What’s On in May 2014

The month of May is here with so many exciting family events you’ll be spoilt for choice. Here’s our initial list of events taking place in Geneva, Vaud and nearby France but remember to keep checking our blog as we will be updating this post with more events each week:

• You can read our previous post to find all the best child-friendly places to enjoy a delicious and stress-free Sunday brunch with your little buttons.

• And for a sunny weekend, what about a spot of brunch in the sun?

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

• Spring is a fantastic time to explore Switzerland and its picturesque villages. Read our previous post for suggestions about great days out with the kids.

• When the sun is out, why not take the boat across the lake to visit the medieval village of Yvoire in nearby France?

• A bit further away but definitely worth a visit is the French village of Pérouges, it’s a great family day out!

 

• Geneva public libraries: don’t miss the activities, readings and kids workshops organized by the public libraries of the City of Geneva, including “Abécédaire de la ville” city walks, “Album photo comme souvenir de famille” and “Photographe en herbe” workshops. Click here for exact times and locations, all events are in French – most are free of charge but might still require advance booking as places are limited.

 

• 26th April-11th May 2014: Vacances de Pâques, great workshops for kids during the French school holidays at Vitam in Neydens (500 route des Envignes). From swimming to bébés grimpeurs sessions from age 2, there will be plenty to keep your little buttons amused – more info here.

 

• 28th April-September 2014: “Les Créateliers animent le square Monthoux” kids activities & workshops at the square Monthoux in Geneva (32 rue de Monthoux) for children aged 2 to 12 on Monday and Thursday afternoon and on Saturdays. Check the official website for full details.

 

• 30th April-4th May 2014: Geneva Book Fair at Palexpo is a great day out if your children love books. There will be plenty of activities, readings and workshops for all ages so check the official website for further info. Open from 9.30am to 7pm (9.30pm on Friday), entry is free for all under the age of 26, adults pay 12CHF. Entry will be free for all on Wednesday 30th of April 2014 The Salon du Livre also offers a garderie service for children aged 3 months to 6 years, from 9.30am to 7pm – the first hour is free of charge and then it’s 6CHF per hour, click here to find out more.

 

• 30th April-4th May 2014: La Fête de la danse, a fantastic event for all dance-lovers who’d like to try a workshop, see a show or join a Bollywood spin! With plenty of locations and events in Geneva, Yverdon and Lausanne, this is a great festival for all ages – read more about it in our previous post.

 

• 1st-4th May 2014: Salon UNIcréa Château de Morges, a fantastic exhibition for all those who love arts & crafts and unique pieces made by artisans. Register your children on one of the kids workshops or take part yourself in one of their creative ateliers, visit their official website for full details.

 

• 2nd-4th May 2014: “Les puces du design” is a flea market with a very cool twist. If you’re looking for some unique vintage and design pieces for your home, make your way to the Anciennes halles CFF in Morges from 10am to 7pm on Friday and Saturday; 10am to 5pm on Sunday. Entry is 5CHf for adults and free for children under 12.

 

• Saturday 3rd May 2014: “Raid Cross – Deviens délégué-e de la Croix-Rouge!” at the Parc des Bastions, inside “La Crypte” from 2pm to 5pm. In collaboration with the Croix-Rouge Jeunesse genevoise children aged 12 and older will have the opportunity to simulate emergency scenarios in which the red Cross normally operates worldwide, as a way to raise awareness in our young adults about the suffering war causes and the work of international human rights supporters.

 

• Saturday 3rd May 2014: “Troc Party” in Geneva for children from 2pm to 4.30pm in the plauyground of various schools in the city. Would your kids like to exchange some of their old toys, clothes, books etc. with other children? Then these 5 Troc Parties are for you: no money exchange will be involved, just a genuine barter between kids. The presence of a parent/guardian will be required – everyone can take part all you have to do is go to the following schools at 1pm with the books,toys & clothes you’d like to exchange (in size 4 to 14 and in very good conditions): Ecole de Cayla; Ecole des Cropettes; Ecole de l’Europe; Ecole de Geisendorf; Ecole Liotard. See the official webpage for full details.

