GENEVA, Switzerland – Carnaval, carnival, fasnacht, karnivale and brandons are some of the names by which the festive season of street celebrations filled with parades, brass bands and masquerades, that usually take place before Lent, have begun in Switzerland.

While most celebrations take place before Ash Wednesday, many take place during the Lent period such as the Basle Fasnacht —the largest in Switzerland—with more than 15,000 people crowding the streets during a four-day celebration which begins at 4:00.

Geneva does not have a carnival but many cities around the Lake Geneva area do, with many holding Venetian-style celebrations worth a visit.

Here’s the list for the 2015 carnivals. The list is sorted by start date and length. Take into consideration that almost every town in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino has a carnevale. Enjoy!

• 22-26 January, Schwyz Nüssler (Schwyz)
• 22 January-27 February (All cities around canton Ticino)
• 24 January Pfäfers, (Saint-Gallen)
• 29 January-1 February, Carnevale di Cadenazzo (Ticino)

• 6-8 February, Bulle (Fribourg)
• 6-8 February, Estavayer-le-Lac (Neuchatel)
• 6-8 February, Schaffhausen (Schaffhausen)
• 6-8 February, Rapperswil-Jona (Lake Zurich) 

• 7-13 February, Sargans (St Gallen)
• 7-17 February, Brunnen (Lucerne)
• 7-20 February, Luzern (Lucerne)

• 11-15 February, Wil Fasnacht (St Gallen)
• 11-16 February, Carnevale di Lugano (Ticino)

• 11-17 February, Altdorf Fasnacht (Uri)
• 11-17 February, Kerns Fasnacht (Lucerna)
• 11-17 February, Carnaval d’Evolène (Valais) – one of the most traditional whose roots can be traced back to the Middle Ages.

• 11-18 February, Solothurn (Solothurn)

• 12-14 February, Appenzell Fasnacht (Saint-Gallen) 
• 12-14  February, Loetschental (Valais)

• 12-15  February, Mels (St. Gallen)
• 12-15  February, Broc (Fribourg)

• 12-17  February, Altstatten (St Gallen)
• 12-17  February, Bellinzona (Ticino)
• 12-17  February, Carnaval de Sion (Valais/Wallis)
• 12-17 February, Carnaval de Monthey (Valais/Wallis)
• 12-17  February, Carnaval de Martigny (Valais/Wallis)
• 12-17  February, Stans (Lucerne)
• 12-17  February, St. Galler (St Gallen)
• 12-17  February, Carnarioule de St. Gingolph (Valais / France – Lake Geneva region)
• 12-17 February, Wurenlingen (Aargau)
• 12-17  February, Zug y varias ciudades (Zug)

• 12-18  February, Baden (Aargau)
• 12-18  February, Flums (St. Gallen) 

• 13-14  February, Stranociada di Locarno (Ticino)

• 13-17  February, Carnaval du Jura à Bassecourt (Jura)
• 13-17  February, Carnaval de Bolzes, Fribourg (Fribourg)

• 13-18 February, Chur (Graubunden)

• 17  February, Carnaval de Sindiez et Nendaz (Valais/Wallis)

• 18-22  February, Biel/Bienne (Bern)

• 19-21  February, Bern (Bern)
• 19-21  February, Carnevale di Lugano (Ticino)

• 19-22  February, Carnaval de Sainte-Croix (Vaud)
• 19-22  February, Wartau (Saint-Gallen)
• 19-22 February, Brugg/Zurzach (Aargau)

• 20-22  February, Zurich (Zurich)
• 20-22  February, Arbon (Thurgau) 

• 20-23  February, Winterthur (Zurich)
• 20-23 February, Brandons de Payerne (Vaud)

• 23-25  February, Basel Fasnacht (Basel City)

• 27  February – 1 March, Carnaval d’Evian (France, Lake Geneva region)
• 28 February – 1 March, Carnaval Vénitien d’Annecy (France) 

•  5-8 March, Les Brandons de Moudon (Vaud)
• 7 March, Carnaval de Genolier (Nyon, Vaud, Lake Geneva region)
• 7-8 March, Les Brandons de Grandson (Vaud, Lake Geneva region)
• 13-15 March, Les Brandons d’Yverdon-Les-Bains (Vaud, Lake Geneva region)
• 14 March, Carnaval de Préverenges (Vaud)
• 14-15 March, Savognin ski station (Graubunden) 
• 20-22 March, Orbe (Vaud) 
• 21 March, La Chaux-de-Fonds (Neuchatel)
• 23-24 March, Carnaval d’Annemasse (France/Lake Geneva region) 
• 27-29 March, Carnaval de Bussigny-près-Lausanne (Vaud, Lake Geneva region)
• La Matagasse de Thonon (France, Lake Geneva region bi-annual, back in 2016)
• 8-10 May, Carnaval de Lausanne (Vaud)
• 9-10 May, Carnaval Vénitien d’Yvoire (France, Lake Geneva region)

Photo featured, courtesy of the Carnaval Vénitien d’Annecy.

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