What’s On in October

Here’s our events listings for the month of October, remember to keep checking our blog on a general basis as we will be updating this post with more events each week.

Have a wonderful autumn & half-term break everyone !

• Tuesday 1st October 2013: “Voyage autour du conte et des histoires” storytime from age 4 at the library of La Julienne in Plan-les-Ouates from 4.30pm to 5.45pm. Free entry.

 

• 1st-6th October 2013: Salon des Métiers et de la Formation at the Expo Beaulieu in Lausanne. A very interesting and useful exhibition about professional training and development for youngsters and their parents, with over 70 professional bodies present and 500 professional training programmes to discover. Open from 8am to 5pm and 9am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday. Free entry.

 

• Enjoy a relaxed, scrumptious family Sunday brunch – here’s a selection of child-friendly places we’ve tried and tested for you: Sunday brunch with kids & Sunday brunch in the sun.

 

• Wednesday 2nd October 2013: Mini & Petits Rendez-vous  at Geneva’s MAMCO for little ones aged 2 to 4 (Mini rendez-vous) and 5 to 10 (Petits rendez-vous) accompanied by an adult. These fun, interactive visits for kids are free of charge and require no advance booking. Introduce your little ones to the joys of modern art with these great guided tours, which start at 3.15pm. There will be other tours on Sunday 6th and Wednesday 9th, 16th and 30th of October as well.

 

• Wednesday 2nd October 2013: “Mots lus, mots entendus”, a sweet show from age 5 at the Bibliothèque de Saint-Jean (Avenue des Tilleuls 19 – entrée rue Miléant) in Geneva. Start time 3pm, free entry.

 

• Wednesday 2nd October 2013: Mercredis Family at the Musée d’art et d’histoire in Geneva (Rue Charles-Galland 2). Children aged 6 and older accompanied by an adult are welcome every Wednesday at 3pm to discover all about the museum collections in a fun, interactive way. Reserve your places in advance at adp-mah@ville-ge.ch or by phone at 022 418 25 00. On Wednesday afternoons until December 2013 you can also take part in the museum’s “Visites-ateliers: Initiation à l’histoire de l’art” (ages 6-8 and 9-12). This is a cycle of 5 tours unveiling the most fascinating secrets of art history, each visit is followed by a creative workshop. On Wednesdays from 2pm to 6pm, 10CHF each session (places must be booked in advance).

 

• Wednesday 2nd October 2013: “Sur les chemins d’Hercules”, free storytime from age 5 at the Palais de Rumine in Lausanne (Place de la Riponne 6). Don’t miss these free storytimes on the first Wednesday of every month, start time at 2.45pm.

 

• Wednesday 2nd October 2013: Animation du mercredi “Les oiseaux de Robert Hainard” at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). In connection with the current exhibition “Nos oiseaux”, these free Wednesday workshops will take place every Wednesday during the month of October from 2pm to 4.30pm (second floor).

 

• 2nd-30th October 2013: “Little Black Movie October sessions”, a selection of delightful short cartoons for children at the Cinémas du Grütli in Geneva (16, rue du Général Dufour); the Point Favre in Chêne Bourg (6, avenue F.-A. Grison); Salle Bellavista in Meyrin (39, avenue de Vaudagne); Cinéma-Théâtre de Onex (7, rue des Bossons) and the Maison des Quartiers de Thônex (39, route de Jussy). Let yourself be led on a voyage of discovery from Russia to China via Iran and Latvia, this will be a cinematic & truly magical experience for all ages. See the official website for full programme details.

 

• 3rd-5th October 2013: Boutikids children’s clothing sale in St. Blaise (Vigner 6). Don’t miss this great chance to bag some sterling bargains for your 0 to 10 year-olds, fab brands on sale at reduced prices ! See below for opening times.

 

• 4th-6th October 2013: Assemblages Festival in Troinex. Don’t miss the family show Habbe & Meik on Sunday 6th of October 2013 at 4.30pm (Salle des fêtes de Troinex), an exhilarating circus & pantomime show the whole family will love !

 

• 4th-13th October 2013: 1ère Fête de la Cuisine d’automne – Cuisine d’antan et légumes oubliés in Yvoire (France). A gastronomic feast with themed menus available in local restaurants as well as open-doors workshops with local chefs, who will be guiding you through traditional recipes aimed at re-discovering historical vegetables. See the official website for full programme details.

 

• 4th-27th October 2013: Le Monde fabuleux de Jean de La Fontaine, a family exhibition from age 5 at the Espace Nouveau Vallon in Chêne-Bougeries (8, route du Vallon). Originally devised by the Musée en Herbe in Paris, the exhibition uncovers the fascinating world of Jean de la Fontaine and his much-loved animal tales (Le Corbeau et Le Renard, La Cigale et La Fourmi, La Grenouille et Le Boeuf, Le Lion et Le Rat). Don’t miss the Atelier-Théâtre “Au temps où les animaux parlaient…” which will take place at 2.30pm on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays (as well as every afternoon during school holidays) – for 45 minutes adults & children will be transported into the fantastic world of Jean de La Fontaine by means of mime, music, dance & games. Don’t miss the opening vernissage on the 4th of October at 6.30pm !

