As part of the Nature festival, which will take place throughout Switzerland from the 24th to the 26th of May, the town of Nyon is organising a day of festivities around nature in the town. A photo contest called “Unusual nature in Nyon” will also take place.
The area behind the station (where the “Roulotte” is) will be invaded by the local fauna and flora on Saturday 25th of May, from 10:00 to 17:00. Different recreational and educational workshops will be pffered to the public, in collaboration with Equiterre , an association which promotes sustainable development.
Learn how to grow vegetables on your balcony!
Passionate guides will show you how to grow a vegetable patch on your balcony, build a shelter for local animals (which might do them some good with the terrible weather we’ve been having lately…), or help develop the biodiversity in the town.
An urban safari will take you on a tour of Nyon’s hidden nature, local bee-keepers will be giving honey tastings, alongside several other activities. Musical interludes will punctuate the day. Don’t miss the Musical Salad at 11:00! Come and collectively prepare and enjoy a salad made from unsold products recuperated from supermarkets.
There will be games, exhibitions and more. You can find the whole programme here.
Most of the workshops and the urban safaris require booking. You can do this on the Equiterre website and on the fête de la nature website, and on the day depending on availability.
Get to know your neighbours on the 31st of May!
The Fête des Voisins, which has become a classic all over Switzerland since it started a few years ago, is the best occasion to get to know your neighbours, have a nice time with the ones you already know, and make life in your neighbourhood livelier and more fun! This is also a great way to improve your French as practice makes perfect. So why not organise a party, a barbecue or a drink in your neighbourhood? You can find more information, including the forms to fill in to get free t-shirts, balloons and flyers to host a great event on the Nyon website.
“La fête des voisins- Immeubles en fête” started in Paris in 2000, and has since then spread all across Europe. Each year, several million people take part in this event. This year, 35 Swiss towns and villages will be celebrating friendly relationships between neighbours.
Here is a translation of the 10 tips for a great party, which you can find on the Nyon website
1: Get the poster/invitation leaflets for your neighbours
2: Put the poster up in the entrance if you live in a block of flats or slip the leaflets in your neighbours’ letterboxes if you live in houses.
3: Get together with some other neighbours to organise the day!
Don’t prepare everything on your own, but get involved with others. This is the best way to get the most people to come to the party. Preparing it together is already part of the event!
4: Find the right location.
Host the party in a public location (alley, courtyard, garden…), as this will be less intimidating for people who don’t know many of the neighbours. If you have any questions regarding security or anything else, don’t hesitate to call the town administration: (Nyon : 022 363 82 82 – Prangins : 022 994 31 27).
5: Get installed
Think about what you might need (tables, chairs) to install food and drinks and so people can sit down if they want to
6: Food and Drinks!
Try and get everyone to bring something for the party- but have things to drink and a few snacks.
7: Don’t forget kids and the elderly
Kids are always ready for some fun, don’t leave them out when you organise the event!
Older people aren’t usually used to these kind of events, and might not dare come. Try and encourage them to participate.
8: Decorate the party with tablecloths, balloons, posters… for a fun and friendly event
9: Most important of all: get to know each other!
On the day of the Fête des voisins, don’t stay on your own or with the people you already know: go and meet the other neighbours. Be the first to make contact, present yourself to others. Remember, the idea is to get to know your neighbours! Dont miss out on the occasion to get to discover other cultures, social origins or age groups!
10: This is only the start!
This event is a state of mind, a different way of seeing the town and the community, which can spread! Conviviality can produce common projects, better relationships, which can help to reduce isolation, anonymity and indifference, and make your neighbourhood a better place to live in.