Escalade
To help you get ready for the Escalade here’s some information on what the race is like, and what the Escalade is all about :
The Race : The Marmite
The official website is in French and gives information on getting ready for the ‘race’ . The english version has a home page and not a lot else but that may improve over time.
A good place to park your car is at the parking de Plainpalais which is close to the start, or park at the P+R l’etoile near la Praille which is easily accessible from the motorway, the trams 15 and 17 run to there every 5 mins. The parking l’etoile is sometimes the better option as the traffic leaving Geneva after the race can be a bit chaotic.
The marmite ‘race’ itself is a non serious walk, jog or run around the old town. There are about 20,000 people taking part so the start, middle and end of the race can be very crowded. It’s always a good idea to get there reasonably early and get close to the front of the race. The advantage to this is that there are less people in your way and you should be able to finish the race near to the front. Whilst the race doesn’t take too long to complete it can take some time to get through the finishing line as everyone crowds into a narrow lane and hands over their electronic badges (which has to be tied to one of your shoes) this badge lets the organisers time everyones run. Because most people are in fancy dress bending down to untie their shoes can be very awkward and time consuming. When you finish the race and are working your way up to the end area take the badges off so you can get through this area quickly.
During the race
Be VERY careful at the start. It is very busy so watch your feet and those of the runner in front. Keep a steady pace, and don’t run too fast at the beginning. If you get out of breath, walk at a steady pace until you have recovered, then run again. If you have a stitch, press gently on the area until it has gone away and concentrate on blowing OUT harder. Be careful on the slippery cobblestones of the Old Town.
After the race
Kids need to stay with the adult that they ran with. Adults need to be aware that it is very busy and keep an eye out for the children – the white T-shirts will make them easy to spot! Put on another layer of clothes to keep warm. Once you are over the finish line, slow down to a walk. Stretch your legs gently afterwads Drink some water and eat some cake or fruit.
Have fun!
At the end there are gifts (plates, bowls, or something else that commemorates the race.. ) some bread, buns, fruit and hot and cold drinks being handed out as well. There’s usually bags as well which you can drop everything into. It’s generally less crowded here and if you’ve managed to misplace some children during the evening there is also an areas here for finding lost children.
It is very busy and crowded around the Parc des Bastions, there are a lot of spectators, food stalls, marquees and runners. It’s quite likely that you may get split up from some of the team as some people want to run and others walk. A good place to meet afterwards is in the large marquee where the dossards (your number) are handed out, this is situated next to the university building, and there are tables and benches, food stands and a stage where presentations are made. When you finish go there and grab a bench and wait for the others to arrive.
The marmite is run in December which unfortunately means it will most probably be cold and it could be a little wet. Wrap up warm, always put a few layers on. If you are walking make sure you have good comfortable shoes on and if you are running make sure the shoes have some ‘bounce’ in them as you will be running on hard roads which isn’t very good for your knees or joints.
Last but not least of all just enjoy yourself, wave to the spectators, some of whom may throw you sweets, smile and chat to the other people in the race and be amazed by the imagination and creativity that people show in designing and building their costumes. Don’t be surprised if you get passed by a pirate ship or a dragon as you run around.
Why Geneva celebrates l’Escalade:
L’Escalade, or Fête de l’Escalade (from escalade, the act of scaling defensive walls) is an annual festival held in December in Geneva, Switzerland, celebrating the defeat of the surprise attack by troops sent by Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy during the night of 11–12 December 1602.
For years, the duke coveted the wealth of the city-state, which was not a member of the Swiss Confederation. When Charles Emmanuel came to the throne of the House of Savoy in 1580, he longed to make Geneva his capital north of the Alps and crush Protestantism. Pope Clement VIII offered encouragement.
The Attack 
On December 11 and 12 (old style), 1602—the longest night of the year—the forces of the Duke of Savoy, under the command of the seigneur d’Albigny, and those of Charles Emmanuel’s brother-in-law, Philip III of Spain, launched an attack on the city-state of Geneva. The troops marched along the Arve River at night and assembled at Plainpalais, just outside the walls of Geneva, at 2 o’clock in the morning. The original plan was to send in a group of commandos to open the gate door and let the other troops in. The Geneva citizens defeated the men by preventing them from scaling the wall (climb in French is escalade). The night guard Jacques Mercier raised the alarm, church bells were rung, and the Genevans were alerted. The populace fought alongside their town militia. The duke’s 2000-plus mercenaries were beaten. The Genevans lost 18 men in the fighting; the Savoyards suffered 54 fatalities and the troops had to retreat. Thirteen invaders who had been taken prisoner, including several well-born gentlemen were summarily hanged the following day, as thieves, since they could not be treated as prisoners of war, peace having been repeatedly sworn on the part of Savoy.
According to Genevan legend, Catherine Cheynel, originally from Lyons and the wife of Pierre Royaume, ("Mère Royaume"), a mother of 14 children, seized a large cauldron of hot soup and poured it on the attackers. The Royaume family lived just above the La Monnaie town gate. The heavy cauldron of boiling soup landed on the head of a Savoyard attacker, killing him. The commotion that this caused also helped to rouse the townsfolk to defend the city.
After the defeat, Duke of Savoy was obliged to accept a lasting peace, sealed by the Treaty of St. Julien of July 12, 1603.
Celebration 
Although the armed conflict actually took place after midnight, in the early morning on December 12, celebrations and other commemorative activities are usually held on December 11 or the closest weekend. Celebrations include a large marmite (cauldron) made of chocolate filled with marzipan vegetables and candies wrapped in the Geneva colors of red and gold. It’s customary for the eldest and youngest in the room to smash the marmite, while reciting, "Ainsi périssent les ennemis de la République! " (Thus perish the enemies of the Republic). Other traditions include mulled wine, a large serving of soup, and children dressing up and singing for money. There is also a parade on Sunday evening. The names of the eighteen who died—Jacques Billon finally died of his wounds a year later—are called out, one after another.