FAMILY THINGS TO DO IN GENEVA – APRIL 2019
Spring is officially here, but until all skis are returned and all ice-skating classes are over, we’re still with one foot in the snowy season. It means we can enjoy both the sun and the snow, but also that the “bise” – the local wind – can make some sunny days freezing cold. This why 10 things to do this month include some cold and warm options!
Below you will find top picks prepared by Olga from Parentville. For more events, head over to parentville.ch/events!
ALSO don’t miss our content for families this month:
By far the best children’s party guide you’ll find in Geneva,
Music Together classes to help grow the music in your child
The dos and don’ts of teaching technology
in the classroom.
10 THINGS TO DO FOR FAMILIES – APRIL 2019
THEATRE DE COMEDIE – VIRTUAL REALITY EXPERIENCE VR_1
March 28 – April 14
Equipped with glasses and sensors, you will become an avatar immersed in a virtual reality setting! It’s a truly immersive experience that combines art, dance and modern technology. Gilles Jobin makes giants emerge literally and figuratively. Huge 10-meter tall characters watch you like lab rats, and art giants like Matisse and his painting The Dance suddenly appear before you. The minimum age for this activity is 8. There is nothing monster-like in this VR world, but even some older kids might find it a little scary.
WHEN
28th March – 14th April, for detailed schedule check here.
WHERE
Comédie de Genève, Boulevard des Philosophes 6, 1205 Genève
MORE INFO
For bookings please visit this website.
ENGLISH BOOK SALE
April 5-7 A great occasion to stock up on English (and some other language) books. Buying second-hand books is not only budget friendly, but also very zero-waste friendly. The Library in English in Pâquis will have an enormous stock ready for you to browse, purchase, and enjoy during their popular book sale. You’ll find books for adults, juniors, fiction and non-fiction. There will also be children’s books in other languages including French, Spanish, and Italian. Enjoy a cup of coffee and some cake in the library’s tearoom.
WHEN
April 5th, 10h00-18h00
April 6th, 10h00-17h00
April 7th, 12h00-16h00
WHERE
The Library in English; 3, Rue de Monthoux, 1201 Geneva
MORE INFO
For more info, check out this Facebook event.
MUSEUM OF THE MARTIN BODMER FOUNDATION
April 6
One of the activities for kids during the JEMA 2019 (the days of the arts profession) will be the guided tour in the “Museum of books” in Cologny – Musee du Fondation Martin Bodmer.
It is destined for children of the minimum age of 8 years. As the number of places is very limited, please book in advance (asap).
During a thematic visit, the children will discover the various professions related to the printing world, both in the past and in present days. The activity will end with a meeting with a Geneva publisher.
WHEN
6th of March, 14h15
WHERE
Fondation Martin Bodmer, Route Martin Bodmer 19-21, 1223 Cologny
MORE DETAILS
More information about this atelier and full program of the JEMA 2019 in this pdf.
FESTICHOC
April 6-7
It’s the 15th edition of the Festichoc in Versoix this year! Created in 2005 around the Chocolaterie Cartier and the Fabrique des Chocolats Favarger, the Festichoc is a family festival all about chocolate of course! There are numerous attractions plans for the kids: a chocolate bunny making workshop by Guillaume Bichet, front-cooking with Anita Lalubie (RTS – Al Dente), the traditional exhibition of elaborate chocolate sculptures by the apprentice chocolatiers of the canton of Geneva, as well as the Favarger treasure hunt, the egg hunt and much more. A small train also allows festival-goers to go from Festichoc to the Favarger factory to discover the secrets of making the famous Versailles chocolate.
WHEN
6th – 7th April
WHERE
Versoix
MORE INFO
You can find more information about the chocolate festival here.
