JULY 18 – AUGUST 11, 2013

The largest tourist event in Switzerland, the Geneva Festival attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators to the shores of Lake Geneva each year.

The event is divided into two parts: the Prelude to the festival and the festival proper. Beginning at the end of July, the Prelude is a gradual build up to the main event which sees more than 120 free concerts, 60 carousels and 150 food and crafts stalls bring the crowds flocking. Water sports take place on the lake throughout—expect competitive rowing, lifeboat racing and waterski jumping—and after dark, musical fireworks ignite the sky. The 2011 event featured a beach rugby tournament, and musicians and dancers from as far afield as India. The fun fair with its lakeside big wheel is always a hit with adults and children alike.