Online games tournament of Hearthstone (in English) on Sunday 21st March 2021 from 09:00 -18:00  Free participation, registration necessary.  Cash prizes!  Details here Plus - Play and on arcade game machines and discover some of the video games that have been developed in Switzerland at Games , the new temporary exhibition at the Château de Prangins from 21.03.21 until the 10:10.21. The exhibition also tells the story of video games from their origins in the 1970s to the present day. , and are known around the world. And with more than 2.7 billion players globally as well as revenues of almost 160 billion dollars, the video game industry has become bigger than Hollywood. It adopts a historical and technological perspective, inviting visitors to play and on arcade game machines and discover some of the video games that have been developed in Switzerland. The appeal of video games has its roots in 1950s America. William Higinbotham gave everyone with an aversion to sport the chance to play tennis from the comfort of their sofa. In the 70s, video games became a significant economic factor. A decade later, the first LAN parties took place, with groups of players connecting their computers to a local area network in order to play video games together. At the same time, the computer industry developed portable devices that could be used to play online. By the start of the new millennium, video games had meshed with virtual reality to create an entirely new experience of total immersion in a game world. The boom in the video game industry soon proved to have a downside, however, with some games including sexist and racist content, and the risk of addiction among young players. The latter will form the subject of a talk by Niels Weber at one of the seven “Soirée au musée” organised by the Château de Prangins. A cultural mediation programme will include family breakfasts followed by tours of the exhibition and a chance to try out some games, gaming afternoons, as well as encounters with psychologists, neurologists, game developers and others, offering visitors the opportunity to meet figures from the Swiss video game industry and explore topics in greater depth, including addiction among young people, the cognitive skills that players develop, and scenes of violence in some games. For full details, click here.

The sun and the flowers are coming in to bloom around Nyon, and the lake is looking as lovely as usual. Despite the disappointing news that *Paléo, has had to be cancelled for 2021, there are other things to look forward to on the agenda. Even though most of the tourist cruises on the CGN boats are suspended until April 16, there will be some cruises from Nyon, Cully and Lausanne during the Easter weekend on April 2, 3 and 5. More information and tickets here Some castles and museums are open in Vaud including Nyon castle (open Tuesday to Sundays). Mask wearing obligatory inside the château. Details here The Tulip festival along the lake in Morges began on the 1st April and continues until the 9th May. 145,000 tulips will be on display when they are in bloom. Best to check the "flowering status" of the tulips on the website before you go. Or why not simply take a picnic and explore the local area! Here's a photo taken of a little "goûter" (small afternoon/tea snack) in the vineyards in Luins. Visions du Réel The signs and posters are going up around the area for Visions du Réel, Nyon's prestigious documentary film festival which will take place from 15 to 25 April. This year the festival will be a digital version. Every day, new films will be made accessible online for 72 hours, subject to availability (500 viewings per film). The public will be able to choose between one-off access (CHF 5) or an unlimited pass at a special rate (CHF 25). Individual tickets or an unlimited pass will be available from April 14th on the VDR website. *For those of you who are new to Nyon, Paléo festival is the second biggest music festival in Europe (it attracts big names to its stages) and it usually takes place at the end of July in grounds just outside Nyon. If you have already bought a ticket, all tickets and passes already purchased remain valid for the next Paléo Festival Nyon which will be held from 19 to 24 July 2022. More details here. We would like to wish all readers a Very Happy Easter! We will leave you with a few photos of Nyon's decorated Easter fountains from previous years!

