The second edition of this bi-monthly column is here: a curated list of events and activities for families in Lausanne and the nearby region for March and April 2023.
The “Family Fun” includes events for the kids and/or the entire family and the “Mum having fun” includes events where you, beautiful mum, can go to have fun and recharge on your own, with your girlfriends or with your partner. Your choice!
Read on to find interesting events and activities for you and your family for March and April 2023 in Lausanne.
But first…
#Tip: You have probably signed up for Lausanne libraries so you can borrow new children’s books often (and possibly adults’ books as well). If you are anything like me, you have forgotten the due date more than once and had to pay a fine. Guess what I learned this week from a Facebook chat & some brilliant mums: you can also have a library card in your kids’ name – the fine for kids’ cards for an overdue date is only 2 CHF (whereas 4 CHF for adults)!
FAMILY FUN
SWIMMING
Vaudoise Arena swimming pool
Mon Repos swimming pool
SNOW & ICE FUN
(for as long as there is snow!)
Chalet-à-Gobet: very close to Lausanne (about 30 minutes away by public transport) this is an ideal place to go for fun with the snow. Sledging, snowball fights or simply building an igloo with the snow.
Hermitage Park: closer to the city, you will find here a modest hill where kids can also have fun with a sledge (depending on weather conditions).
ICE-SKATING
Vaudoise Arena – 2 indoors and 1 open-air ice rink
Lausanne Gare – Open Air Ice Rink
Website – https://www.lausanne-tourisme.ch/en/guide/ice-rinks/
When: open 7 days/week until March 2023
Montchoisi – Open-air ice rink
La Pontaise – Open-air ice rink
EVENTS
PaKoMuze
During Easter, the museums of the region bring together a varied programme of activities for kids and families. You can easily search for the activities on their website and make sure to register for the one(s) you want to attend.
When: 7 – 23 April 2023
Where: Vaud museums
Registration opens: on 22 March from 12:30
Website – https://www.pakomuze.ch/
Tulip Festival in Morges
This is a lovely festival and a nice idea for a day or half-day trip for the entire family near Lausanne. Check the website for the various activities that are taking place. You will also find activities for “mum-only” fun.
When: 01 April – 14 May 2023
Where: Morges
Website – https://www.morges-tourisme.ch/fr/Z12055/fete-de-la-tulipe
Payot Bookshop (Lausanne)
Les bricolages de Maybritt, Saturday 29 April, 14.30 – 16.00 (and the next one is Saturday 10th June), from 5 years old (maximum 6 kids)
Free – registration needed, limited places.
Register here: 021 341 33 10, jeunesse.pepinet@payot.ch (or at the bookshop directly)
It is advised that an adult stays with the kid for the entire duration of the atelier.
Saturday Brunch & Dance at La Grenette, 18th March at 11.00
This event takes place once every month (usually) at La Grenette, a favourite place for families with young kids. For March, there will also be a Canadian brunch so you can bring your own specialty if you want.
Where: La Grenette, Riponne
Viva Frida Kahlo Immersive Experience
When: 17.12.2022 – 19.03.2023
Where: Beaulieu
MUSEUMS
MCBA Cantonal museum of fine arts museum – Family activities
The MCBA (Musée cantonal des Beaux-Arts – Cantonal museum of fine arts) in Plateforme 10, organises various activities for families and their kids: art workshops, discovery booklets and family tours (in french, from ages 6-7).
Also, every second Wednesday of the month, kids aged 3-5 years can join a guided tour of the collections of the MCBA and an atelier for free (from 10:30-11:15 am or 3:00-3:45 pm). (Kids must be accompanied by an adult who needs to buy an entry ticket)
Fondation de l’Hermitage
There are workshops organised for various age groups around the theme of the current exhibition.
4-6 years old, Saturday 11.04 at 10h*, Duration: 2 hours, Ticket: 15 CHF
6-12 years old, Saturday 11.04 at 14h*, Duration: 2 hours, Ticket: 15 CHF
Kid & adult, Sunday 26.03 at 14h & Sunday 16.04 at 14h*, Duration: 2 hours, Ticket: 15 CHF for kids & 27 CHF for adults
*These ateliers are part of PâKOMUZé activities – https://www.pakomuze.ch/
THEATRE & CINEMA
Le Petit Theatre (french)
A great place to take your kids. Most of the spectacles are in french. Tickets tend to get sold out very quickly but I have found that it’s worth checking for last-minute availability either via email, phone or at the theatre before the show starts.
Upcoming shows:
Sous une pluie d’été – 8 to 19 March 2023, from 2 yearls old
Les frères Choum – 22 to 26 March 2023, from 6 years old
L’Œuf – 29 March to 5 April 2023, from 4 years old
La Pomme empoisonnée – 26 April to 14 May 2023, from 7 years old
Ticket: 15 CHF (kid or adult)
Théâtre de marionnettes de Lausanne
Upcoming shows:
Tu comprendras quand tu seras grand (by the Théâtre des Marionnettes de Genève) – 15 to 19 March 2023, from 5 years old, duration: about 50 min
Aouuuuu! – 29 March to 02 April 2023, from 4 years old, duration: about 45 min
Ticket: 13 CHF (kid or adult)
La Lanterne Magique & La Petite Lanterne – Cinema for kids
La Lanterne Magique is a cinema club for kids (6-12 years old) where they can watch 9 different movies every year along with their friends. For the younger kids (4-6 years old), La Petite Lanterne is a similar concept but the kids watch the movie with their parents (or an accompanying adult). Tickets tend to go quickly so it’s best to register in advance.
