Basel Carnival, carnival in Basel, Switzerland
The Carnival of Basel is an annual celebration that takes place over three days following Ash Wednesday and fills the city with music, drums, and colorful parades. Streets are decorated with banners and lights, while musical bands play brass instruments and participants in elaborate costumes and masks move through the streets.
The Carnival of Basel has been celebrated for over 200 years and has roots in religious and cultural practices. Over time it has evolved into a city-wide celebration focused on fun and community spirit, shaping Basel's local identity.
The carnival in Basel is deeply woven into city life through homemade costumes and masks that often reflect local traditions or humorous themes. The community uses these days to play music together, dance, and comment on politics and current events in a playful way.
Wear comfortable shoes as the festival involves lots of walking to watch the parades along the streets or to move through squares with performances. Many vendors line the streets offering local food and drinks.
The celebration is launched by a loud, ancient shriek that suddenly sets the streets in motion and awakens thousands of people. At night and in the early morning hours, the city transforms into a spectacle of music and dance that hardly lets anyone sleep.
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