If you hadn't worked it *out by now, the reason for the noise around Nyon on Monday night was due to the Swiss national football team beating France in the Euros 2020 in a stunning game with a match went to penalties. Switzerland hasn't been this far in a major football/soccer cup competition since 1954! This result means that Switzerland (La Nati) are through to the quarter finals of the championships. They will play against Spain on Friday at 18:00. Be prepared for more noise whatever the outcome! As Nyon has a large international community, supporters of different countries usually come out into the street to celebrate, they drive around in their cars and honk their horns and it is tolerated by the police (up to a certain point!). Listen to Yann Sommer (goal keeper for Switzerland) speak in English after Monday's match. It seems like the rest of Switzerland was going crazy at Monday nights result, reports came in of a packed central Lausanne with celebrating crowds, a party atmosphere in bars and homes across the country! The Living in Nyon founder now lives in England and she misses these fun nights in Nyon during major football tournaments. Nyon is also home to UEFA, The Union of European Football Associations. Check out this article, "Behind the scenes of UEFA"  that we published back in 2009. To get an idea of what Nyon was like on Monday, take a look at some of these fabulous photos published in La Côte newspaper. * Article coming up soon on useful Swiss websites and news sites which are published in English.

The official ceremony of Swiss National Day will take place at the Esplanade des Marronniers in Nyon at 20:30. The ceremony will begin with a musical overture, followed by the reading of the Federal Pact, the patriotic prayer, a message from Pastor Kevin Bonzon on behalf of the churches in Nyon, a speech by Madame Chiara Montecchio, the singing of the Swiss National Hymn, a musical closure followed by an apéro offered by the town! Usually this is followed by a parade suitable for families where the children carry lit "lampions" through the old town and down to the lake. It's a lovely tradition but it is unclear whether this is going ahead this year. Want to know more about the history behind the founding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291? The website My Switzerland has a brief description link here

How about a little bit of doo-wop and Motown to kick off the *rentrée? An upcoming comedy musical "Little Shop of Horrors" will take place in English in Nyon at Théâtre de Marens, 16th - 19th Sept, performed by GAOS (the Geneva Amateur Operatic Society). Synopsis: Nerdy florist Seymour encounters a strange and interesting plant, which brings him fame, fortune and romance. However, it’s not long before the R&B singing plant unveils its insatiable thirst for blood! Can he beat the odds, rescue the love of his life and save the world? Find out in this 1960s Motown and doo-wop inspired comedy musical. More details and tickets, click here  Heads up for parents: GAOS will also be putting on a family pantomime in English in November in Nyon. Oh, yes they will! More details on their website. *La rentrée means the start of the new school year, back to work etc.

Vernissage and Open House - Original Art - See website for details

John Boyne, Amitav Gosh, Caroline Bishop, Clare O'Dea, Susan Gilman, Michelle Bailat-Jones, Matthew Wake are some of the English speaking authors and moderators who will be at  "Le livre sur les quais" taking place alongside the lake in Morges from the 3-5th September 2021. It's a big literary/book festival and offers a selection of events in English with both international and Anglo-Saxon writers. This year, despite tricky travel restrictions, the festival’s international programme remains rich and varied. The Netherlands is Guest Country of Honour and some of the Dutch authors will be taking part in anglophone events, together with other English-speaking writers. Here is the line-up of the English speaking events Saturday  Debate 11:00 – 12:00 "Exploring the Self" With  Katharina Volckmer ,  Niña Weijers Moderated by Michelle Bailat-Jones Venue: Nouvelle Couronne - Salle des armure Interview 12:30 – 13:30 "Graphic Novels : From Colonial History to Blake and Mortimer" With  Peter van Dongen Moderated by Matthew Wake Venue: Nouvelle Couronne - Salle des armures Debate 14:00 – 15:00 "Family, Fatherhood and Masculinity" With  John Boyne ,  Arnon Grünberg Moderated by Matthew Wake Venue: Nouvelle Couronne - Salle des armures Interview 16:00 – 17:00 "Patterns of Motherhood" With  Jean Hegland Moderated by Michelle Bailat-Jones Venue: Nouvelle Couronne - Salle des armures Interview 18:00 – 19:00 "Fiction in the Face of Climate Crisis" With  Amitav Ghosh Moderated by Matthew Wake Followed by a signing session on site Venue: Nouvelle Couronne - Salle des armures Sunday 5th September 11:00 – 12:30 Writing Workshop "Tricks of the trade: Making Your Writing Come to Life" With Susan Jane Gilman FULL Registration required Max. 10 participants (In partnership with Geneva Writers' group) Venue: Fondation Bolle Debate 13:00 – 14:00 "Tales of Women’s Suffrage in Switzerland" With  Caroline Bishop ,  Clare O’Dea Moderated by Tasja Dorkofikis Venue: Nouvelle Couronne - Salle des armures Debate 15:00 – 16:00 "Families in Crisis" With  John Boyne ,  Anna Enquist Moderated by Michelle Bailat-Jones Venue: Nouvelle Couronne - Salle des armures