 

• until 3rd May 2014: “Objectif Penthes” – “Tint’interdit: pastiches et parodies”. A fantastic new Tintin exhibition at the Musée des Suisses dans le Monde in Geneva (Château de Penthes, Pregny), showing the work of Hergé’s fans and detractors along the years. The exhibition’s vernissage will take place on the 15th of February at 4pm.

 

• until 3rd May 2014: Visions du Réel, Nyon’s international film and documentary festival. When we first moved to Switzerland, I applied to work as a bénévole during this festival and a couple of years later I interviewed the organizers for Swiss News – the insight I had was such a privilege and great fun too! Visions du Réel is definitely an appointment not to miss if you love thought-provoking and original films dealing with the reality and contradictions of this amazing world of ours. Check the official website for full details of the daily programme which will be unveiled on the 7th of April 2014.

 

• 3rd-4th May 2014: Geneva Marathon for UNICEF a key event of the city’s spring calendar with its 42,195 km route from Geneva’s most beautiful sights to its countryside. Click here for more info about the races (half marathon, la Genevoise, junior races etc.) and how to register.

 

• 3rd May-5th October 2014: La ville est à vous returns for its 11th edition, kicking off this weekend in Coulouvrenière 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!

 

• Sunday 4th May 2014: 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 4th May 2014: “Big Bang, carte et globe” petits rendez-vous at Geneva’s MAMCO for kids ones aged 5 to 10 accompanied by an adult: free of charge and no advance booking required! Introduce your kids to the joys of modern art with these fun, interactive tours starting at 11.15am. There will be other tours on Wednesday 7th of May 2014 at 3.15pm (“L’Homme invisible” for ages 5 to 10 and “Les Pique-niqueurs du musée” mini Rendez-vous for 2-4 year-olds). More Petits Rendez-vous on Wednesday 14th, 21st & 28th of May 2014 at 3.15pm.

 

• Sunday 4th May 2014: Rendez-vous au jardin – Fête et marché de printemps at the Château de Prangins (VD) from 10am to 5pm. A fantastic day-out for all in a wonderful setting: learn about the castle’s bees and beehives, take part in creative workshops and garden tours or stock up on seeds and veggies. Don’t forget to visit the museum or just relax and take in the breathtaking view from its glorious gardens! Entry is free for everyone as are the guided tours and workshops. Click here for full details and exact times for all different activities.

 

• Sunday 4th May 2014: “Vapeurs du Léman, nuance des couleurs” kids workshops and activities throughout the day at the Musée du Léman in Nyon (Quai Louis-Bonnard 8), to celebrate the museum’s 60th anniversary. Learn about the lake steam boats, CGN jobs and take part in the “Course de bateaux Pop-pop”!

 

• Tuesday 6th May 2014: “Voyage autour du conte et des histoires” storytime from age 4 at the library of La Julienne in Plan-les-Ouates from 4.30pm to 5.45pm. Free entry.

 

• Wednesday 7th May 2014: “Les œufs et le Balbuzard pêcheur” – Animation du mercredi  from age 7 at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). In connection with the current exhibition “Nos oiseaux”, these free Wednesday workshops will take place  from 2pm to 4.30pm (second floor).

 

• Wednesday 7th May 2014: “Des fleurs pour les mamans” – 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 donwload the full programme. There will be other workshops this month on Wed. 14th, 21st and 28th of May 2014.

 

• Wednesday 7th May 2014: “Au soleil des pharaons”, part of the Mercredis Family at the Musée d’art et d’histoire in Geneva (Rue Charles-Galland 2). Children aged 6 and older accompanied by an adult are welcome every Wednesday at 3pm to discover all about the museum collections in a fun, interactive way. Reserve your places in advance at adp-mah@ville-ge.ch or by phone at 022 418 25 00.

