including bouncy castles and face-painting, food stalls and charity auctions.

 

• until 3rd September 2017: Luge sur rail. Have you tried the sledge on rail at Col de la Faucille (France)? It’s quite a thrill, perfect for a summer weekend. Suitable for children aged 11+, kids aged 5 to 10 must be accompanied by an adult. The ‘luge sur rail’ – one of the biggest in Europe – is open everyday until the 28th of August 2016, from 10.30am until 6pm. The price per person is 6 € or 50 € for 10 tickets, children aged 5 to 10 must be accompanied by an adult.

 

• Wednesday 6th September 2017: Jours d’ouverture aux familles at the Maison de la Créativité in Conches (7, chemin Calandrini). These summer family activities will take place in the afternoon from 2.30pm to 5.30pm. Entry is 3CHF per adult and per child aged 2+.

 

• Thursday 7th September 2017: Jeûne genevois, bank holiday in Canton Geneva. Shops, offices and schools will be closed!

 

• 9th-10th September 2017: Journées européennes du patrimoine 2017 in Geneva, Vaud and the rest of French-Speaking Switzerland. You can download the full programme here.

 

• 9th-10th September 2017: Jonction  La ville est à vous returns for its 14th edition with street parties, second-hand sales and activities for children. Take a look at the official website for all upcoming weekends and join in, because the city belongs to you! Here’s the list of all the upcoming street parties in Geneva: 16th-17th September: Geisendorf; 7th-8th October: Eaux-Vives.  

 

• 9th-10th September 2017: Léman Briqu’Expo 2017, a great LEGO exhibition coming to the Foyers de Beausobre in Morges (VD). Open from 10am until 6pm on Saturday and from 9am until 5pm on Sunday. Entry is 5CHF per adult and 3CHF per child.

 

• Wednesday 13th September 2017: Jours d’ouverture aux familles at the Maison de la Créativité in Conches (7, chemin Calandrini). These summer family activities will take place in the afternoon from 2.30pm to 5.30pm. Entry is 3CHF per adult and per child aged 2+.

 

• Wednesday 13th September 2017: Nichoirs à oiseaux – Animation enfants FREE workshops for all ages at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). These free workshops will take place from 2pm until 4.30pm. FREE ENTRY but places are limited so they must be booked in advance at mickael.blanc@ville-ge.ch

 

• Thursday 14th September 2017: Le marché du jeudi soir in Carouge. This great weekly event will run until the 22nd of December 2017 on the Place du marché in Carouge. From 5pm until 9pm this bustling neighbourhood market will be accompanied by live music bands and gourmet tastings! FREE ENTRY.

 

• 14th-24th September 2017: La Semaine du Goût opens its doors across Switzerland with plenty of delicious events focused on food, healthy eating and regional specialties. The number of events and workshops is amazing and too big to list here, so take a peek at their official website to find what’s going on in the area closer to you. Child-friendly activities include workshops and cookery courses , museum workshops and more.

 

• 15th-17th September 2017: Street Food Festival on the Promenade de Sainte-Antoine in Geneva. Gourmet food trucks, live music, great atmosphere, perfect day-out for the whole family! FREE ENTRY.

 

• 15th-17th September 2017: Fête des vendanges in Russins (Geneva). One of the area’s most famous autumn festivals now in its 54th edition, celebrating grape-harvest season with exciting activities for the whole family: from pony rides for the little ones to free tastings of local wines for mum & dad. Don’t miss the fête des enfants on Saturday from 1.30pm to 4.30pm. Free entry with some activities that require an entry fee, see the official website for full programme details.

 

• Saturday 16th September 2017: Les Ateliers en Fête, a fantastic free event running from 3pm to 10pm on Rue du Léman and Place de la Navigation in Geneva (Pâquis). Organized by Les CréAteliers, the event will offer free trial sessions on a variety of crafts including calligraphy, jewellery making, engraving and much more. There will be food stalls and free live concerts from 7pm.

 

• 16th-17th September 2017: Geisendorf  La ville est à vous returns for its 14th edition with street parties, second-hand sales and activities for children. Take a look at the official website for all upcoming weekends and join in, because the city belongs to you! Here’s the list of all the upcoming street parties in Geneva: 7th-8th October: Eaux-Vives.  

 

• 16th-17th September 2017: Féeries de Joux festival, a unique & magical way to discover the natural scenery of the beautiful Vallée de Joux. Discover the world of forest gnomes & fairies, take part in the exploratory walks, story-times and brunch. See the official website for full details.

