Festival Program
It was 200 years ago
To coincide with the 200th anniversary of Geneva’s accession to the Swiss Confederation, the Geneva Festival has chosen to pay tribute to this great moment in history.
There will be surprises in store throughout the ten days of the Festival. Patience however! The programme is on its way!
Espace 1815
In the heart of the Jardin Anglais, a space dedicated to this celebration. Here you'll find arts and crafts stands and food stalls representing the 4 cantons (Neuchâtel, Fribourg, Valais and Soleure) that escort the entrance of Geneva in the Confederation in 1815. Musical and traditional entertainment will be presented in the evenings and on both weekends, to the delight young and old alike. Lastly, a splendid historical exhibition relates the details of this historic moment for Geneva and the Confederation.
The Little Parade
Saturday 2 August between 3:30pm and 6pm
Come and enjoy the musical folklore of the cantons of Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Valais and Soleure. For your entertainment, a grand parade will wind its way along both embankments to the rhythm of fifes and drums, with animals, floats, vintage tractors, and all that’s most extraordinary about Swiss culture.
The anniversary of Geneva’s Gendarmerie
Saturday 2 August between 12pm and 2:30pm
The Gendarmerie of Geneva, also celebrating its 200th anniversary, has teamed up with the river police to present an epic show on Saturday 2 August between 12pm and 3pm. Pursuit races, winching into a helicopter and even a boat explosion are among the thrills lined up. And to make the event still more spectacular, jet skiers will be showing off their talents, accompanied by incredible flyboarders.
You’ll be riveted to the action!
« In 1814, Geneva, newly independent following the withdrawal of Napoleon’s troops, established its own Gendarmerie.
In 1959, Geneva’s Gendarmerie created the River Police, responsible at that time mainly for managing mooring places.
In 2014, the same premises on the Quai Gustave-Ador are still occupied by gendarmes.
Over time, they became specialists in TECH diving (diving with gas mixes - Nitrox & Trimix) and the use of high-tech electronic subaquatic search equipment.
On Saturday 2 August 2014, the Gendarmerie will proudly introduce you to its work, before concluding with a naval procession of its units.
Today, two centuries later, the Gendarmerie is still present and will be celebrating its bicentenary with the Geneva police as a whole. »
