There will be music, food, bars, stands and entertainment all day long in the streets of Nyon on Saturday 29th September. Local shops and traders will be outside in the sunshine, there will be a bouncy castle, a children's makeup artist and more. CISEN (the official Nyon council Swiss/Foreigners integration committee) will also have a stand at the fair to celebrate the committee's 10th year anniversary. The Living in Nyon editor will be at the stand from 12:00 -14:00 so if you have any questions about living in Nyon, come along and ask away! The stand will be in Place Bel-Air in front of the Crédit- Suisse bank.

There will be Raclette "à gogo" (all you can eat) in the lovely old wine cellar of the Château of Nyon from 18:00 on Friday 28th September. CHF 35 per person to include a board of charcuterie, raclette, fruit salad, and coffee. Reservations recommended. Tel 022 361 9525 or 079 639 65 56 See Facebook page here "Echoes of Django" (Jazz Swings and Manouche) will be playing at the 1306 club in Nyon in the old town on Friday 28th September at 20:30. Free entry, hat passed around for the players.

The lovely gardens of the Château de Vullierens will be open to the public for the last time this year over two consecutive weekends: the 28th and 30th September and the 5th - 7th October, from 10:00 - 16:00. There are various events planned over these two weekends in the grounds of the château: Alphorn playing, a macro photography exhibition of Irises and Rhododendrons by photographer Paola Paroli, a botanical art exhibition by Gusta van Dobbenburgh There will be a chance to buy pumpkins from the gardens and taste some wine in the boutique, there will also be a food truck in the courtyard of the grounds. If you are there at 15:00, listen to and see the performance of the "Bing Bang" sculpture by Etienne Krähenbühl. Dogs are welcome in the grounds (on a lead). The paths are more or less flat and accessible for wheelchairs, however, please note some of the paths are gravel based so help with pushing a wheelchair will probably be required in places. Click here for the full programme. Illustration above - Gusta van Dobbenburgh - courtesy Château de Vullierens There are 10 free entry tickets for these two weekends up for grabs! Send your name to info@livinginnyon.com by 07:00 on Friday 28th September and state which weekend you would prefer to visit. The first 10 names to apply (one name per email please) will win a free entry and will be notified by 09:00 on the 28th. Latest competition winner The winner of the previous Living in Nyon competition to win the latest edition of the Know-it-all passport book is Tove le Van from Eysins. There were a lot of entries for this competition! So, congratulations Tove and thank you to Know-it-all passport for donating the prize.

On the 200th anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley’s celebrated novel, the Geneva English Drama Society will present . This production returns the story to its original Geneva roots and the terrifying confrontation between a man obsessed with his own quest for knowledge, and his creation, who did not ask to be created. This story brings us back to the dark shores of Lac Léman in the summer of 1818, a Europe in the aftermath of revolution and bloody conflict, a Europe in transition between superstition and science, and the increasingly blurring boundaries between the mind and the heart. Shelley’s collection of unforgettable characters guide us down an unrelenting path to the dark conflict at the core of modern society. The primal struggle between an obsessive man and the object of his obsession is even more horrifyingly recognisable today. This stark production will cut to the heart of this story of life, death and desperate longing. is the first work of science fiction, the first work of gothic horror, and the greatest romantic novel of the era. In fact, when published for the first time 200 hundred years ago by the 18-year-old Mary Shelley, it was so radical and new, its seismic waves of the imagination shook her contemporary society, and its aftershocks are still felt resoundingly today. Performances - Tues 2nd October - Sat 6th October at the Théâtre de l’Espérance, 8, rue de la Chapelle, 1207 Genève. Tues - Fri 20:00 - Sat 19:00 based on the novel by Mary Shelley Directed by Christopher Bailey Book tickets here

The brand new "Know-it-all passport" is now out! This book is the essential guide to living in Geneva, Vaud, and neighbouring France. This 11th edition has a brand new chapter entitled “Sustainability”, a list of escape rooms in the “Entertainment" chapter, plus a list of co-working spaces under the "Business and Legal Matters” chapter. The popular Family, Shopping in Switzerland and France, Leisure Activities, Food, Education and Work categories are back again and packed full of information! Living in Nyon is offering readers a chance to win a copy of this new edition. Just send an email with your name to info@livinginnyon.com by midnight on the 25th September 2018 . Names will be put into a hat and the winner will be notified on the 26th. Want to hear more about the contents of this book? Listen to the September Living-in-the-Know podcast in which Lisa talks to Catherine about this brand new edition. Also, tune in to hear an unusual way on how to get rid of moles in your garden - one of the many tips in the book! Note: Living in Nyon is now taking a short break and will be back on Tuesday 25th September.

The new Swiss school 2018 term began a few weeks ago in Canton Vaud. For parents who have children in the local school system, and who would like their children to get a head start in French (and/or German), help is at hand. Alteralingua, a language school based in Chavannes de Bogis offers private or mini group tutoring classes at home for all young student needs (and to make all the logistics easier for the parents!) The school can also provide classes for parents in class, in their own homes or via Skype. The school offers seven languages of instruction: French, English as a foreign language, Spanish, Portugese, German, Russian Mandarin and Italian. For further details contact Alteralingua or contact Francoise Pasteau Email – francoise@alteralingua.ch Telephone 022 776 64 81 or +41 78 860 36 00 Photos above and below - courtesy, Alteralingua

The main Place Perdtemps carpark in the centre of Nyon is going to be transformed. There are plans for underground parking, retail outlets, a green park area, public buildings and more. Photo above - artist's impression of the new look car park courtesy Participanyon On Wednesday the 12th September 2018, there is a chance for citizens to have their say in the new look and use of this car park/area. Between 09:00 and 20:00 on this day there will be a stand at the car park (on the Avenue Viollier side) serving little breakfasts in the morning, "gôuters" in the afternoon and snacks and pizzas later on to those who want to pass by and give their opinion and input on the car park's future. Details here For those wanting to get even more involved in these future proposals, a small group will be formed of 20 locals and 20 people from the business and economic areas of the town, on Wednesday 12th, residents can sign up and put themselves forward to be on this citizens' committee. A selection process will then take place to choose 20 representatives.