 

• Saturday 5th October 2013: Swiss Classic British Cars Meeting in Morges (VD). The 22nd Swiss Classic British Car Meeting will be held on the quayside in the lovely lakeside town of Morges in Switzerland on Saturday 5 October 2013 from 10 a.m. to 5 o’clock. Last year the event attracted more than 20,000 visitors and saw over 1600 classic British cars and motorbikes turn up from not only Switzerland, but many from France, Germany, Italy, the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands as well. Everything from MGs from the 1950s, Austins from the 1930s, racing Jaguars from the ‘60s, and old Rolls-Royces and Bentleys. Plus a number of excellent models of the 2-wheel variety, including classic Nortons, Triumphs and Royal Enfields from the golden age of English bikes. Free entry.

 

• Saturday 5th October 2013:  Sous la Lune II – Voyage dans la ville: “Les petits bâtisseurs”, a fun workshops for kids aged 7 to 9 at the Jardin Alpin in Meyrin. Linked to the interactive art installation Sous la Lune II – Voyage dans la ville at the Forum Meyrin (Place des Cinq-Continents 1), where 50 m2 of space and 1,000 pieces of metal will be on hand for the children to build their dream city. This interactive installation by artist Miguel Navarro (concept: Atelier des enfants, Centre Pompidou, Paris) is a truly fascinating piece of art, a giant game that the whole family will enjoy. See the official website for full details.

 

• Saturday 5th October 2013: 1er Festival des Familles, family festival at the Musée international de la Croix-Rouge et du Croissant-Rouge in Geneva (Avenue de la Paix 17). From 10am to 6pm enjoy a number of exciting family activities including workshops, family guided tours and board games. Click here for full programme details.

 

• Saturday 5th October 2013: “Uncle Tarzan”, a super-fun pantomime by Theatre Franglais at the Ecole Steiner in Confignon at 4pm and 8pm. Ticket prices are 20CHF for adults and 15CHF for children. See the official website for full details.

 

• Saturday 5th October 2013: “Les Potirons en Fête” in Ornex (salle René Lavergne). From 2pm to 7pm take part in a pumpkin competition and enjoy many kids activities such as story-telling from age 6, bouncy castle, face painting and many more.

 

• Saturday 5th October 2013: “La mythologie en jeux” at La Julienne in Plan-les-ouates. A unique & truly fun “culture & movement” session for children aged 8 to 11: from 2pm to 6pm the children will be able to learn more about ancient Greek mythology as well as move to the beat ! At the end of the session there will be a little show for parents & friends from 5.30pm to 6pm. Price of the workshop 60CHF with snack included. Reserve your places at 078 661 79 58.

 

• 5th, 12th & 19th October 2013: Family Factory, a fun introduction to contemporary art for children aged 3 and older accompanied by an adult at the Centre d’Art Contemporain Genève (10, rue des Vieux-Grenadiers). The current exhibition is dedicated to British artist PABLO BRONSTEIN, and the workshop will focus on designing your dream house. Price is 10CHF for 1 adult plus 2 kids max, places must be booked in advance at 022 329 18 42.

 

• 5th-6th October 2013: Rencontres avec un hibou !, a fantastic opportunity to watch a falconry expert upclose whilst he handles a wild owl, so make sure you don’t miss it. The performance takes place at 11am at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle, Genève (1, route de Malagnou). Free entry. In connection with the children’s show “Le hibou, le vent et nous” at the théâtre Am Stram Gram in Geneva.

 

• 5th-6th October 2013: Salon des Chocolatiers et du Chocolat at the Bâtiment des Forces Motrices in Geneva (2, place des Volontaires). Open from 10am to 7pm, this chocolate festival will offer a number of delectable demonstrations, kids workshops and much more. See the official website for full programme details.

 

• 5th-6th October 2013: Festival «Conter sous les avions», story-telling festival from age 4 at the Maison Vaudagne in Meyrin (av. de Vaudagne, 16). A great line-up of tales for teens aged 16 and older, as well as a fun-filled family day on Sunday. Check the this website for full programme details. Free entry, offers gratefully accepted after the shows.

 

• 5th-13th October 2013: Animatou Film Festival in Geneva, a fab line-up of international animated movies your little ones will love. See the official website for full details of the 180 films that will be shown and all the kids workshops available.

 

• Sunday 6th October 2013: Les “Contes à reBourg” in Lausanne begin their second season with a fun storytime for children: “Marguerite, maintenant, tout de suite, bientôt…”. Doors open at 4 pm and story-time begins at 4.30pm. A fun workshop and a free snack will follow. Prices: 5.- /children, 10.-/ adults and 30.- for a family ticket (3 children & 2 adults). Place: Le Café Théâtre le Bourg, Lausanne.

 

• Sunday 6th October 2013: “Noi animali del bosco”, from 10am to 5pm. This is a special kids workshop with Italian artists Piero Gilardi & Giuliana Ponti, part of the Animatou festival. The workshop will include a documentary and an animal mask-making activity, in the afternoon the children will set up a little play using the masks they made in the morning. The workshop will take place at the Centre d’Art Contemporain Genève (10, rue des Vieux-Grenadiers), you can register at publics@centre.ch

 

• Sunday 6th October 2013: Habbe & Meik great family show at 4.30pm (Salle des fêtes de Troinex), an exhilarating circus & pantomime show the whole family will love !

 

• Sunday 6th October 2013: family brunch at La ferme de Merlinge in Gy (85, rte de gy), a perfect place for a relaxing family brunch with children. Find out more about it in our previous post, we absolutely loved it ! Reserve your table at 022 759 15 92 or merlinge@bluewin.ch

 

• Sunday 6th October 2013: Fête japonaise at the Salle des Fêtes in Carouge (37 rue Ancienne) from midday to 6pm. We went last year and had a great time watching some of the traditional dance, music & sumo shows and tasting some Japanese delicacies of course ! My eldest boy also had a go at calligraphy, it’s a great day out for the whole family ! Click here to see the full programme.

