4th of July
4th of July 2016 Celebration
To see pictures of the event, please click here
This jubilant American holiday is world renown. We had a superb day planned, during which family, friends and colleagues took part in this festive occasion.
Format of the Event:
Location: on Monday, July 4th our celebration will take place in a tent on the Place de Fête de la Campagne du Château, Grand Saconnex from 5pm to 11pm
17h00: Games for Children and Adults
Geneva Seahawks American Football Team
Geneva Baseball League with pichting machines
18h00: Food trucks: The Hamburger Foundation, Funky BBQ, Brooklyn Kitchen
19h00: Albert-Mark Band
The fee included a meal at one of our food trucks and access to all activities
In supplement: Extra food, desserts, drinks
Event sponsors:
with the support of:
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4th of July 2015 Celebration
The AIC would like to thank the 4th of July Sponsors
The AIC would like to thank also
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4th of July 2014 Celebration
As you may remember, the weather for last year’s 4th of July Celebration was perfect, with blue skies and warm weather, we could not have asked for more. However, this year was just the opposite, the rain clouds dominated the skies and the threat of thunder showers was real. At exactly 18:30, the skies opened up with rain, wind and dropping temperatures. We closed the tents to keep out the blowing rain and stayed inside to keep warm and dry. It must a have rained for a good hour.
Besides the weather, we had to deal with competition from the soccer World Cup Finals that night. Needless to say, both the weather and the Finals had a dramatic impact on the number of people attending the Celebration.
But, in the true spirit of the 4th of July, this did not prevent the AIC members and guests from enjoying a spirited and lively celebration at the Domaine du Pommier, in Grand-Saconnex.
This year the food service was further improved by recruiting Club members to help serve. The food served faster and their friendly service and smiles were appreciated by all. Many thanks to Amandine Fabre-Dalsace for leading this team, to Mary Bernesconi, Mary’s friends from the Bahamas, Anne Hornug-Soukup and others for helping serve the food. The caterer, Live Catering, has been doing the catering for many years and provided a great menu of hamburgers, ribs, sausages, frites and salads.
There was one hiccup we had do deal with. At the last minute singer for the National Anthem had to cancel due to health reasons. Fortunately, we recruited Patricia Ryan, who had just entered the tent to sing. She graciously said yes and sang a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem, accompanied by Al Blatter on keyboards. We hope she will sing again next year.
We were pleased to have Bacardi back for a 4th year as a sponsor with the Bacardi Bar, serving Mojitos, Pina Coladas and this year they introduced the new Martini Royal Rosato and Bianco.
We would like to also thank our other sponsors, Eric Ware with Eric’s Peanut Butter, College du Léman, C:Link 3D Printing, Chevalley/Grimm Automobiles, Pelichet and JTI for their support and participation.
The bouncy castle team returned with their inflatable games and the face painting and tattoos for kids. For the bigger kids, Tesla showed their new all electric sports car and Cadillac displayed several of their new models.
Back my popular demand was Geneva’s favorite band, The Albert-Mark Band, who played a perfect blend of jazz and classic rock, from Ellington to the Eagles.
A special thank you goes out to the 4th of July committee and the office staff that makes this event happen for the AIC. I would like to thank Kirsten Stromstad, the former AIC Executive Director and Ruth Dyson the AIC administrative guru who put in hours of hard work and all the volunteers who helped to make this a great event. Thank you – for all your hard work and dedication.
Last but not least, were pleased to have a team from Pelichet to take down the tables and benches. This was a great help and much appreciated by the team who had been on site since noon.
As for next year, it will be at the same place, at the same time and on the same day. We look forward to seeing you there.
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A focal point of the Club's calendar is the annual 4th of July celebration. It used to be the largest open-air event of its kind outside the United States; over 35,000 came to enjoy the fun! This public event was cancelled in 2007.
In 2008, the AIC 4th of July was re-launched but the concept changed, returning to the roots of the celebration by organizing an informal and fun end afternoon-evening picnic/BBQ event reflecting the traditions of the US's National Day.
The celebration is for the AIC members, their families and invited guests only.
A SHORT HISTORY
The first 4th of July celebration sponsored by the American International Club of Geneva took place in 1952 at the Parc des Eaux-Vives. The program included a little music, some dancing, one carrousel, refreshments and a short firework display. Over the years, this family outing has become one of Geneva's biggest and most popular events. Since 1952 attendance has increased annually. Today tens of thousands of people from all nationalities, not only from the Canton of Geneva, but also the Cantons of Vaud, the Jura and neighboring France come to the Centre Sportif du Bout-du-Monde to join us in what has become known as "the largest 4th of July party outside the United States."
UN PEU D'HISTOIRE
La première Fête de l'Indépendance américaine fut organisée en 1952 par l'American International Club de Genève. Elle eut lieu au Parc des Eaux-Vives, avec comme animations un carrousel, un peu de musique et des feux d'artifice. Depuis lors, cette manifestation dont la popularité n'a cessé de grandir, est aujourd'hui considérée comme une des grandes manifestations « genevoises ». Elle est même considérée comme la "plus grande manifestation de ce type en dehors des Etats-Unis" et attire naturellement les Américains, les Genevois et les habitants des environs. En 1952, plusieurs centaines de personnes s'étaient déplacées. Maintenant ce sont des milliers de fans qui viennent fêter cette journée au Centre Sportif du Bout-du-Monde à Champel.