 

• until 17th of September 2017: Audrey Hepburn & Hubert de Givenchy: Une élégante amitié. A unique exhibition of Hubert de Givenchy original sketches for some of Aufrey Hepburn’s most beautiful and memorable dresses, including her LBD from Breakfast at Tiffany’s and her mini skirt, 60s pink wedding dress! The exhibition is shown across 3 venues in the pretty lakeside town of Morges: the Fondation Bolle, the Musée Alexis-Forel and the Château de Morges. The entry ticket to all 3 exhibitions is 18CHF per person, opening times are Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 5pm.

 

• Monday 18th September 2017: Lundi du Jeûne fédéral, bank holiday in Canton Vaud. Shops, offices and schools will be closed!

 

• Wednesday 20th September 2017: Jours d’ouverture aux familles at the Maison de la Créativité in Conches (7, chemin Calandrini). These summer family activities will take place in the afternoon from 2.30pm to 5.30pm. Entry is 3CHF per adult and per child aged 2+.

 

• Wednesday 20th September 2017: Nichoirs à oiseaux – Animation enfants FREE workshops for all ages at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). These free workshops will take place from 2pm until 4.30pm. FREE ENTRY but places are limited so they must be booked in advance at mickael.blanc@ville-ge.ch

 

• 21st September 2017-7th January 2018: Body Worlds – L’Exposition at Geneva Palexpo.  fantastic exhibition about the mysteries of the human body and human anatomy: the cycle of life, from bith to death, will be represented with a series of amazing anatomical studies of the human body. Open from 10am until 7pm, closed on Mondays.

 

 

• 22nd-24th September 2017: Fête des vendanges 2017 – Founex. A great event for the whole family, with wine tastings, clown shows, face painting and lots of fun activities for the little ones! And to go from one vineyard to the next for the wine tasting trail, jump on a horse-drawn carriage, the kids will love it!

 

• 22nd-24th September 2017: Fête des vendanges 2017 – Lutry, celebrate harvest time in Lutry with this great village event.

 

• 22nd-24th September 2017: Fête des Vendanges in Neuchâtel. As described on the Neuchateltourisme.ch website: “The grand night-time procession with “Guggenmusik” (or “Happy Music”) takes place on the Friday night, but groups in costume are out and about all through the festival. The children’s fancy-dress parade, a joyful and colourful event, is traditionally held on the Saturday afternoon. The Sunday afternoon floral procession also attracts a vast crown of onlookers. Punctuated by fanfares and peppered with humorous touches by some of the groups in costume, this parade carries on the tradition of the procession of the grape-harvest carts, decorated with flowers and loaded with the wine-growers’ tools, which takes place at the end of the grape harvest.”

 

• Saturday 23rd September 2017: 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 from 9.30am until midday and in the afternoon from 2.30pm to 5pm. Entry is 3CHF per adult and per child aged 2+.

 

• Saturday 23rd September 2017: La Nuit des Musées in Lausanne & Pully (VD). Discover Lausanne & Pully’s museums under a different light & enjoy the special activities planned for Museum Night. See the official website for full details.

 

• Saturday 23rd September 2017: Désalpe in Charmey, Canton Fribourg. During September and October, “Désalpe” is the best-known of all traditional mountain festivities. After more than four months of grazing in alpine pastures, cows make their way down to the plain. You will see the “armaillis” dressed in “bredzons” and their ladies in “dzaquillons”. As for the cows, thundering bells will be hanging from their necks and brightly couloured flowers on their heads. There will be a parade, traditional music and a market with local products among other things. The main “Désalpes” of the region take place in Semsales, Charmey, Schwarzsee and Albeuve.

 

• Sunday 24th September 2017: enjoy a unique tour of the city on the Geneva Historical Trams leaving from the Rive tram stop. A great way to see the city with young children — they will love riding the old city trams! During the summer, on the first Sunday of every month these “Trams touristiques” will be circulating from Carouge to Nations, Gare Cornavin, Eaux-Vives and the city centre. Tickets for a single ride are 8CHF and 12CHF for a day pass, children aged 6 to 16 pay a reduced fee.

 

• Sunday 24th September 2017: Festival Nature et Terroir au Centre Nature vallon de l’Allondon in Dardagny. The event will run from 10am until 6pm, with puppet shows and story times for kids, guided tours, farmers’ market ad donkey rides! FREE ENTRY.

 

• Sunday 24th September 2017: Les Puces de Nyon, very scenic flea market in the pretty lakeside town of Nyon (VD). Grab a fab bargain or a delicious Italian ice-cream!

 

• Sunday 24th September 2017: Déjeuner sur l’herbe at Prangins Castle (VD) from 10am to 5pm. A fantastic family event in 18th century costumes, inspired by the castle’s long history: you’ll be able to meet the Baron and his family, kick back and enjoy some live music in the castle’s beautiful gardens and also purchase local produce at the old-style market stalls. Choose your picnic from the stalls of the traditional market, enjoy local produce beneath the five lime trees, explore the museum and its kitchen garden with a wide range of activities: this colourful event is the perfect combination of entertainment and culture. The stand-out feature of the festivities is the fashion parade competition: it’s open to all ages, and the only condition is that you have to dress in the 19th century’s fashions.