 

• Sunday 6th October 2013: Visite-atelier du potager in French in the beautiful grounds & kitchen gardens of the Château de Prangins (VD). From 10.30am to midday, visit the castle’s amazing gardens and plant a fruit tree ! 10CHF per person no advance booking required.

 

• Sunday 6th October 2013: Petits Rendez-vous  at Geneva’s MAMCO for little ones aged 5 to 10 accompanied by an adult. These fun, interactive visits for kids are free of charge and require no advance booking. Introduce your little ones to the joys of modern art with these great guided tours, which start at 3.15pm. There will be other tours on Wednesday 9th, 16th and 30th of October as well.

 

• until 6th October 2013: “Would You Like a Bag with That ?”, a fantastic modern exhibition at the MUDAC in Lausanne focusing on the the subject of plastic bags from several angles, through works by artists and various installations. Plastic bags in art and design are displayed in various works of art that challenge and tickle our curiosity: you certainly won’t look at your plastic carrier the same way again !

 

• until 6th October 2013: “L’atelier des petits machins trucs”, a whimsical, poetic show from age 4 at Le petit théâtre in Lausanne (place de la Cathédrale 12). See the official website for performance times and to book your tickets.

 

• Tuesday 8th October 2013: “Aux Milles Voyages”, song & storytime in French for little buttons (babies & toddlers) at the Bibliothèque Aux Mille Feuille in Gland (38, grand rue). From 9am to 11am, free entry no advance booking necessary.

 

• Tuesday 8th October 2013: “Né pour lire” session from 10am to 10.45am at the BiblioQuartier des Grands-Hutins in Carouge (rue de la Tambourine 3). A fun, relaxed way to introduce your little ones from the age of 6 months to 4 years old to the joys of reading. Free entry, no advance booking necessary and nursing pillows available.

 

• 8th-13th October 2013: Fureur de lire reading festival in Geneva. Guests of honour include American writer Russell Banks and Isabelle Huppert who will be closing the event with a reading of the Marquis de Sade. Events will take place in Plainpalais and the Maison communale de Plainpalais (Rue de Carouge 52), see the official website for full programme details.

 

• Wednesday 9th October 2013: “Aux couleurs de l’automne”, painting & crafts workshop from age 6 at the Bibliothèque de la Cité (Place des Trois-Perdrix 5). From 3.30pm to 6pm, free entry but places must be reserved in advance at 022 418 32 44.

 

• Wednesday 9th October 2013: “Les folles machines de Tinguely” Mercredis Family at the Musée d’art et d’histoire in Geneva (Rue Charles-Galland 2). Children aged 6 and older accompanied by an adult are welcome every Wednesday at 3pm to discover all about the museum collections in a fun, interactive way. Reserve your places in advance at adp-mah@ville-ge.ch or by phone at 022 418 25 00. On Wednesday afternoons until December 2013 you can also take part in the museum’s “Visites-ateliers: Initiation à l’histoire de l’art” (ages 6-8 and 9-12). This is a cycle of 5 tours unveiling the most fascinating secrets of art history, each visit is followed by a creative workshop. On Wednesdays from 2pm to 6pm, 10CHF each session (places must be booked in advance).

 

• Wednesday 9th October 2013: Contes et bricolages in French from 2.30pm to 4pm at the Bibliothèque de Montriond in Lausanne (Avenue de la Harpe 27). From age 5, places must be reserved in advance at 021 315 69 80. “Qu’ils soient d’or ou d’argent, contons nos sous!”, snack & storytime from age 5 at the Musée monétaire Palais de Rumine in Lausanne. Free entry, start time 3.30pm.

 

• Wednesday 9th October 2013: Festival japonnais – Haïku at 3pm at the Maison Chauvet – Lullin (Rue du Village 57, Vernier). A mesmerizing, magical Japanese puppet-show from age 6, inspired by the traditional Japanese tale of a “bird-woman”.

 

• Wednesday 9th October 2013: 1001 histoires en langue arabe, songs & storytime in Arabic for children aged 0 to 6 accompanied by an adult at the Bibliothèques de la Ville de Lausanne / Jeunesse (Avenue d’Echallens 2A). From 9.30am to 10.30am, free entry.

 

• Wednesday 9th October 2013: “Mercredis des sciences” for children aged 8 to 11 at the Musée d’histoire des sciences, Genève. These fun scientific workshops are free of charge but places must be reserved in advance at 022 418 50 60 or mhs@ville-ge.ch, all sessions are in French and take place from 2pm to 4.30pm. The session on the 9th of October is called “Glace, liquide, vapeur: l’eau dans tous ses états!”.

 

• Wednesday 9th October 2013: “It’s Storytime”, free storytime in English for ages 2 to 7 (but babies, toddlers and younger siblings are welcome) at the Bibliothèque Aux Mille Feuille in Gland (38, grand rue). The storytime session will run from 9.30am to 11am and the theme will be “Autumn & back to school”. See the official website for full details.

