This weekend, Geneva’s music halls, concert facilities, and local parks invite you to come enjoy music – any type of music – during the annual Fête de la Musique.
Over the course of three days, the city of Geneva and surrounding communes will host more than 7,000 musicians and 500 concerts at 35 music venues. From stately Victoria Hall to your neighborhood park, music will fill the city.
Music in Parc des Bastions, 2011. Credit: Patrick G. Lopreno via Fête de la Musique website
You can search the festival’s online program by music style, location, time of day, or artist. Also online, you can create your own program by clicking the blue “+” button in the “Panier” program menu; then, just click “Préparer votre panier en ajoutant les spectacles de votre choix à votre panier” at the top of the page to view your customized itinerary.
Why not pack an evening picnic and spend Saturday evening dining outdoors at one of the concerts in a park? Or, if you’ve never listened to a choir sing in St. Peter’s Cathedral, why not make it part of your Sunday morning plans?
In my opinion, one of the best things about the Fête de la Musique is the chance to see and/or do something new in Geneva. Food and beverage stalls are located near most venues, and most concerts are free of charge, which makes it easy to spend a day or the entire weekend concert-hopping and mingling with tourists and Genevois alike.
Fête de la musique 2011 Credit: Patrick G. Lopreno via Fête de la Musique website
Here are a few more details about the event:
Going Green: This year, Fête de la Musique promotes sustainability. The festival is powered by 100% green energy, SIG Vitale Vert, and recycling and energy conservation will be themes of the events all weekend. You can read more about how the festival is “going green” by clicking here (in French).
Transportation: Parking in the city center will be restricted, in part to promote the use of public transportation during the festival. Trams will run on their normal schedule and bus service will be expanded. Special No. 5 buses will run between the left and right banks all weekend, and Noctambus hours will be extended. Find out more by accessing the TPG website here and the Noctambus website here. Check road closures and traffic restrictions at the festival website here.
Credit: Tribune de Genève
Vinyl Sale!: Do you collect vinyl records? On Friday, 21st June from 18h00 at Place Neuve, more than 25,000 vinyl records will be sold to the public. The records, once played in clubs around the city, were stored for years in the Pâquis district and will now be available for purchase.
More information about the Fête de la Musique is available by clicking here. Events take place Friday through Sunday, 21-23 June, in the city of Geneva and surrounding communes.
We are a group of international women living in Geneva, Switzerland. If you would like to join the AIWC, please visit our website at http://www.aiwcgeneva.org/
Living In Geneva 
Only came to Geneva a few days ago for a summer internship, but this blog has been quite a blessing (especially your archived information on grocery stores!) Thanks so much for all the practical information!
Thanks for stopping by the blog – I’m glad it’s been a resource for you! Enjoy your summer in Geneva!