 

• 8th-11th May 2014: Trans-Mission Festival at the Théâtre Cité-Bleue in Geneva (Cité Universitaire 46 avenue Miremont), offering dance, theatre and music shows for all ages. Don’t miss the show “De Bénarès à Bobo” on the 11th of May 2014 at 3pm at the Théâtre Cité-Bleue: this fun dance & music show will take you from India to Burkina Faso in a heartbeat!

 

• 8th-11th May 2014: Carnaval de Lausanne, a wonderful family fest with Guggenmusiks, live music, pony-rides and parades where the kids will be able to flaunt their carnival masks. The carnival takes over Lausanne’s city centre until Sunday 11th of May. Entry is free for all and the events include dance shows, live music, kids activities, the Guggenmusiks concert-apéro and the carnival parade at 2.30pm on Sunday. Click here for the full programme.

 

• 9th-11th May 2014: “Jardins en fête” at the Château de Coppet (VD). Stock up on your spring seedlings at this wonderful garden festival, in the beautiful setting of Coppet Castle. With over 120 exhibitors you’ll find anything you need for your garden: seeds, plants, garden furniture and decorations. The flower arrangement competition in the castle’s cellar is definitely worth seeing too. Open from 10am to 6pm, entry is 12CHF for adults and free for children under 16.

 

• 9th-21st May 2014: “Les Misérables” at the Théâtre de la Parfumerie in Geneva (7 chemin de la Gravière), suitable from age 7. The Victor Hugo classic will be brought to the stage by the young performers of the Troupe Acrylique Junior, with an intoxicating blend of contemporary dance and theatre. Performances will take place at 7pm during the week and at 5pm on Sundays – tickets are 20CHF for adults and 10CHF for children up the the age of 10.

 

• 10h-11th May 2014:  La ville est à vous celebrations in Geneva’s Saint-Jean neighbourhood with street parties, second-hand sales and activities for children. Take a look at the official website for more info.

 

• 10th May-22nd June 2014: the Café des Jardins at the iris Gardens in Vullierens (VD) re-opens for the season and they will be offering their delicious Sunday brunches on Sundays and Bank Holidays, where the menu includes sweet & savoury dishes as well as a selection from their BBQ. The price is 55CHF per person and 28CHF for children aged 4 to 12, drinks and entry to the gardens are not included in the price – bookings must be made well in advance at 079 844 68 60 or cafe@jardindesiris.ch. Find out more about these beautiful iris gardens in our previous post and check their official website for their upcoming spring Sunday brunches.

 

• Sunday 11th May 2014: “Et il n’en resta plus aucun…Enquête en famille” murder mystery in French for children from age 9 & families, part of the Mercredis Family at the Musée d’art et d’histoire in Geneva (Rue Charles-Galland 2). Children aged 9 and older accompanied by an adult are welcome every Wednesday at 3pm to discover all about the museum collections in a fun, interactive way. Reserve your places in advance at adp-mah@ville-ge.ch or by phone at 022 418 25 00.

 

• Sunday 11th May 2014: celebrate Swiss Mother’s Day with a scrumptious “brunch à la ferme” at the Domaine de Bon Boccard – Famille Bugnon – Ch. de Bon-Boccard 1 in Saint-Prex (VD). From 10.30am until 2pm you’ll be able to indulge in some heavenly local delicacies on a lovely farm while the children play in a dedicated play area. The price is CHF 38.00 for adults, 5CHF for children aged 2 to 5 and different price – according to their age – for children aged 5 to 13 (age x 1.5CHF). Reserve your place in advance at 021 806 42 81 or 079 436 65 53 (email: info@bon-boccard.ch).

 

• until 11th May 2014: 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 including a Sports Day on the 5th-6th of April; a children’s parade on April 11th, a Sunday Brunch on the 21st of April and much more. Find out more here.