 

• Wednesday 9th October 2013: Petits Rendez-vous  at Geneva’s MAMCO for little ones aged 5 to 10 accompanied by an adult. These fun, interactive visits for kids are free of charge and require no advance booking. Introduce your little ones to the joys of modern art with these great guided tours, which start at 3.15pm. There will be other tours on Wednesday 16th and 30th of October as well.

 

• 9th-13th October 2013: “Le bleu de Madeleine et les autres”, a sweet, poetic show from age 6 at Le petit théâtre in Lausanne (place de la Cathédrale 12). See the official website for performance times and to book your tickets.

 

• Wednesday 9th; Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th October 2013: “La montagne aux trois couleurs”, a delightful puppetshow from age 4 by the theatre company Les Croquettes. Showtimes are 2.30pm & 4pm on Wed. 9th; 2.30pm on Sat. 12th; 11am & 2.30pm on Sunday 13th. At the Salle communale in Aire-la-Ville (ch de Mussel 1), ticket price 10CHF per person, reserve your places at 022 880 05 16 or croquettes@bluewin.ch

 

• Wednesday 9th; Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th October 2013: “Doux et chaud”, a kids show for ages 4 to 9, adapted from the story “Le conte chaud et doux des chaudoudoux” by C. Steiner. What will the evil witch Belsepha to force people to buy her magic potions ? Showtimes will be 3pm on Wed. and Saturday; 11am & 3pm on Sunday. At the Ferme Marignac, avenue Eugène Lance 28 in Grand-Lancy (tel. 022 794 15 98).

 

• 11th-13th October 2013:  Salon Babyplanet at the Expo Beaulieu in Lausanne, win free tickets & read all about in our previous post !

 

• 11th-13th October 2013: Showroom Edelweiss at the Hotel Tiffany in Geneva (20, rue de l’Arquebuse). A unique fashion event ti discover the best and most exciting Swiss designers of the year, with over 40 fashion & accessories labels present, a make-up & nail bar and much more. Click here to download the full programme and check opening times. Free entry.

 

• Saturday 12th October 2013: “Le Petit Prince d’Antoine de Saint-Exupéry”, a classic and moving tale brought to the stage by the children of the Théâtre du Loup at the Bibliothèque de la Jonction in Geneva (Boulevard Carl-Vogt 22). From age 8, free entry – show will start at 4pm.

 

• Saturday 12th October 2013: “Une balade à ciel ouvert” in Ferney Voltaire (Maison Saint Pierre, 11 rue de Genève), part of the “Fête de la science” events listings taking place all over France from the 9th to the 13th of October 2013. Enjoy this guided walk for all ages from 12.30 to 4pm and from 8pm to 11pm (the stars and constellations will be the topic of the evening walk). More info here.

 

• Saturday 12th October 2013: Atelier Pizza, every Saturday morning from 10am to 11am at Signal de Bougy. For ages 5 to 12, let your little ones learn the ropes of authentic pizza making with a professional pizzaiolo, they will also be able to eat up their yummy creations once they’re cooked. The workshop costs 20CHF per child, places must be reserved at signal.bougy@gmvd.migros.ch or +41 58 568 31 50.

 

• Saturday 12th October 2013: Scary Night at the Castle at Chillon Castle from 5pm to 11pm. For one night only, Chillon Castle will be the meeting point for monsters and creatures of every kind: a night-time adventure in the medieval fortress that young and old will not be quick to forget! There will be scavenger hunts and craft workshops invented by spiders come down from their webs to disclose Chillon Castle’s mysteries. And a face-painting stand to enhance your costume to perfection before taking part in the costume contest, with a souvenir photo to take home. The Compagnie Makadam’s brand new show will turn the cellars into a mad scientist’s laboratory. For the whole torch-lit evening will be a full of music and festivity, and to top it all off, the castle will be lit up by a thousand lights by light designer Gerry Hofstetter!

 

• until 12th October 2013: “Little Sunshine, Little Rainfall” a sweet, enchanting tale about Little Sunshine, Little Rainfall and their magical Japanese garden. Blending Japanese folklore with traditional music and dance, and inspired by haiku and origami, Little Sunshine Little Rainfall is a magical experience for younger audiences, performed in English with a little Japanese. For ages 3 to 7 at the Simply Theatre Studios in Versoix (Centre de Choiseul, Avenue de Choiseul 23A). See the official website for ticket prices and exact performance times.

 

• 12th-13th October 2013: “Programme Jeune Public”, part of the Fureur de lire reading festival in Geneva. Take a look at the official website for the complete list of children’s workshops in French, which will be taking place during the weekend at the Maison communale de Plainpalais (Rue de Carouge 52). From age 4, the choice is great and every design, illustration & music ‘atelier’ sounds like fun: “Mon île, mon utopie”; “Cartographie et utopie : faire du monde un lieu”; “Paris 2050”; “Le bristophon de l’Atlantide”; “Design très nature”; “Eutopsie et utopies..”

 

• 12th- 13th October 2013: “La montagne aux trois couleurs”, a delightful puppetshow from age 4 by the theatre company Les Croquettes. Showtimes are 2.30pm & 4pm on Wed. 9th; 2.30pm on Sat. 12th; 11am & 2.30pm on Sunday 13th. At the Salle communale in Aire-la-Ville (ch de Mussel 1), ticket price 10CHF per person, reserve your places at 022 880 05 16 or croquettes@bluewin.ch

 

• 12th-13th October 2013: “Doux et chaud”, a kids show for ages 4 to 9, adapted from the story “Le conte chaud et doux des chaudoudoux” by C. Steiner. What will the evil witch Belsepha to force people to buy her magic potions ? Showtimes will be 3pm on Saturday; 11am & 3pm on Sunday. At the Ferme Marignac, avenue Eugène Lance 28 in Grand-Lancy (tel. 022 794 15 98).

