A rich and varied artistic programme and a fun eco-village at the heart of the National Day festivities on 1 August

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For the 2023 edition of the National Day in parc La Grange, the Mayor of Geneva, Alfonso Gomez, is keen to offer the population a rich and cheerful artistic programme appealing to everyone, with a particular focus on the climate and the associated challenges.

Beginning at 3 p.m. and continuing throughout the day, young and old are invited to participate in different activities, concerts and shows. Antoine Frammery, head of artistic programming, took up the challenge of creating a festive eco-village combining humour and tradition. Younger visitors will love the human-powered rides, an upcycled merry-go-round, games made from wood and nature discovery workshops.

Throughout the afternoon, there will be ample opportunity to discover the kitchen garden of the Théâtre de l’Orangerie, participate in eco-challenges with the association Le Sablier de Cassandre or attend the performance of “Autostop” by the Compagnie du Rond-Point. The Parks and Gardens Service (SEVE), which manages Parc La Grange on a daily basis, will organise demonstrations of tree surgeons at work as well as repotting workshops. Humorous visits of the site will also be organised for the public. There will also be a wide range of folk entertainment with yodelling, bells, accordion music and flag throwing. 

A host of concerts and a giant karaoke

The evening will begin at 7 p.m. with the official ceremony, including speeches by the Mayor, the President of the Municipal Council and the guests of honour, as well as a reading of the Founding Charter of the Confederation, all translated into sign language. Different shows are also on the programme, with Sarclo, les Reines Prochaines and a giant karaoke. Evita Koné will perform on the Ella Fitzgerald stage at 9 p.m., a concert organised in collaboration with Musiques en été. The range of artists reflects the diversity and wealth of talent in Geneva, paying tribute to women and different generations. A poetic procession of stilt-walkers at 10 p.m. is just one of the event highlights. 

Guests of honour, symbols of solidarity and freedom

As the capital of human rights and a city of refuge, the City of Geneva has also decided to hold the National Day festivities under the banner of human rights. The guests of honour at the event will be Zeinab Kobra Moosavi and Mana Mandegar, two Iranian forced to flee their country following the intolerable repression implemented by the Iranian regime and who requested asylum in Switzerland. The celebration of the National Day is therefore an opportunity to shed light on the situation of women fighting for their freedom and their lives. Two Iranian artists and an information stand run by the Iranian-Swiss committee will also be on hand. By combining two of the present day’s burning topics with a popular festival, Alfonso Gomez wishes to demonstrate that a sustainability-conscious lifestyle can be enjoyable, convivial and compatible with traditions. He is also keen to stress the importance of respecting human rights at a time when democracy is being attacked on all sides.

A zero-waste event

The festivities have been designed to reduce the carbon impact of the event as far as possible. The number and movement of motor vehicles on site are limited, the fairground will require almost no electricity, one of the stages will be powered by solar energy and sobriety has guided the choice of scenery for the shows. Furthermore, to take global warming into account, the configuration of the site is designed to maximise shade. For the first time, the event will use reusable tableware with no deposit and a carbon balance sheet will be produced. 

The programme at Parc La Grange from 3 p.m.

Show stage  

• 3.15 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Traditional Iranian music concert
• 4 p.m. to 4.45 p.m.: Compagnie Super Super, “Plouf et Replouf”
• 5.30 p.m. to 6.40 p.m.: Fred Blin, “A-t-on toujours raison”
• 7 p.m. to 7.45 p.m.: Voix d’Iran
• 8 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.: Les Reines Prochaines
• 9.30 p.m. to midnight: DJ Amal Alpha: giant karaoke

Central stage  

• 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Folk music duo Clin d’oeil: yodelling, bells, accordion music and alphorn
• 3 p.m. to 6.15 p.m.: Kurt Welten & Claude Tornare: flag throwers
• 5 p.m. to 6.15 p.m.: Orchestre Corsin: yodelling, bells, accordion music and alphorn
• 7 p.m. to 7.45 p.m.: Official section
• 7.45 p.m. to 8.15 p.m.: Cercle Choral de Genève
• 8.30 p.m. to 9.45 p.m.: Sarclo & guests
• 10.45 p.m. to midnight: DJ Maraudeur

Backstage  

• 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Compagnie du Rond-Point, “Autostop”
• 8.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.: Béatrice Graf & Frédéric Folmer, “Improwaterproof”

Activities and fairground

• 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Demonstration by tree surgeons and repotting workshop (SEVE)
• 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Swiss Food Academy and smoothie bike
• 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Le Sablier de Cassandre, “La Roue des éco-défis”
• 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Make-up and drawing for children
• 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Théâtres de la Toupine and Titanos Heili (fairground)
• 3 p.m. to midnight: Cécile Robin and Füt Füt collectif (procession) 
• 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.: The guided counter-visits by Jérôme Poulain (leaving from the show stage)
• 5 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Fife and drum (procession)

Théâtre de l’Orangerie 

• 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Visits to the kitchen garden of the T.O. by La Libellule 
• 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.: “Petite Brume” show

Ella Fitzgerald stage 

• 9 p.m.: Concert by Evita Koné

Highlights  

• 9 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.: Procession of lanterns
• 9.30 p.m. to 11 p.m.: Bonfire
• 10 p.m. to 10.45 p.m.: Rêve d’Herbert (stilt-walking show)

Awareness stands

• 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Iranian-Swiss Unitary Committee
• 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.: “We Can Dance iT”
• 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Geneva Red Cross
• 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Carrefour addictionS
• 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.: “Zero waste menstruations” measure