 

• Wednesday 27th September 2017: Nichoirs à oiseaux – Animation enfants FREE workshops for all ages at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). These free workshops will take place from 2pm until 4.30pm. FREE ENTRY but places are limited so they must be booked in advance at mickael.blanc@ville-ge.ch

 

• Wednesday 27th September 2017: Jours d’ouverture aux familles at the Maison de la Créativité in Conches (7, chemin Calandrini). These summer family activities will take place in the afternoon from 2.30pm to 5.30pm. Entry is 3CHF per adult and per child aged 2+.

 

• 29th September 2017: Globe: La Nuit des Chercheurs au CERN / Researchers’ Night from 5pm until 11pm. Budding scientists and aficionados of all ages will come together for Researchers’ Night at CERN, a free and fun bilingual event in French and English. Be amazed by bioluminescence, program your own robot, visit ATLAS (recommended for those over 12 years old) and the antimatter factory (for those over 16 years old), or discover the link between coffee and physics – and much more! There will even be a surprise for the first 400 visitors! The second half of the evening will take you to space with the debate “Why do science in space?” with special guests Matthias Maurer, ESA – European Space Agency astronaut, and Mercedes Paniccia, PhD, Senior Research Associate for the AMS space experiment. Come prepared with your questions! Food trucks will be available all evening to please your taste buds and quench your thirst. If you’re unable to travel to CERN, take a virtual tour of the experiments from your armchair! The tours will be conducted in several languages and on Facebook live. FREE ENTRY. Reservation is required for the robotics workshop; no reservation needed for all the other activities.

 

• 29th September-1st October 2017: La Saga des Géants, spectacular street and theatre performance in Geneva, hosted by the Théâtre de Carouge.

 

• Saturday 30th September 2017: Atelier Pizza, from 10.45am to 11.30am at Signal de Bougy. For ages 5 to 12, let your little ones learn the ropes of authentic pizza making with a professional pizzaiolo, they will also be able to eat up their yummy creations once they’re cooked. The workshop costs 20CHF per child, places must be reserved at signal.bougy@gmvd.migros.ch or +41 58 568 31 50.

 

• Saturday 30th September 2017: Désalpe in St-Cergue. A major celebration that marks the end of the Alpine summer pasture season. The parade of countless carefully decorated cattle highlights the breeders’ great passion for their animals. Cows, goats and pigs walk through the village all day long to the sound of bells and alphorns. Read all about last year’s edition in our previous post! FREE ENTRY.

 

• until end of September 2017: the Musée Départemental des Sapeurs-Pompiers in Gex (France) re-opens this Saturday from 9am to midday and then from 2pm to 6pm in the afternoon. The museum is open every Saturday from 9am to 12pm and from 2pm to 6pm until the 26th of September, as well as every Wednesday and Sunday in July and August from 2pm to 6pm. Entry tickets are 5 € for adults and 3 € for kids. Musée Départemental des Sapeurs-Pompiers – 380 avenue des Alpes – 01170 Gex – FRANCE (Tel : 04 50 20 86 97).

 

• 30th September-1st October 2017: LES FOLIES VÉNITIENNES DE COPPET, save the date for the first Venetian carnival weekend in Coppet on Saturday 30th of September and Sunday 1st of October! The programme includes costume parades, live music, story time for kids, Burano lace-making demonstrations and Venetian masks workshops for kids (10CHF per child). The event will take place at Coppet castle and in the old town. FREE ENTRY.

 

ONGOING:

• Saturday 21st October 2017: Save the date for the grand opening of the new Aquatis Aquarium-Vivarium in Lausanne! This amazing freshwater aquarium & vivarium will display live animals in an immersive and interactive setting using innovative digital technologies. It is going to be Europe’s largest freshwater Aquarium-Vivarium. With over 3,500 sqm of displays, 2 million liters of freshwater and 10,000 fishes, this is set to be the family attraction of the year!

 

 

• until 7th January 2018: “Fourmis la grande exposition”, temporary exhibition at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). Discover the fascinating, unknown universe of these tiny insects.. FREE ENTRY only on the first Sunday of every month.

 

• until 3rd June 2018: “Ça coule de source“. A great exhibition of an hydraulic structure’s construction site, inspired by the recent discovery made by archaeologists around the site of the ancient roman Aqueduct of Nyon. This exhibition will also show how the Romans managed and consumed their water sources. Pipes, taps, fountain plates, gargoyles, hydraulic facilities, coins and spillways illustrate the water’s course from the source, through its transmission across town, its distribution, use and disposal.

 

• 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.