 

• 12th-13th October 2013: “Chut! Plus de bruit”, storytime for under 4s at Le théâtre Micromegas in Ferney-Voltaire (24 bis rue de Meyrin). Performance times are 11am on Saturday and 11 am on Sunday, see the official website to purchase your tickets.

 

• 12th-13th October 2013: Fête de la Châtaigne in Fully (Canton Valais) is an unmissable Autumn event. Taste some delicious roasted chestnuts and enjoy plenty of fun activities for kids, from guided walks in the woods to wood-carving workshops, live music and much more. See the official website for full details.

 

• 12th-13th October 2013: Festival de jeux LudiDARX, games festival in Prévessin-Moëns (salle Gaston Laverrière), from age 3. Free entry for the whole family, choose from the wood-carving workshop or board games competitions !

 

• 12th-13th October 2013: “Signes & Sons”, a lovely music & storytime session in French (ages 2 to 5) at La Madeleine des enfants in Geneva (16, place de la Madeleine). 5CHF per person, sessions will be at 10.30am and 3pm, reserve your places online now to avoid disappointment !

 

• Sunday 13th October 2013: family brunch at La ferme de Merlinge in Gy (85, rte de gy), a perfect place for a relaxing family brunch with children. Find out more about it in our previous post, we absolutely loved it ! Reserve your table at 022 759 15 92 or merlinge@bluewin.ch

 

• Sunday 13th October 2013: Brunch musical et lectures & Troc des livres at the Maison communale de Plainpalais (Rue de Carouge 52). Another great event, part of the Fureur de lire reading festival in Geneva. Start time is 11am, enjoy a lovely brunch and exchange or buy much-loved books !

 

• Sunday 13th October 2013: “Le trésor caché du pirate”, a fantastic music show for children from age 2 by Sonia Grimm. We went to this show last year and all my 3 kids absolutely loved it, we still listen to the CD in the car – an absolute treat, with magnificent costumes and super-cute little dancers. At 4pm at the Salle “Le Vallon” in St-Cergue (VD). See the official website for other available venues and dates & to purchase your tickets.

 

• until 13th October 2013: “Elles font font quoi ?”, a sweet puppetshow from age 5 at La Traverse in Pâquis. Performance times are 2.30pm and 4pm on Wednesdays; 4pm on Saturday; 11am & 3pm on Sunday. See the official website to book your tickets.

 

• until 13th October 2013: “Mais où est passé Léon ?”, a shadows & puppetshow from age 4 at the Théâtre des Marionnettes de Genève (Rue Rodo 3). See the theatre’s official website for exact performance times and to buy your tickets.

 

• 13th-17th October 2013: Semaine Olympique at Le Musée Olympique in Ouchy (Lausanne). A fantastic opportunity for children aged 9 to 15 wishing to take part in some fun sporting activities, from taekwondo to archery, basketball and many more. Click here to download the full programme – all activities are free of charge so register online before the 5th of October !

 

• Tuesday 15th October 2013: “De la lumière à la photographie” Atelier de vacances in French (ages 7 to 12) at the Château de Prangins (VD). From 2pm to 4.30pm the children will learn about light & photography and share a yummy snack. Price is 10CHF per child, places must be reserved in advance at 022 994 88 93.

 

• 15th-16th October 2013: “Marrons et Châtaignes”, an entertaining show from age 4 at the Théâtre Forum Meyrin (1, place des Cinq-Continents). An autumn tale filled with music, dance and very special creatures ! Showtimes: 6pm on Tuesday and 4pm on Wednesday, click here to buy your tickets.

 

• Wednesday 16th October 2013: Ateliers & Démonstrations “Initiation à l’histoire de l’art pour jeune public” at the Musée d’art et d’histoire in Geneva (Rue Charles-Galland 2). For ages 9-12, this 2 hour workshop will introduce your children to the art of ancient Greece & Rome. Price 10CHF per child, places must be booked in advance at 022 418 25 00.

 

• Wednesday 16th October 2013: “Oust”, a fun clown show from age 6 at La Traverse in Pâquis, starting at 2.30pm. See the official website to book your tickets.

 

• Wednesday 16th October 2013: “Aux couleurs de l’automne“, painting & crafts workshop from age 6 at the Bibliothèque des Eaux-Vives (Rue Sillem 2). From 3.30pm to 6pm, free entry but places must be reserved in advance at 022 418 37 72.

 

• Wednesday 16th October 2013: “Un appétit d’ogre”, story-time from age 5 at the Société de Lecture in Geneva (11, Grand’Rue). From 3.30pm to 5pm, story-time will end with a shared snack included in the price. Tickets are 10CHF for children and 15CHF for adults for members, and 15CHF/20CHF for non-members.

 

• Wednesday 16th October 2013: “Chute libre!”, Petits Rendez-vous  at Geneva’s MAMCO for little ones aged 5 to 10 accompanied by an adult. These fun, interactive visits for kids are free of charge and require no advance booking. Introduce your little ones to the joys of modern art with these great guided tours, which start at 3.15pm. There will be other tours on Wednesday 23rd & 30th of October as well.