The Usine à Gaz, Nyon's Arts and Cultural Centre is currently closed due to renovation. The new building will re-open in Autumn 2020. In this interim period, there still will be concerts and performances throughout the year which will take place in various venues around the town under the title of Hors L'Usine (away from the Usine). The first of these will be Fête O! on Saturday 8th September in Nyon. This is a multicoloured, international party/parade around the subject of migration which will start in Place Saint-Martin at 13:30 and will end up at the Théâtre de Marens. This parade is being organised by Le Lieu Dit, 24.9 and partnered with the Usine à Gaz. There will be workshops, music, world food, and more at the Théâtre de Marens and the dancing will continues (with DJs') until 04:00. Free entry - all ages welcome. Also coming up on the Usine programme are theatrical productions for adults and children (these will take place at the Salle Communale), music concerts both at the Parenthèse and the Temple of Nyon and comedy shows. Note: The Usine à Gaz welcomes volunteers! Even if you don't speak very little French, you can still volunteer and get involved in the local arts and cultural scene. Contact Mai Kolly for more info. mai.kolly@usineagaz.ch

This weekend it's "Journées européennes du patrimoine" - "European Heritage Days". It's a chance to visit and see heritage buildings around the country, some of them are only open for this weekend only. There is a full programme across canton Vaud click here In Nyon the château will be open, there will be guided tours and there will be glass blowing demonstrations throughout Saturday and Sunday. The current exhibition in the castle is about the architect Gustave Falconnier - a native of Nyon who created the "Falconnier" glass brick. In the château of Prangins there will be guided tours and workshops around their current exhibition "Chintz, a material that changed the world" In Genolier The 'Foundation of the Bois de Chênes' is also participating. It will be possible to see the building site of the farmhouse and talk to the architect and other persons involved in the restoration. There will also be guided tours in the nature reserve. Click here. Photo below - glass brick sculpture outside the castle in Nyon.

The Jval music festival, an open-air music festival set in the vineyards above Begnins, began on Thursday 30th and continues until Saturday 1st September. It's a stunning setting for a festival! Music on the line-up tonight (Friday 31st August) includes L.A Salami from London (video below) Peter Kernel from Switzerland, Emile Zoé from Switzerland. On Saturday 1st September, the line up includes Fabe Gryphin, Concrete Knives and Bagarre. Programme here. Note: there is a free bus service operating from Nyon and Gland between 18:00 and 23:00 to get up to the festival and between midnight and 04:00 to get back down! More details here

The "Livre sur les quais" festival in Morges begins this Friday the 31st August and continues until Sunday 2nd September. Hundred of authors will gather in Morges to give readings, sign books and take part in many events including cruises with debates on a CGN boat and author readings on trains! There is a full English programme at the festival with around a dozen writers present, from Tessa Hadley to Chibundu Onuzo and many more. Note: registration is required for the writing workshops. Programme below. For more information and registration details for workshops, click on "English programme" on the main website. Photo above: Livre Sur Les Quais 2017. Marquees along the lakeside in Morges full of books, authors and readers! Photo above from the 2017 festival - a debate on a CGN boat. 2018 English programme. Friday 16:30Encounter - with Aslı Erdoğan 18:00Debate - Nigerian voices with Chinelo Okparanta, Chibundu Onuzo Saturday 11:00Encounter - The Spanish Flu with Laura Spinney 11:45Encounter - Writing Crime with Luke McCallin 13:30 Debate - Writing War, Hope and Love with Aslı Erdoğan , Chinelo Okparanta , Geetanjali Shree 15:00Debate - Urban Landscapes with Chibundu Onuzo, Lisa McInerney 16:30Writing Workshop "The Narrative Arc in Memoir" Sunday 12:30Literary Cruise, English Cruise - Geneva Writers Group Summer Cruise: Memoir and Fiction withMaggie O’Farrell, Elena Lappin 13:30English Programme for the young from 5 years old - Workshop - De drôles d’animaux with Tanja Louwers Imagine and design with an illustrator (simultaneous translation English/ French) 13:45Debate - Fictions of the Real with Claire Fuller, Tessa Hadley, Margriet de Moor 15:30Writing Workshop - Fiction: "What to Leave out" with Anne Korkeakivi. 17:15Encounter - Ways to Wholeness: C.J. Jung and Writing with Susan Tiberghien

Subscription now open for Swimming Classes for children. Small Groups - Children from 4 years old The swimming school at the Centre de Santé la Lignière in Gland begins a new round of lessons for children in *small groups from September until June. Lessons last 45 minutes per week on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. The instructors always stay with the children in the warm water (heated to 32 degrees) with the familiarisation classes and with the beginner swimmers. There’s also a jacuzzi with water 34 degrees! Individual classes for both children and adults are possible during all the year. The school has a team of friendly instructors. Different levels of swimmers are catered from complete beginners to the more experienced. *No more than 5 children per group. Contact Sarah Lailler (she speaks English) and is the manager of the swimming school on 022 999 65 81 email natation@la-ligniere.ch.