 

• until 11th May 2014: Chaperon Rouge, the classical Little Red Riding Hood tale is brought to the stage in French at the Théâtre Töpffer in Geneva (21, Avenue Eugène Pittard). Performances will take place on Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays at 3.30pm except on 19th, 20th, 23rd, 26th of April. Get there in advance to get the best seats when the doors open!

 

• Wednesday 14th May 2014: “Je suis la plus belle!”, part of the Mercredis Family at the Musée d’art et d’histoire in Geneva (Rue Charles-Galland 2). Children aged 6 and older accompanied by an adult are welcome every Wednesday at 3pm to discover all about the museum collections in a fun, interactive way. Reserve your places in advance at adp-mah@ville-ge.ch or by phone at 022 418 25 00.

 

• 14th May-19th October 2014: Ethnopalmes, fun & interactive exhibition at the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques in Geneva, unveiling all the many uses that palm trees can provide us with. Keep an eye out for the family activity and workshops linked to the exhibition which will be announced shortly!

 

• Wednesday 14th May 2014: “Les œufs et le Balbuzard pêcheur” – Animation du mercredi  from age 7 at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). In connection with the current exhibition “Nos oiseaux”, these free Wednesday workshops will take place  from 2pm to 4.30pm (second floor).

 

• Wednesday 14th May 2014: “Des fleurs pour des abeilles” – 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 donwload the full programme. There will be other workshops this month on Wed. 21st and 28th of May 2014.

 

• 15th-25th May 2014: “Printemps Carougeois”, Carouge’s spring festival is now on its 50th edition and still going strong – strap yourself for a whirlwind of dance & theatre shows, public installations (become part of it and volunteer to light up thousands of candles in the streets of Carouge!), readings, live concerts and much more. This year’s theme is about food and the rituals of eating so don’t miss some exceptional participative shows like the Teatro da mangiare, the Grand Gargantua banquet on the 24th of May (free entry but reservations required at animations-bibliotheques@carouge.ch – adults only) or the thé dansant on Sunday 25th of May. Read our latest post to find out how you can win free tickets to this fab festival!

 

• 16th-25th May 2014: “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”, based on the classic by Frank Baum this much-loved childhood story comes to the Simply Theatre Studios in Versoix (Centre de Choiseul, Avenue de Choiseul 23A). As the website says this is the story of Dorothy and her dog Toto, who are whisked away by a tornado to the magical and extraordinary Land of Oz. Suitable for all ages, this innovative and unique take on Dorothy’s adventure uses the techniques of Kabuki and Bunraku puppet theatre to bring to life her quest for the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, who she hopes can help her to return to Kansas, and grant her new friends their deepest desires.

 

• Saturday 17th May 2014: Genève-Plage (Quai de Cologny 5, Port-Noir) reopens for the season at 10am. No better place to be with your little swimmers on a hot, sunny day so make the most of the swimming-pools, water slides, sandpit and play area – don’t forget your sun cream! You can find out more about it & other lidos in our previous post.

 

 

• Saturday 17th May 2014: 15e Nuit des Musées organized by the Association des Musées de la Riviera vaudoise. This is a unique opportunity to visit the museums of the Vaud riviera by night and take part in some exciting free activities. From 5pm to midnight entry and all museums’ activities will be free of charge, take advantage of the the free shuttle service that will be made available to connect all participating museums.

 

• 17th-18th May 2014:  La ville est à vous celebrations in Geneva’s Jonction neighbourhood with street parties, second-hand sales and activities for children. Take a look at the official website for more info.

 

• Saturday 17th-Sunday 18th May 2014: La Nuit des musées de Genève & Family Day– a fantastic event for the whole family. Over 30 museums and galleries in Geneva will be opening their doors on Saturday night for a series of very special events whilst Sunday 18th will be dedicated to families and young visitors, with a plethora of workshops and events all free of charge (this year’s theme is going to be super-heroes, definitely a crowd pleaser for the little ones!). Read our previous post to find out all about it.

