“We want to show that students can also organize fun things for the whole city,” says Diane Schoenmaker, chairperson of the City Day (Stadsdag) committee. “Of course, Demos is used to showing its civic involvement by organizing activities, but often on a smaller scale. This time we are hoping for as many as a thousand visitors.”

To let as many people as possible know a party is planned, on March 30 Demos was already playing games and doing face painting at 18 septemberplein (see photo). They also hung up posters in community centers and nursing homes, on the TU/e campus, at Fontys and in primary schools. The student association has come up with ideas for a morning program of ‘Traditional Dutch fun’ and an afternoon program of games activities. From 17.00 hrs they will be turning the square into a festival venue.

Anyone going to Stadhuisplein on May 3 can take part in a game of bingo or a klaverjassen tournament, held in a big party tent. As well as the tent, there will be pitches for hockey and soccer, and a bouncy castle. Demos members are collecting shoeboxes as materials children can use to build a table soccer game. There will be a stall where chemistry experiments  will be performed, and anyone who feels like dancing can join in a dance workshop.

At the end of the afternoon the live music will start, which Demos hopes will appeal to a broad audience. Schoenmaker: “There will be various styles. The band called ‘Het Bandje’ made up of former Demos members plays mostly covers and Barosz plays his own music.” Demos member DJ Zovoz performed recently at the – last –Academic Year Opening, and will keep the party going until 22.00 hrs.