 

• Wednesday 16th October 2013: Journée-découverte sur les jeux mathématiques at the Swiss Museum of Games in La Tour-de-Peilz (Rue du Château 11). From 11am to 5pm, for ages 7 and older: let your little clever clogs learn everything about mathematical games !

 

• 18th-20th October 2013: Festival Salamandre at the Théâtre de Beausobre in Morges (VD). Discover all there is the know about the fascinating world of birds, with documentaries, a giant exhibition, fun workshops and story-times under the Mongolian yourte. Free entry for children under 6, click here to download the full programme.

 

• 18th October-6th December 2013: Sous la Lune II – Voyage dans la ville, a fun and interactive art installation at the Forum Meyrin (Place des Cinq-Continents 1), suitable from age 6. 50 m2 of space and 1,000 pieces of metal will be on hand for the children, who will be able to build their dream city. This interactive installation by artist Miguel Navarro (concept: Atelier des enfants, Centre Pompidou, Paris) is a truly fascinating piece of art, a giant game that the whole family will enjoy. See the official website for full details.

 

• Saturday 19th October 2013: “Je vais te dire ce que j’aimerais..” & “La Princesse et la Balle d’Or” kids show at Le théâtre Micromegas in Ferney-Voltaire (24 bis rue de Meyrin). Show starts at 11am, see the official website to purchase your tickets.

 

• Saturday 19th October 2013: Atelier Pizza, every Saturday morning from 10am to 11am at Signal de Bougy. For ages 5 to 12, let your little ones learn the ropes of authentic pizza making with a professional pizzaiolo, they will also be able to eat up their yummy creations once they’re cooked. The workshop costs 20CHF per child, places must be reserved at signal.bougy@gmvd.migros.ch or +41 58 568 31 50.

 

• Saturday 19th October 2013: “Colourful Night” kids workshop from age 6 organized by La Lucarne in Geneva (Arcade Plateforme, rue John Grasset 5). This fun art workshop focus on the work of Van Gogh and it runs from 1.30pm until 3pm. The price of 39CHF per child includes a snack but the cost of materials is excluded. Read our previous post to find out more about La Lucarne !

 

• 19th October-1st November 2013: FestiMôm’ – MJC Centre Annemasse, a truly entertaining family festival in Annemasse (France) offering plenty of workshops, movies, games and more fun activities for the whole family. Click here for the full programme.

 

• until 20th Oct. 2013: “Le hibou, le vent et nous”, a theatre from age 8 at the Théâtre Am Stram Gram in Geneva (56 route de Frontenex). The show tells the mesmerising love story of Sébastien & Lola who met in a snowstorm when they were 8 years old, a unique performance with acrobats playing the part of Sébastien & Lola as children. See the official website for full details and to buy your tickets.

 

• 21st-25th October 2013: Musical Theatre Workshop “Trick or Treat: A Spectacle of Spooky Shows”, join this half-term workshop for a spooktacular week of Halloween themed fun at our half-term musical theatre workshop, ‘Trick or Treat’. Working with a professional choreographer and musical director, come along to learn new skills or brush up on your existing ones. The week will focus on a whole variety of fun shows including Addams family, Shrek, Little Shop of Horrors, Jeckyl & Hyde, and many more, culminating in an exciting show at the end of the week! This workshop is open to Academy and non-Academy members and will run from Monday 21st October – Friday 25th October from 9.00am – 4.00pm every day. The spooky workshop is suitable for ages 7-11 & 12-17 year olds, and will take place at Chemin des Roches in Geneva.

 

• 21st-22nd October 2013: Sous la Lune II – Voyage dans la ville: “Les petits bâtisseurs”, a fun workshops for kids aged 9 to 12 at the Jardin Alpin in Meyrin. Linked to the interactive art installation Sous la Lune II – Voyage dans la ville at the Forum Meyrin (Place des Cinq-Continents 1), where 50 m2 of space and 1,000 pieces of metal will be on hand for the children to build their dream city. This interactive installation by artist Miguel Navarro (concept: Atelier des enfants, Centre Pompidou, Paris) is a truly fascinating piece of art, a giant game that the whole family will enjoy. See the official website for full details.

 

• Tuesday 22nd October 2013: “Voyage dans le temps” Atelier de vacances in French (ages 9 to 12) at the Château de Prangins (VD). From 2pm to 4.30pm the children will ‘travel in time’ and share a yummy snack. Price is 10CHF per child, places must be reserved in advance at 022 994 88 93.

 

• 22nd-25th October 2013: “Vacances à la romaine”, holiday workshops in French for children aged 7 to 12 at the Musée romain de Nyon (9, rue Maupertuis). Workshops take place from 2pm to 4pm and cost 16CHF per child (for each workshop). Choose from breadmaking ancient Roman-style, mosaic or dressing up in the style of ancient Rome – places must be booked in advance at 022 361 75 91 or musee.romain@nyon.ch

 

• 22nd-25th October 2013: here’s a little summary of Halloween & pumpkin related events in the Geneva/Vaud area Autumn Fest “Pumpkin Fest”.

 

• 22nd-27th October 2013: Ateliers & Démonstrations for families with children during the school holidays at the Musée d’art et d’histoire in Geneva (Rue Charles-Galland 2). From age 6, this workshop will take place everyday from 2pm to 5pm this week. Free entry, no advance booking required.