 

• 17th-18th May 2014: Jeux de Genève, a great sports event for all young athletes in Geneva and surrounding areas. The event, now in its second edition, will see over 4,000 athletes in Geneva, Annemasse, Nyon, Pays de Gex compete and offer a number of exciting workshops. The sports competitions will cover various disciplines including water-polo, Swiss wrestling, archery, sailing, Viet Vo Dao, rugby, handball, football, kayaking and many more. Visit the official website for full programme details.

 

• Sunday 18th May 2014: Cyclotour du Léman, an unmissable cycling event covering miles of beautiful coastline along lake Leman – find out more on their official website.

 

• Sunday 18th May 2014: not technically Sunday Brunch as such, but the team at Parc Pré Vert Signal de Bougy have come up with a fantastic idea: every Sunday until the 14th of December 2014 you’ll be able to enjoy a continental breakfast for 7CHF per person, accompanied by kids’ shows and activities free of charge. Breakfast will be served from 9am at the park’s restaurant and the “Sunday Funday” activities will begin at 10am, with more kids shows at 3pm. No advance booking necessary, all kids activities & shows are free of charge and they will take place regardless of weather conditions. If you’ve never been to Parc Pré Vert Signal de Bougy, you can read more about it in our previous post – it’s a great place for a family day-out!

 

 

• Sunday 18th May 2014: Don’t miss the next Funky Brunch in Geneva at Hotel Starling in Geneva (Route François Peyrot, 34 – 1218 Le Grand Saconnex). Click here to read all about the first Funky Brunch, which took place at the beginning of December 2013. We had a great time: the atmosphere is cool & relaxed (just how the like it!) and the kids were kept entertained by plenty of colouring materials and by the lovely Fée de Neige with her face-painting kit & magic balloons.There will be 2 seatings: one from 10am to midday (for families) with DJ & kids activities and one from 1pm to 3pm with DJ + a surprise Geneva soul & funk artist singing live. The price is 40CHF per person, which includes the buffet, 1 tea or coffee plus 1 glass of orange juice. Children pay the equivalent of their age until they’re 12 (so if they’re 4, they will pay 4CHF and so on).

 

• until 18th May 2014: “NE M´APPELEZ PLUS JAMAIS MON PETIT LAPIN”, a puppet-show from age 4 at the Théâtre des Marionnettes de Genève (Rue Rodo 3). This is the story of Jean Carotte, a little bunny with very big ears who’s tired of being called “mon petit lapin”. Visit the official website for exact performance times and to book tickets.

 

• 20th-25th May 2014: Festival livre et petite enfance at the Promenade des Bastions (Parc des Bastions) in Geneva. A wonderful event for children offering a number of exciting shows, songs and story-times for all ages. Our boys absolutely loved it last year and we’re planning to be there again this year. If you’d like to read about last year’s edition, you can find more info and photos in our previous post.

 

•  Wednesday 21st May 2014: “Les œufs et le Balbuzard pêcheur” – Animation du mercredi  from age 7 at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). In connection with the current exhibition “Nos oiseaux”, these free Wednesday workshops will take place  from 2pm to 4.30pm (second floor).

 

• Wednesday 21st May 2014: “Les palmiers: champions du monde des plantes” – 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 donwload the full programme. There will be another workshop this month on Wed. 28th of May 2014.

 

• 21st-25th May 2014: Animai Festival at the Jardin du Rivage in Vevey (VD). A fantastic – and what’s more free-of-charge – kids festival filled with creative workshops, fun activities, live concerts for your little ones. Visit the official website for full details of what’s on each day.

 

• 21st May-14th June 2014: “Recherche éléphants, souplesse exigée”, a delightful theatre show from age 6 at the Théâtre du Loup in Geneva (10 Chemin de la Gravière), from the original story by American expatriate author Russell Hoban.

