Escalade!!
This is one very interesting city-wide celebration. The Escalade seems to be "THE" place to be in Geneva at this time of year, and to better explain exactly what is being celebrated, please read the details by clicking on this link:
The Escalade in Three Stages
Details about the race:
www.escalade.ch
However, I don't quite understand the connection between the Escalade and running, but this is the biggest running event of the year as well. As a runner, I was very much looking forward to participating; but difficulty with registration (missed the deadline) and fighting a cold, I took the role of photographer instead.
This is the starting line for only ONE of the many, many classes of runners throughout the day (divided by age and sex). The course is a little more than 7 kilometers long (3 laps through the very steep parts of old-city). It is a carnival atmosphere, and at the end of all of the running heats, there was a huge parade along the course. Can't wait to run in this next year.