Fetes de Geneve
Geneva : early August
Flower parades, fireworks and live music light up the city during this city celebration. Visit the site to get your party on.

L'Escalade
Geneva : Three Nights in mid-December
Remember the writer Rabelais? Well, you are about to enter his world. Brigades on horseback and period costumes take you and the town back to 1602 when the duke of Savoy was unable to take over Geneva. We're talking fifes, drums and torches. Visit the site (in French) to learn more.

Montreux Jazz Festival
Lake Geneva : first weekend of July
A who's who blend of performers play this historical jazz festival, which has more recently drawn visitors such as Bob Dylan, Sting, and Paul Simon. The festival's site has lineup and ticket information.

Sechselauten
Zurich : Third Monday of April
Costumes ring in the coming of spring and so does the burning of the Boogg, the straw figure representing winter.

Street Parade
Zurich : early August
Inspired by the late Love Parade, Zurich's own techno march (complete with a moveable Ferris Wheel) has come into its own, drawing a million ravers to the route along Lake Zurich. Visit the Street Parade's website to learn more.

Paleo Festival
Nyon : mid-July
As if a 6-day lakeside event with internationally renowned artists weren't enough, the Paleo Festival has added Le Village du Monde, a space where the culture, art, and food of a region of the world is featured annually. The Paleo Festival site has info and fun photos.