Ages: La Lanterne Magique: 6-12 years old, La Petite Lanterne: 4-6 years old
Where: Cinema Pathé Flon 3, Rue du Port-Franc 16, CH-1003 Lausanne
Ticket: 10 CHF
Websites – https://www.lanterne-magique.org/ & https://www.petitelanterne.org/
Cinema for families at La Cinémathèque Suisse (Cine-Familles)
This curated movie programme invites families to discover once per month a movie at the cinema. In the end, the kids receive a kit with activities for further discussions based on the movies.
Next movies:
March
Les Aventures du prince Ahmed (Germany, 1926, duration 65′, Lotte Reiniger) on 19th March 2023 at 10:30
April
As part of the Pakomuze activities, there are 4 different family movies on 11, 12, 18 & 19 April at 15:00 (more details for the movies on the website)
Where: La Cinémathèque Suisse, Casino de Montbenon, Allée Ernest-Ansermet 3, 1003 Lausanne
When: Once per month from September 2022 to May 2023
Organised by: La Cinémathèque Suisse and the Festival Cinema Jeune Public (https://festivalcinemajeunepublic.ch/)
Ticket: 5 CHF for kids under 12 years old, 10 CHF for adults
SHOPPING
Kids Vide Dressing
When: 18th March 2023, 09.00 – 13.00
Where: Grande Salle Belmont-sur-Lausanne
What: Children’s dressing/swap sale (items include clothes, shoes, sporting goods, baby supplies, books, toys, etc.)
Organised by: Le Troc de Belmont
MUSIC
Ecode de Musique Lausanne
Portes Ouvertes – An interesting event if your kids want to learn more about different musical instruments, try them out and get to know the instructors as well.
When: Saturday, 1st April 2023, 09.00-13.00
Where: Collège de Villamont – Chemin des Magnolias 6, Lausanne
Orchestre de Chambre Lausanne
Concerts “Les Dominicales”
Parents enjoy the concert – kids enjoy an activity at the children’s corner. (for ages 4-9 years old).
Upcoming concert: 23 April 2023 at 11h15
Where: Salle Metropole Lausanne
What: Gábor Káli DIRECTION – Iván Ortiz Motos COR / Igor Stravinsky, Richard Strauss, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Tickets: 15.-, AVS-AI-Chômage : 12.-, <30 ans : 10.-
Children <15 ans : 5.-
Special offer: 2 adults + 1 child : 32.-
Opera de Lausanne
Pinocchio Youth Opera, an Opera-fairy tale based on Carlo Collodi, new production, opera sung in French.
Duration: 1h 15m
When: 31st March – 09th April 2023
Price: 20-45 CHF
Age: 7+
For more ideas on what to do during winter with your kids in Lausanne read the article Family-Friendly Lausanne in Winter – https://www.mygreektravellingspoon.com/travel/family-friendly-lausanne/
MUM HAVING FUN
Monthly events at Nueva Luna Yoga
This new yoga studio in the centre of Lausanne organises exciting events every month, apart from the regular yoga and meditation schedule. P.S. They also have mindfulness & yoga courses for kids!
Yoga & Wellbeing Events by Ludmila Victoria Bueno
Ludmila is organising various thematic events such as a spring gathering in the forest, a full moon practice and a retreat experience in Valais. She also offers regular yoga practices in Lausanne (both online and offline).
For her upcoming offerings, you can check her linktree
Sunday Art & Brunch at Fondation de l’Hermitage
When: 19th March, 10.00 – 13.00
What: Enjoy your brunch at L’Esquisse restaurant followed by a guided tour to the museum’s exhibition.
Cost: 65 CHF / 45 CHF (12-17 years old)
Check the brunch menu here .
Yoga Events by Clélia Vuille
Clélia Vuille is a dancer and yoga teacher currently based in Lausanne.
She often organises fun events like Sunday mornings with yoga & brunch and it’s worth checking her Instagram for her upcoming schedule.
In April she co-organises a day yoga event called “Trust & Surrender” in Valais (09.30 – 17.30) – check out her website for more info.
Clelia is also guiding yoga sessions on the deck from the glorious @jetee_de_la_compagnie next to the lake and she just announced that the season begins on Friday 14th April with a vinyasa class. No need to book, open to all but you need to bring your yoga mat and arrive 10 min before the start. Cost: 10 CHF (cash or twint). If you have never done yoga in this location, this year is the time to do so!
20 KM Lausanne – 28-30 April 2023
If you love running, this popular event is back in town and the registrations are now open. There are various races and you could also run together with your child for 2-4 km (search for the race “Courir pour le plaisir”).
Cinema – watch a movie at Cinematheque Suisse (Montbenon)
Check the schedule and go watch a movie on your own or with a good friend. After the movie, Brasserie de Montbenon is always a good idea for an apero or a dinner with a view.
Brasserie de Montbenon Events
Not only is this a great venue for dining out, but they also organise some pretty cool events. Here is one of them that caught my attention:
Dirty Dancing Party – 31st March 2023
Watch the movie (projection at 20:30) and then head to the Salon for an after movie themed party with the Djettes « Les Soeurs Tignasse » (22:30 – 01.00). expect hot dogs and 80’s cocktails available from 17.00 until late at night.
Free entry for the party get your ticket for the movie here billetterie de la Cinémathèque)
See all the details here.
https://www.brasseriedemontbenon.ch/
Did I miss any interesting events happening in Lausanne during this period?
Let me know and I will be happy to add it!
Disclaimer: This column is not intended to make you feel overwhelmed by everything happening. Instead, my goal is to help you have an overview of interesting events that are coming up and pick one or two that you would like to experience as a family or alone.
Are you visiting Lausanne soon and want to know which are the best places to explore with your young kids? Are you new to the city and eager to discover its charms with your family? Check out my ebook – 48 hours in Lausanne, A Guide for Families with Young Kids which consists of a 2-day itinerary and practical tips on local life.
