Berne Fasnacht. Photo by Terence du Fresne © Bern Tourismus swiss-images.ch
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Berne Fasnacht
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When:
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26 - 28 Feb 2009 (annual)
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Where:
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Berne
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Berne bids farewell to winter with one hell of a party. The three-day Berne Fasnacht carnival celebrations are a riotous affair, as the city's streets come alive with brass bands, hook-nosed witches, jovial jesters and the odd bear or two...
The Berne Fasnacht carnival celebrations kick off at 8pm on the Thursday following Ash Wednesday, when a cuddly grizzly bear - not a real one, of course - is released among the crowds from the Chäfigturm (Prison Tower).
The party continues on Friday with the Chinderumzug (Children's Parade) in the Züghusgass, where tiny tots in brightly-coloured costumes file through the Old Town. Berne Fasnacht culminates in Saturday's huge parade at 2.30pm, where hundreds of traditional carnival characters flood central Berne. Live music, dancing and partying at the Monschterkonzärt round out the event.
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