 

• 22nd May-1st June 2014: Mapping Festival in Geneva. A multi-genre art festival focused on audiovisual arts and digital culture. Free up some time in your diary for their exciting programme of installations, clubbing parties, live performances, architectural mapping, as well as workshops and conferences.

 

• 23rd May 2014: La Fête des Voisins in France & Switzerland is a great opportunity to organize a street party and get to know your neighbours better! Check the official website for more details on your local area.

 

• 23rd-25th May 2014: La Noyère Spring Market, a wonderful artisans market where you’ll find organic beauty products, jewellery, garden accessories and foodie treats. Not only that, but there will be live folk Irish music & wine tasting sessions too! The market takes place at the Noyère in Mont-sur-Rolle (Route de la Noyère). See the official website for exact opening times.

 

• 23rd-25th May 2014: “Fête de la Nature”, a yearly tradition in the Suisse Romande and a perfect way to spend a lovely weekend with your little ones enjoying the beautiful natural setting Switzerland has to offer. Take a look at the programme to decide which of the 200 free events and activities you’d like to register for in Geneva, Vaud or the rest of Suisse Romande. From guided forest walks to bird-watching the choice is yours.

 

• 23rd-25th May 2014: Mai au Parc Festival at the Villa Bernasconi in Geneva (Route du Grand-Lancy 8). Don’t miss the kids workshops, puppet shows and activities on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th, which take place under a yourte tent – check the official website for full programme details and exact times. Entry is free!

 

• 23rd May-9th June 2014: Festival Poussière du Monde under two giant Mongolian yourtes at the Parc Bernasconi in Grand-Lancy. Reserve tickets from the 10th of may for one of their mesmerizing puppet and dance shows from all over the world. Tickets are 25CHF for adults and 10CHF for children aged 12 and older, places are limited so advance booking is highly recommended.

 

• 24th May 2014: Journée Nature en ville in Nyon. This event is part of the “Fête de la Nature” celebrations in Suisse romande and will offer a variety of fab activities for the whole family. From 10am to 5pm around Nyon’s train station and the Musée du Léman, you will be able to take part in vegetable-growing workshops, urban safaris, as well as tastings of local produce and delicacies. See the official website for full details.

 

• 24th May 2014: Marché de Printemps – Fête des Caraïbes in Nyon (VD). Enjoy the colourful decorations, food stalls & displays that will bring a taste of the Caribbean to Nyon! From 7am to 8pm in the town centre & Place du Château.

 

• 24th May 2014: Journée nationale du jeu across Switzerland. Toy libraries across the country will open their doors for the day with special events, snacks for children and activities the whole family will enjoy. Find the complete programme here.

 

• 24th May 2014: Fête de l’Espoir at Geneva’s Stade du Bout-du-Monde (Route de Vessy 12). This is one of the city’s best music events, filled with child-friendly activities, great live music, football tournaments and more. The event is free of charge and open to all, so visit their official website for full details of the day’s programme.

 

• 24th May 2014: Caves Ouvertes Genève, a wine-lovers dream: board one of the free shuttles and let yourself be driven to the best vineyards of the Geneva region to sample their exquisite wines. Discover Geneva’s best wine cellars from 10am to 7pm, cheers x

 

• 24th-25th May 2014: Jours de Fête aux Grottes, family fun in the Grottes neighbourhood in Geneva with live music, activities and La Grottes Parade: floats, dress-up masks & live DJ music, a bit like a miniature version of the lake Parade!

 

• 24th-25th May 2014: Le CERN fête ses 60 ans avec ses voisins, a great event celebrating CERN’s 60th anniversary. Free entry to all activities from 10am to 6pm. Three of the CERN sites will open to the public this weekend: the site of the CMS experiment in Cessy, the site of the LHCb experiment in Ferney-Voltaire and the LHC accelerator site in Échenevex. Be there for the great free activities planned such as live demonstrations, experiments and plenty of Kapla blocks & Lego for the little ones to play with. As the official website explains: “all three sites will also be offering special underground visits to the CMS and LHCb detectors and the LHC accelerator, in what will be one of the last chances to visit the underground installations before the accelerator is restarted next year” (previous booking required at CERN reception for these visits ony, for ages 12+). All other activities require no previous booking.

