From the Geneva Lux festival to the Fête de l’Escalade and the end-of-year festivities, Geneva dons its best suit of lights and is always in festive mood, despite the cold. Discover a selection of indoor and outdoor activities, unusual events or convivial festivals organised throughout the winter in the City of Geneva.
Highlight
"La Banquise": a brand new winter activity centre
Christmas markets
A not-to-be-missed opportunity to plunge into the magical and colourful world of Advent, the Christmas markets spring up all around Geneva with their wooden stands or chalets selling a thousand and one craft objects, their garlands of fairy lights, their mulled wine and the unmistakable smell of cinnamon. You can also find the ideal tree, sold by nurseries and producers on the Christmas tree markets scattered around the city.
Festivities of l'Escalade
December is also a time of tradition, with the Fête de l’Escalade and its events focusing on the historic date of 12 December, commemorating the victory of Geneva over an attack by the Duchy of Savoy in 1602. To celebrate the occasion, you can enjoy soup and mulled wine around the city while admiring all types of parade, with people wearing medieval costumes and children dressed up and singing the hymn of Geneva, “Cé qu'è lainô”. This weekend of festivities is preceded by the Course de l’Escalade, bringing together inhabitants of all ages who brave the cold and fill the streets, either to run the race or to cheer on the participants.
New Year’s Eve
On the evening of 31 December, free events are unfailingly organised by the municipality. While the programme is renewed each year, the common thread of this convivial event remains eclectic music offerings performed on several stages as well as the firework display that lights up the winter sky on the stroke of midnight.
Réveillon de la solidarité
On the very same evening, the Plainpalais community hall invites people in need or living on their own to celebrate the turn of the year with a tombola, a festive meal and music during the Réveillon de la solidarité.
La Banquise des Eaux-Vives
With its well-being zone (massages, wood-fired saunas, relaxation Mongolian yurts), its Nordic sports activites (axe throwing, mattercurling, mölkky), its musical entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays as well as its food-trucks serving candadian dishes, La Banquise has settled close to the pier leading to the Jet d’eau from 18 January to 26 March.
Geneva lux, the festival of lights in Geneva
From 24 January to 2 February, Geneva shines bright thanks to Geneva Lux, which invites artists to create light installations specially designed for the occasion. Coloured or monochromatic, figurative or abstract, minimalist or opulent, these works of art create a new circuit through the city.
Atypical festivals
In Geneva’s busy cultural agenda, January marks the opening of two festivals that are as prestigious as they are atypical. Black Movie shines the spotlight on international cinema d’auteur with screenings of films which more often than not fall through the net of mainstream cinema. The Antigel festival combines music, dance and performance art, fostering the unusual nature of its offerings, in particular in terms of the venues adopted by the event.
Exoticism at the Conservatory and Botanical Garden
To get away from the winter weather and enjoy a temporary change of climate, why not visit the greenhouses of the Botanical Conservatory and Garden. Under these elegant glass shelters, visitors can admire the most unusually-shaped plants, experience the oppressive humidity of the tropics and, upon prior request, discover a number of carnivorous plants. A number of temporary and permanent exhibitions as well as interactive visits available via smartphone extend the pleasures of your botanical exploration.
Winter sports in the city
For fans of sliding sports, the City installs several ice rinks during the winter. Seasonal ice rinks can be found in Parc des Bastions and in les Charmilles, offering free access and events; skate rental costs CHF 2. The indoor ice rink in les Vernets is also open to the public, offering longer opening hours on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 10.30 p.m., unless a special event is scheduled.
Once a month, from November to February, the discos on ice will have you strutting your stuff from 7.30 p.m. to midnight, with music and rink-side bar.
Winter swimming
For fans of the Bains des Pâquis
In addition to the visitors who come to savour a fondue while enjoying the view over the lake, more and more winter swimmers come to swim at the Bains des Pâquis, whatever the weather.
For fans of the Coupe de Noël
In December, courageous souls brave the glacial cold of Lake Geneva to participate in the Coupe de Noël, the world’s biggest cold water race, swimming 120 metres along the promenade of the Jardin Anglais in water temperatures varying between 5° and 10°C. The public are more than welcome to come and support this extraordinary event held in a festive atmosphere.
Major events during the winter
Discover all the not-to-be-missed events in Geneva during the winter as well as the events and happenings in the city’s online diary.
Article modifié le 18.08.2023 à 11:50