 

• Wednesday 23rd October 2013: Milton, histoires en dessin Milton, histoires en dessin – Rencontre avec Haydé Ardalan, a unique opportunity to meet Milton’s author Haydé Ardalan at the Bibliothèque de la Jonction in Geneva (Boulevard Carl-Vogt 22). From age 3, free entry but places must be reserved in advance at 022 418 97 12 – session will start at 9.30am and finish at 10.30am.

 

• Wednesday 23rd October 2013: “Rouge”, a mesmerizing show for ages 0 to 6 at the Esplanade du Lac in Divonne-les-Bains (France) unveiling the fascinating mystery behind the colour red. Showtimes will be 11am and 3.30pm, ticket prices 8 euros per person.

 

• Wednesday 23rd October 2013: “Modestes et géniales”, Petits Rendez-vous  at Geneva’s MAMCO for little ones aged 5 to 10 accompanied by an adult. These fun, interactive visits for kids are free of charge and require no advance booking. Introduce your little ones to the joys of modern art with these great guided tours, which start at 3.15pm. There will be other tours on Wednesday 30th of October as well.

 

• Wednesday 23rd October 2013: “De la fève au chocolat”, chocolate workshop for children aged 5-9 (in French) offered by FNAC Kids at their Genève Balexert branch at 3.30pm. Click here to reserve your place online.

 

• 23rd-30th October 2013: “La paire de chaussures”, an adorable show from age 3 at Le petit théâtre in Lausanne (place de la Cathédrale 12). See the official website for performance times and to book your tickets.

 

• 25th October 2013: Sous la Lune II – Voyage dans la ville: “Les petits bâtisseurs”, a fun workshops for kids aged 7 to 9 at the Jardin Alpin in Meyrin. Linked to the interactive art installation Sous la Lune II – Voyage dans la ville at the Forum Meyrin (Place des Cinq-Continents 1), where 50 m2 of space and 1,000 pieces of metal will be on hand for the children to build their dream city. This interactive installation by artist Miguel Navarro (concept: Atelier des enfants, Centre Pompidou, Paris) is a truly fascinating piece of art, a giant game that the whole family will enjoy. See the official website for full details.

 

• 25th October 2013: “Fête pour les enfants” at the place Sturm in Geneva, with games & activities from 2pm to 5pm.

• Saturday 26th October 2013: “Concourge”, pumpkin festival & carving competition in Vernier (Parc Chauvet). From 11am until evening, take part in this fun pumpkin competition or simply enjoy the activities, hot pumpkin soup & Halloween celebrations.

 

• Saturday 26th October 2013: Parade costumée des enfants, celebrate Halloween in Château-d’Oex (Place du Village). From 11am enjoy pumpkin carving workshops, clown shows, and plenty of lovely Autumn treats including pumpkin soup, cinnamon tea and mulled wine. The children parade will start at 3.45pm followed by a fun kids disco at 7pm.

 

• Saturday 26th October 2013: Atelier Pizza, every Saturday morning from 10am to 11am at Signal de Bougy. For ages 5 to 12, let your little ones learn the ropes of authentic pizza making with a professional pizzaiolo, they will also be able to eat up their yummy creations once they’re cooked. The workshop costs 20CHF per child, places must be reserved at signal.bougy@gmvd.migros.ch or +41 58 568 31 50.

 

• 27th October 2013: Lausanne Marathon, get ready for this great event which includes a Mini track for kids (2,6 or 4,2km); Walking (10km); Half Marathon (21km) and Full Marathon (42km). Participants to the 21st Lausanne Marathon will set off on the mother of all athletic races on a path that is now well beaten between Lausanne and La Tour-de-Peilz and back. Advanced and intermediate runners will partake in an organization that has proven its worth nonstop since 1993. The deadline for registration set for October 8 by mail and October 16 by internet with additional fees. Runners may not register the day of the race.

 

• until 27th October 2013: “MIRÓ Poetry & Light”, a spectacular exhibition of the famour Spanish master at the Fondation de l’Hermitage in Lausanne (2 route du Signal). Definitely the sort of artist the whole family will enjoy !

 

• 28th October 2013: 1001 histoires en langue espagnole, music & storytime in Spanish for children aged 0 to 6 accompanied by an adult at the Bibliothèques de la Ville de Lausanne / Jeunesse (Avenue d’Echallens 2A). From 9.30am to 10.30am, free entry.

 

• Wednesday 30th October 2013: “Peindre et écrire comme les Egyptiens de l’Antiquité”, a fun workshop in French from age 6 at the Bibliothèque des Pâquis (Rue du Môle 17). From 3pm your little ones will learn how to write and paint like the ancient Egyptians. The workshop is free of charge but places must be reserved in advance at 022 418 37 52.

 

• Wednesday 30th October 2013: “Picasso!” kids workshop from age 7 organized by La Lucarne in Geneva (Arcade Plateforme, rue John Grasset 5). This fun art workshop focus on the work of Picasso and it runs from 2pm until 3.30pm. The price of 39CHF per child includes a snack but the cost of materials is excluded. Read our previous post to find out more about La Lucarne !

 

• Wednesday 30th October 2013: “Quelle taille faites-vous en poissons?”, Petits Rendez-vous  at Geneva’s MAMCO for little ones aged 5 to 10 accompanied by an adult. These fun, interactive visits for kids are free of charge and require no advance booking. Introduce your little ones to the joys of modern art with these great guided tours, which start at 3.15pm.

 

• Wednesday 30th October 2013: Special Halloween night at the Parc Aventure des Evaux in Geneva. If the weather is good, put on your scariest Halloween costume and join other monsters from 1pm to 9pm, there will be lots of surprises and sweets for all !