  

 

• until 25th May 2014: “An imaginary museum of Playmobil®” at Chillon Castle. As their website says: “The Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, and Guernica have been recreated in scenes put together with Playmobil® toys! The famous figurines also appear in other reconstituted works of art. This amusing approach to Art History has been made accessible to one and all through the efforts of French photographer and film-maker Richard Unglik…visitors will also enjoy seeing the three giant models made with real Playmobil® toys: a fortified castle and two Swiss panoramas made Bruno Peeters”.

 

•  Wednesday 28th May 2014: “Les œufs et le Balbuzard pêcheur” – Animation du mercredi  from age 7 at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). In connection with the current exhibition “Nos oiseaux”, these free Wednesday workshops will take place  from 2pm to 4.30pm (second floor).

 

• Wednesday 28th May 2014: “Dans notre assiette: feuille, tige, racine” – 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 donwload the full programme.

 

• Thursday 29th May 2014: Fête du Printemps at the Parc Gourgas in Jonction (Geneva) from 10am to 8pm with music shows, clowns & activities for the little ones and plenty of scrummy food stalls to choose from. Free entry.

 

• 30th-31st May 2014: Africa Fashion Show Geneva, held at the Château des Penthes, one of Geneva’s most prestigious venues, alongside the “Here Africa” art exhibition organised by Art for the World (AFTW). Africa Fashion Show Geneva, which aims to showcase and celebrate Africa’s diverse fashion talent and cultural heritage, will feature designs from Africa’s brightest talents, such as Ahdookeh (Morenikeji Fatai Agoro, Nigeria), Baldon Clothiers (Adedoyin Balogun, Nigeria) and Malleni Designs (Peace Malleni, Uganda).Taking place over two days, the event will commence with a runway fashion show on Friday, 30 May 2014 at 19.30 at Château des Penthes and culminate in an exclusive gala evening on Saturday, 31 May 2014 at 19.30 at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Geneva. Alongside an exclusive runway show, the gala event will also feature live performances by Nigerian rap and hip-hop artist Babatunde and US-based Grammy nominated singer, songwriter, producer, and emcee Maimouna “Mumu Fresh” Youssef.

 

• 30th-31st May & 1st June 2014: Les contes du bicentenaire story-time in French to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the entry of Geneva into the Swiss Confederation. Story time will be held at the “Pavillon des Contes” in the Jardin Anglais. There will be various story sessions on each day: on Friday 30th May from 3pm to 6pm; on Saturday 31st of May from 1pm to 6pm; on Sunday 1st of June from 2pm to 5pm. Click on the official website for the complete list.

 

• Saturday 31st May 2014: Bambin’OpérA, a wonderful interactive musical show for children aged 4+ at the Atelier Sur Les Voies De St-Jean in Geneva (15, Av. Des Tilleuls) starting at 5pm. A unique music show about opera, adapted for little viewers, which will cover memorable pieces from Monteverdi to Bernstein & Mozart. The show was created by the soprano Marion Fontana and brought to the stage by Marion Fontana & pianist Telma Habermann. Free entry (but advance bookings recommended at 022 340 07 46), donations accepted at the end of the show.

 

• until 31st May 2014: Playtime, an exhibition about the world of videogames at the Galeries du Forum Meyrin (5, place des Cinq-Continents). Enjoy all the interactive stations to discover what the world of videogames is all about. Entry is 5CHF per person and the opening times are 2pm to 6pm – Wednesday to Saturday.