On the 3-5th September, the l'Usine à Gaz (Nyon's very own cultural and arts centre along the lakeside) will re-open after a three year, massive renovation project. Lots of events are scheduled for the inauguration festival. See link here and video below. ; Living in Nyon will be checking the new venue out in the next few weeks to find out what's new in this brand new space!

The Swiss Classic British Car Meeting will take place on October 2nd, 2021 between 10:00 - 17:00 along the lakeside in Morges. The Morgan and the Triumph will be the guest of honour at this year's meeting. Be advised that the COVID certificate is mandatory to access the event. For more details - see website here

Jenniffer Hudson plays the soul legend Aretha Franklin in the film "Respect" showing at Nyon cinema in English on Wednesday 15th, Friday 17th, Saturday 18th, Sunday 19th September at 20:30. Full details of screening times in French and other films coming up - click here. Be note that the COVID certificate (plus ID) is mandatory to access the event.

The Conservatoire de L'ouest Vaudois is beginning a brand new season of concerts with "Kara Sylla Ka meet friends -  Fulaani Blues" on Friday 24th September at 20:30 and Quatuor Linea Curva performing "Voyage between Baroque and Jazz" on Sunday 26th September at 17:00.  These concerts will take place in the Villa Thomas in Nyon which is right next to the Conservatoire building along the lakeside. The Friday night concerts are a good way to begin the weekend and the Sunday late afternoon concerts are perfect to end the weekend! Reservations necessary: Tel 021 -802 4393 Email info.nyon@cov-vd.ch Note:the Conservatoire also offers a wide range of musical courses and classes for both adults and children ,including workshops on how to playing all styles of music: blues, rock, latin etc to individual music lessons: piano, flute, guitar, drums etc. Classes are also given in Nyon, Morges, Gland, Aubonne, St Sulpice, Bussigny. Note many of the instructors/teachers speak English (as does the director of the school and president of the foundation) More details here Kara Sylla Ka Meet Friends Kara Sylla Ka's music is in the tradition of what he calls "afro blues", a tradition that owes much to Ali Farka Touré, spiritual companion of a certain John Lee Hooker. For Kara, the blues is the canvas of an inspiration that draws on the sources of the African soul and pays tribute to its great characters. Linea Curva  At the crossroads between baroque and jazz, Linea curva exploits the audacity and modernity contained in this music to offer a personal and contemporary perspective. From the poetic oddities of Fontei to Neapolitan songs, from Purcell's hymns to Irish plainsongs, expect an "original and unexpected" journey.

There are several events happening at the moment around  "La Semaine de la Mobilité" - mobility week.  A bike repair area will be available in Nyon (Local de quartier de la Vie-Là) from 10:00 to 12:00 on Saturday 18 September where you can find the tools you need to repair your own bike. From 14:00 to 15:00 pm, you can take your bike and learn how to repair it yourself in a mini workshop! A "vélo-mécano" from PROVELO LaCôte will be there to lead a workshop. Limited places, inscriptions obligatory Tel: 022 316 44 04 ou à mobilite@nyon.ch also in Mobility Week, Le Sentier de Cossy the path which connects the north of the town to the station, will be officially inaugurated on 16 September. The path which re-opened in June this year has been widened and completely redesigned to allow pedestrians and cyclists to walk along it comfortably and safely.