AIC 4th of July 2024 Celebration
This year’s 4th of July celebration took place at the Campagne du Chateau in Grand Saconnex, under a beautiful summer sky.
Two food trucks, the Brooklyn Kitchen and the HotDogFaktory, served up a delicious array of hamburgers, burritos, hot dogs, fries, and more. The AIC offered a variety of soft drinks, water, beer, and wine. Making a popular return was Fanan, one of Switzerland’s top bartenders, who delighted guests with mojitos, margaritas, and his special Sangria from the Bacardi bar, while entertaining everyone with his bottle juggling and magic tricks. A big thank you to Bacardi for their continued support.
For the children, Linda Larni and her team provided face painting, bouncy castles, and pony rides. Every child had their face painted and enjoyed the bouncy castles with big smiles.
Sports were a hit for both kids and adults, with whiffle ball, soccer, and touch football available. A special thanks to Intersport for organizing the soccer activities.
The festivities began with Ron Banks, Chair of the American Celebrations Committee, who introduced Patricia Ryan for a stirring rendition of the National Anthem. Following this, the AIC President Phillip Sundquist gave a welcoming speech and expressed gratitude to sponsors and volunteers.
The Al Christie Band, a popular local group, rocked the tent with classic rock hits, creating a vibrant party atmosphere.
The Youth Underground is the organization we are supporting this year, and they had a table at the event. It was an opportunity for the attendees to learn more about the excellent work they do to protect and inform young people about human trafficking.
The AIC Cookie Contest, becoming a beloved tradition, was led by Mary Bernasconi. As always, there were plenty of cookies to sample, making judging difficult. In my opinion, all the cookies were winners, but I wasn’t one of the judges.
We are deeply grateful to our sponsors for making this event possible. A big thank you to Manor for providing five CHF 100 Manor cards, and SWISS International for two return flight tickets from Geneva to New York, which were give away during the tombola. Additional thanks to Harsh Transports for their assistance in setting up and taking down the 80 tables and benches.
The AIC 4th of July Celebration wouldn't be possible without the leadership of Ruth Dyson, the AIC office administrator and the backbone of our events. Additionally, her husband Craig and their sons managed the AIC drinks bar—many thanks to this fantastic team for their continued help and support over the years.
A heartfelt thanks to Flora Tarimo and her team of volunteers who decorated the tent and tables, managed the check-in desk, and assisted with cleanup.
It was a delight to see over 350 of our AIC friends and guests enjoying this quintessentially American tradition in an international setting. In the past, when the AIC’s 4th of July celebration was held at Boute-du-Monde, over 40-50,000 people attended. Though it is now smaller and exclusive to AIC members and guests, the excitement and enthusiasm remains high — thanks to you.
Ron Banks
Chair
American Celebration Committee