 

 

 

 ONGOING:

• until June 2014: Comptines et jeux de doigts, free music sessions for children organized by La Bulle d’Air for children aged 18 months to 4 years (eacvh age group has different sessions). These short courses take place on the 10th of April, 8th of May and 5th of June 2014 at the Bibliothèque de Carouge (Boulevard des Promenades 2bis). They are free but places must be reserved in advance. Click here to download the full information brochure.

 

• until 1st June 2014: “Audrey Hepburn, sur un plateau & à la une” a great photo exhibition about one of Hollywood’s most iconic stars of all times: Audrey Hepburn. Did you know she lived for many years in Tolochenaz, near Morges (VD)? well, if you’re a fan of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Sabrina or any of her wonderful movies then don’t miss this exhibition of previously unseen photographs at the Expo Fondation Bolle in Morges (Rue Louis-de-Savoie 73-75), open Wednesday to Sunday from 2pm to 5pm. Free entry.

 

• until 1st June 2014: “LE GOÛT DE DIDEROT”, art exhibition at the Fondation de l’Hermitage in Lausanne (2 Route du Signal) featuring an exceptional selection of paintings, sculptures, engravings and drawings that the French philosopher Diderot had the opportunity to admire at the temporary exhibitions of the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture and at the Louvre.

 

• until 7th June 2014: “Pierrot et Mélodie”, a delightful puppet-show from age 4 at the Théâtre des Lutins in Lausanne (Rue Petit -Saint -Jean 1A). A magic tale about the arrival of spring and the evil Winter Queen with performances at 3pm on Wednesdays; 11am and 4 pm on Saturdays. Tickets are 10CHF per person.

 

• until 29th June 2014: “Ô Cézanne” a fantastic art exhibition about the French painter ideal for children aged 5 to 11 at the Vallée de la Jeunesse in Lausanne. Read all about it in our previous post, or have a look at the photos we took during our visit last week.

 

• until 6th July 2014: “Pas de panique”, a great exhibition – suitable for adults and children alike – dealing with fear and panic, explained in a fun and interactive way. What ignites these powerful emotions? How do they affect us? Learn all about fear, panic and stress and…fear no more! Click here for full deatils of all upcoming conferences and events linked to the exhibition at Uni Dufour in Geneva (Rue Général-Dufour 24). Free entry.

 

• until 17th August 2014: “Anatomies”, interactive exhibition at the Musée de la main – Fondation Claude Verdan in Lausanne (Rue du Bugnon 21) looking at different representations of the human body & anatomy throughout the centuries. Book your place in advance for one of their kids workshops: “Voyage dans le corps” (ages 6-9) and “Corps transparent” (ages 10-13), which are also offered as birthday party workshops for 140CHF, max. 12 children.

 

• until 21st September 2014: Superman, Batman & co…mics! A great exhibition at the Maison d’Ailleurs (Place Pestalozzi 14, Yverdon-les-Bains) paying tribute to the “comics culture” through the work of 5 contemporary artists: Adrian Tranquilli, Gilles Barbier, Mathias Schmied, Alexandre Nicolas and Audrey Piguet. A fascinating journey through the icons of this modern mythology. Check the official website for more details on guided tours and kids workshops.

 

• until 21st September 2014: “Oiseaux”, a fantastic birds exhibition at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle Genève. Discover the magic world of birds and how we can help to preserve them. Free entry.

 

• until 30th November 2014: La Maison des Jouets, a great exhibition of vintage toys at the Musée Alexis Forel in Morges (Grand-Rue 54). From mechanical toys to dolls, play kitchens and teddy bears this fab exhibition will take you on a fascinating journey through the history of toys & childhood play. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 2pm to 6pm.

 

• The exhibition “Universe of Particles” at the iconic Globe of Science and Innovation will plunge the little visitors into the fascinating world of the tiniest and biggest particles which make up our universe.From walking through luminous spheres to exploring CERN’s legendary accelerators physics has never been more engaging !Admission to “Universe of Particles” is free, from Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm at the Globe of Science and Innovation in Meyrin. Click here for the exhibition brochure.