Event: Switzerland - Basel

Basel Carnival

When:	2 - 4 Mar 2009 (annual)
Where:	Basel
Costs:	Free to watch
Opening Hours:	Starts Mon 4am

Basel Carnival kicks off with the Morgenstreich - at 4am Basel's electricity is turned off and the streets are illuminated by torch lights. The Carnival Queen is crowned in a solemn ritual, marking the start of a three-day street party.

For the next three days the city abandons itself to wild revelry - accompanied by the sound of thousands of piccolos (high-tone flutes) and drums. In addition to the floats, so-called Guggemusiken (boisterous brass bands) also present their own subjects in the procession.

After the processions, 60 Schnitzelbank groups of satirists parade through the city restaurants. They present verses (in Basel-German dialect) about the events of the past 12 months, accompanied by songs and music.

Tuesday is reserved for kids and is the occasion for a dazzling Children's Carnival. In the evening, the Guggenmusiken and a display of lanterns at Münsterplatz takes centre stage.

For established aficionados of the Basel Carnival, active and passive alike, one of the most attractive events (along with the Morgenstreich) is the Gässle. This entails accompanying the Cliques or Schyssdräggziigli (small groups) of piccolo and drum players as they wend their way at a leisurely pace through the alleys and back streets of the Old Town.