LE CAFÉ DES PARENTS
April 11
One Thursday each month Maison de Naissance La Roseraie opens its doors to parents. While sipping herbal tea in a friendly atmosphere, parents can make new friends, but also exchange information and experiences. The staff of the Maison will be there to answer your questions. The theme of the April get together is “The Tui Na An Approach to Chinese Medicine by a massage for babies and children.”
WHEN
11th of April, 14h-16h
WHERE
Maison de naissance la Roseraie; 3 chemin du Châtelet, 1205 Geneva
MORE INFO
More information in this Facebook event, for registration, click here.
ICE-SKATING GALA
April 12-13
Each year, to mark the end of the skating season, 2 main clubs of artistic ice-skating organise great shows! Vernets is celebrating this year on Friday the 12th at 7pm with Harry Potter as the theme. Club Meyrin will have its gala on Saturday 13th at 4 pm with the circus as a theme. I’ve been following the Club in Meyrin for 3 years now, and I can wholeheartedly recommend the gala, in which both Swiss-championship level skaters and the little ones perform together. Who knows, maybe it will inspire your kids to try ice skating next year?
WHEN
12th at 7pm (Vernets), 13th of April at 4pm (Vergers).
WHERE
Patinoire des Vernets, Rue Hans-Wilsdorf 4, Les Acacias
Patinoire des Vergers, Rue des Vernes, Meyrin.
MORE DETAILS
You can find out more about the show in Vernets here and the one in Vergers here.
PARC AVENTURE – ACCROBRANCHE
April 13
The great adventure parc will finally re-open! Located in the big and marvellous parc des Evaux, it is the favourite attraction of many children and adults. Kids as young as 3 can enjoy accrobranche – the walk in the trees on an age-adapted trail. Older kids, with accompanying adults, can try higher trails and even a 160m-long zip line – the only on of its kind in Europe! The park also has a big playground, a mini train, other sports installations, a picnic zone and quiet corners. TOP TIP: Apply tick spray before “accrobranching”.
WHEN
13th April
WHERE
Parc des Evaux
MORE INFO
More information is available here.
SPELL LANGUAGES OPEN DAY
April 13
Spell Languages is a very unique language school for kids. On April 13th you can come and discover Spell Languages with your family and celebrate around the theme “Save the planet”. For this occasion children attending courses at Spell prepared an exposition about recycling. It will be a day full of family games and ateliers (bricolage, treasure hunt and more)! Also, you will have a chance to win a summer camp, benefit from many discounts available on that day only, and go back home with gifts! Another reason to visit Spell is to meet 2 people who will talk about the zero-waste lifestyle, including myself, Olga from Parentville.
WHEN
13th of April, 10h30 – 16h00
WHERE
Spell Languages, 4, place du Bourg-de-Four, 1204 Geneva.
MORE INFO
The full program and more details about the school in this Facebook event.
BREAKFAST & GARDENING FOR KIDS
April 14
The Bibi Café finally has its terrace! The terrace now only waits for tables, chairs, and plants to be planted! Jennifer, the founder of Bibi Café, figured that it’s an excellent occasion for kids and parents to enjoy some digging and planting – kids will love it, while you have a coffee. Another good reason to visit Bibi more often in the future – to observe your plant growing.
WHEN
14th of April, 9h30-12h00
WHERE
Bibi Café, Esplanade des Récréations 27, 1217 Meyrin
MORE INFO
More information here on Facebook.
KIDS DANCING IN A MUSEUM
April 28
The Museum of Ethnography of Geneva (MEG) is well known among the families for their Bazar workshops each first Sunday of the month, but there are many other days filled with activities for kids as young as 3 years of age. One of them is a dancing visit organised with the Yata Dans Association. During this visit, the little ones embark on the visual and corporal exploration of the permanent exhibition. Narrative dances, emotive gestures- so many approaches to explore the collections differently!
WHEN
28th of April, 11h
WHERE
MEG, Boulevard Carl-Vogt 65, 1205 Genève
MORE INFO
Prices, booking details on the MEG’s website.