 

• Wednesday 30th October 2013: Ateliers & Démonstrations: “Paysages de suisse et d’ailleurs” at the Musée d’art et d’histoire in Geneva (Rue Charles-Galland 2), for ages 6-8. This fun workshop takes place from 2pm to 4pm, 10CHF per child – places to be reserved in advance at 022 418 25 00.

 

• Wednesday 30th October 2013: “C’era una volta un re”, storytime in Italian from age 3 at the Bibliothèque de la Cité (Place des Trois-Perdrix 5). From 3pm to 4pm, free entry but places must be reserved in advance at 022 418 32 44. Buona lettura !

 

• Wednesday 30th October 2013: “Je mixe comme un DJ”, DJing workshop for children aged 8-12 (in French) offered by FNAC Kids at their Genève Rive branch at 3pm & 4pm. Click here to reserve your place online. A book-reading in English “Halloween with Elizabeth Knight”, children’s book author will also be taking place at Fnac Genève Rive at 2pm – When Josh finds a cat’s skull belonging to a strange woman who feeds cats on waste ground, he believes that its powerful magic controls him. Then things begin to go wrong. Kevin, a sinister boy who is new to his class, steals the skull and manipulates Josh’s friends against him. He induces them to beat him up on a lonely path beside a railway. Unless Josh can find a solution to Kevin’s bullying and the power of the skull, worse may happen. Click here to reserve your place online.

 

• Wednesday 30th October 2013: “Qu’ils soient d’or ou d’argent, contons nos sous!”, snack & storytime from age 5 at the Musée monétaire Palais de Rumine in Lausanne. Free entry, start time 3.30pm.

 

• Wednesday 30th October 2013: “Oiseaux en famille”, family visit of the current “Birds” exhibition at the Muséum d’histoire naturelle in Geneva (1, route de Malagnou). Free entry but places must be reserved in advance at 022 418 64 00. From 1.30pm to 2.30pm.

 

• Thursday 31st October 2013: Lire avec son bébé, baby storytime session (0 to 2 year-olds) at the Bibliothèque de Saint-Jean  in Geneva (Avenue des Tilleuls 19 – entrée rue Miléant). From 10am to 11am, free entry but places must be reserved in advance at 022 418 92 02.

 

• Thursday 31st October 2013:  Café maman-bébé meeting for expecting mums and new parents with babies/toddlers at the Centre Périnatal in Geneva (5 Chemin Edouard-Tavan), starting at 2pm. The meetings starts at 2pm and is a great place to meet other mums and discuss any child-development concerns you might have. Find out more about the Centre Périnatal and the monthly Café maman-bébé gatherings in our previous post.

• 31st October-3rd November 2013: Creativa Lausanne at the Expo Beaulieu (Avenue des Bergières 10). This is the biggest and most fun arts & crafts fair in the Suisse Romande, offering everything you need for your jewellery, home decor, sewing & knitting projects as well as a number of great practical workshops. See the official website for full programme details.

 

SAVE THE DATE:

• 1st November 2013: Bal d’Halloween at the Théâtre Am Stram Gram in Geneva (56 route de Frontenex) – from age 7, start time 7pm. This great literary ball is a great way to celebrate Halloween,don’t forget your scary costume ! Duration is a little over 1 hour, entry 10CHf for children and 15CHF for adults.

 

• 8th-17th November 2013: Les Automnales at Geneva’s Palexpo is the city’s most exciting autumn event covering everything from home decor, health & gourmet food as well a large number of workshops for adults and children. Take a look at their official website for full programme details, don’t miss the chocolate & Christmas workshops and if you have children fret not, as they are fully catered for with a merry-go-round, bouncy castles with play area, face painting, an indoor petting farm and even Father Xmas ! Open Mon. to Sat. from 11am to 9pm; 10am to 7pm on Sunday. Entry is free for everyone on Wednesday 13th of November 2013.

 

ONGOING:

• The exhibition “Universe of Particles” at the iconic Globe of Science and Innovation will plunge the little visitors into the fascinating world of the tiniest and biggest particles which make up our universe.From walking through luminous spheres to exploring CERN’s legendary accelerators physics has never been more engaging !Admission to “Universe of Particles” is free, from Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm at the Globe of Science and Innovation in Meyrin. Click here for the exhibition brochure.

 

• until 12th January 2014: «Toutankhamon – son tombeau et ses trésors», a fascinating exhibition which reconstructs the tomb and funerary treasure of Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun, as it would have appeared to the eyes of Howard Carter, the British archaeologist who discovered it in 1922. See the exhibition’s official website for full details. At Geneva Palexpo Halle 7, open everyday from 10am to 7pm. Entry tickets are on special offer on Mondays at 16CHF per person.

 

• until 2nd February 2014: “Le Blé, l’autre Or des Romains” at the Musée Romain de Nyon (9 rue Maupertuis). In ancient Roman times corn was an essential part of everyday life, which made it very precious. Corn was also a tool of power in the hands of the Roman emperors and this fascinating exhibition explores how it affected Roman society in all its aspects: food, economics, trade, politics and even religion. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm until the month of November. From November until March opening times will be 2pm to 5pm.

 

• until 30th April 2014: An Artist’s Delight temporary exhibition at the Alimentarium in Vevey. Check the official website for un updated list of all available children’s and family workshops – you can also read about our visit to the Alimentarium in this post: trust us, it’s a great family day-out !