Geneva Events

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Geneva Music Festival

The streets of Geneva are turned into a huge musical stage every year at the Music Festival with hundreds of concerts of all types performed by local and international artists. The city fills with the sound of music, from rock bands to classical orchestras. For more information phone +41 (0)22 418 6532 or email fetedelamusique@ville-ge.ch

Venue: Various; Date: 20-22 June 2008; Website: www.fetedelamusique.ch

Montreux Jazz Festival

Held on the eastern shore of beautiful Lake Geneva, the Montreux Jazz Festival attracts around 200,000 people each year. Specialising in jazz, blues, rock and pop, the festival provides groove busting beats that make you want to move your body or just listen in musical awe. The Montreux Jazz Festival has hosted the likes of Stan Getz, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Mingus and Dexter Gordon since its inception in 1967 and this year's festival will see the likes of rock legend Lenny Kravitz and R'nB queen Alicia Keys. Head to the fringe 'Off Festival' for free open-air concerts, providing a platform for up-and-coming artists.

Venue: Various. Montreux is 56 miles (90 km) from Geneva; Date: 4-19 July 2008; Website: www.montreuxjazz.com

Festival Fireworks © G.F. Gibiino

Geneva Festival

The highlight of the summer season, the Geneva Festival attracts crowds of people to the shore of Lake Geneva for concerts, food and craft from around the world, all types of music from techno to classical, a float parade, fun fair and non-stop entertainment. The grand finale of the festival is a fantastic musical fireworks display.

Venue: Various; Date: 31 July to 10 August 2008; Website: www.fetes-de-geneve.ch

From The Alps To Lake Geneva © Museum of Art and History, Geneva

From The Alps To Lake Geneva

A fascinating temporary exhibition that explores the lifestyles of hunter-gatherers and prehistoric communities from around 12,000 B.C to 58 B.C in the Rhone valley and on the shores of Lake Geneva, 'From the Alps to Lake Geneva' is a valuable stop on any cultural tour of Geneva. With a robust selection of objects from the museum itself and the archaeology museums of Lausanne and Sion, as well as illustrations demonstrating the most advanced theories, visitors will be able to discover more about the people who first colonised the area freed by retreating glaciers to the Celtic society whose last activities were recorded by Julius Caesar.

Venue: Museum of Art and History; Date: 14 March to 26 October 2008; Time: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm; Website: www.ville-ge.ch/mah

L’Escalade Celebration

Of all the festivals that take place in Geneva, none rival the pomp and ceremony of L'Escalade, which is one of the oldest and most popular events in the city. The festival is a patriotic celebration of the city's independence, the Geneva equivalent of Guy Fawkes Day, and commemorates the vain attempt by the Duke of Savoy troops to invade the old walled city in 1602. Many legends surround the historic event, most famously the tale of Mother Royaume who emptied her large cauldron of hot vegetable soup on the attackers below. An Escalade custom consists of selling cups of hot vegetable soup in the streets, and the windows of confectioners and sweet shops display chocolate and nougat pots decorated with the colours of Geneva and filled with marzipan vegetables. The highlight of the festival is the torchlight procession through the Old Town by participants in period costume, with musketeers, horsemen, pipers and drummers, to the accompaniment of crackers and gun salutes. Many people appear in fancy dress and the carnival atmosphere is enjoyed by all. Contact the Geneva Tourist Office for more information on +41 (0)22 909 7070 or email info@geneve-tourisme.ch

Venue: Old City; Date: 12-14 December 2008

International Tree and Lights Festival

Started in 2001, the festival invites artists from all over Europe to decorate trees in prominent positions around the city centre, to create artistic lighting effects and other innovative touches. The festival presents a contemporary exhibition of imagination and creativity, where the trees of the city have taken the place of museum walls and are adorned with works from a multitude of artistic disciplines. The biggest Christmas tree will replace Geneva's Jet d'Eau fountain. Festival events include parties, street shows and competitions, particularly the 'best tree' competition judged by prominent art celebrities. For more information contact the Geneva Tourism Office on (0)22 909 7000.

Date: November 2008 to January 2009, TBC