It’s carnival time in many towns with lively parades, musicians and elaborate costumes. Carnival in Switzerland may not be quite the spectacle that it is in Rio, but anybody who thinks the Swiss are conservative may be surprised at the festivities. During the carnival season, participants let their hair down and enjoy life to the fullest. Masks and costumes help people take on a new identity while they parade through the streets. Carnival is held throughout Switzerland, but the dates and details vary from canton to canton. It is normally just before or just after the beginning of Lent. Carnival is best known in Basel, but it’s also lively in Zurich, Lucerne and Fribourg.

The return of the month of May has always been a time of rejoicing and celebrations, marked by special customs in different regions. In Begnins at Lake Geneva, such a local custom has been preserved for centuries. It is now a festival which is entirely reserved to children, delighting them with presents, games, tea parties and other entertainment. Other special celebrations take place in Gallen and Vaud.

This lively festival takes place over a week in late July in a field outside town, with an excellent line-up of musicians attracting hundreds of thousands of revellers. The festival mixes headline concerts and new discoveries in Nyon’s biggest party and one of Europe’s biggest rock festivals. Tickets are cheaper if you buy them early, and a six-day pass offers great savings. Round-trip transport from Nyon to the site and back is free.