It’s a Party! You Won’t Forget the FETE

Fete de la Rade to be Alive with Sporting Events

The annual city-wide celebration called the “FETE DE GENEVE” (July 21 – August14, 2011) is becoming such a huge international “must-be-there” happening that now there is a “PRE-FETE DE GENEVE” party! That is 3 weeks of one of the biggest festivals in Europe. The entire city is celebrating and it’s all over town with 100s of venues with performers, variety entertainment, concerts, fair rides like the Big Wheel, sports competitions, food stands with local produce, wine tasting, crafts stands from all over the world. You name it, and it is surely in Geneva for this festival.

And the PRE-FETE party is starting now! Serious Festival lovers from all over the world are either here now or on the way for the perhaps the biggest and the longest party ever! If you are anywhere close, head for Geneva now. If you are not close, it’s not too late to plan a visit to the beautiful shores of Lake Geneva and celebrate with the rest of the world at the main event which culminates with an unforgettable musical fireworks display on The Rade Saturday night August 13, 2011. I promise you, you will always remember this magical experience of fabulous music coordinated with extravagant fireworks showering over the placid Alpine lake on a warm summer night!  

The Unforgetable Musical Fireworks

But before that, there are numerous other events and activities. Here are just some samples.

Nightly concerts will be held with French and International music at the “Ella Fitzgerald Stage” in the Parc La Grange and in “Club Stage” in the Jardin Anglais and other venues happening every night.

On August 1 (The National Day for Switzerland) will be the race of the “Garçons”, about 110 waiters in professional attire racing with a tray holding 2 full bottles of water and 3 full glasses going as fast as they can to the finish without losing a drop!

Five local wines out of 50 have been pre-selected by the “Comite des Fetes”, the local restaurants and the wine experts in the Canton of Geneva to be highlighted at the festival.

On Rousseau island the latest unusual « arty » nightclub, La Fabrik 46 will be entertaining the “tres chic” adults at night with DJs from as far away as Buenos Aires. And for this festival they also are having entertainment for the children in the afternoons.

An Entire City Celebration for Everyone

Remember this is an international festival and you can even take an African safari through Mali, Guinea, Congo, and Senegal and enjoy authentic African cuisine accompanied by freshly prepared cocktails and fruit juices.

There will be lots of action at the “Fete de la Rade” this year with 4 different sporting events. There will be the Rowing Sprint Cup, the Rescue Boat Race, waterskiing jumping and racing boat demonstrations.

Join in with a bicycle or roller blades for a 28 k on a path closed to traffic for the event  which is called The “Slowup” (because your life is going too fast!)  It starts from the boat quays near the Jardin Anglais. More than 25,000 people are expected to show up to Slowup!

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[Images courtesy of fetesdegeneve.ch]