The excitement of Fasnacht has reached its peak as tomorrow the main celebrations kick-off in Lucerne. Fasnacht, Switzerland’s carnival, has a long history throughout most parts of the country and is a fun, vibrant, colourful way to signal the transition from Winter to Spring and the coming of Lent. There are a few well-known Fasnacht celebrations in Switzerland – Lucerne being one, but also including Basel, Solothun, and many others. In this blogpost we will share with you some of the smaller, more local Fasnacht celebrations which you might prefer to take part in.
Weggis: 3rd March
Weggis, a small, picturesque town on Lake Lucerne, is just a 30 minute car journey or 40 minutes by train from Lucerne. Although it may be small, they sure do know how to party! On Monday, 3rd March (Güdelmontag) Weggis will celebrate ‘unser Weggiser Fasnachstag’. Events will begin early! At 5.30am on Gotthardstrasse 77 the ‘Besammlung Tagwach’ will begin, followed by a procession through the streets to Dorfplatz.
After breakfast and allowing some time for costumes to be finalised, the children’s carnival parade will begin at 1.30pm from Seestrasse to Muniseckel to Dorfplatz.
Visit the Weggis Fasnacht page here for further details.
Stans: 27th February – 4th March
To the south of Lucerne, Stans can be reached in around 20 minutes by car or train. The town of Stans plans to celebrate Fasnacht throughout the week, so there are more options to choose from if you’re looking to take part or visit! They will begin the main event on Thursday 27th February at 5.30am with the ‘big bang’. From 2.15pm a parade will begin with around 41 groups, with colourful and scary costumes, and lots of Guuggen music! There are also specific children’s parades to take part in throughout the weekend.
Visit the Stans Fasnacht page here for all of the details.
Meggen: 2nd March
For something a little smaller, but by no means any less loud, you might want to head to Meggen. Only 10 minutes by car, bus, or train from Lucerne (or you can even walk!). There are many activities taking place in the community over the coming days, but the most well-known happens on Shrove Sunday, 2nd March. Crowds gather to celebrate Fasnacht and a ‘Megger Fasnachtsumzug’ begins. It is a true community celebration with risotto, Guuggemusigen, and much more.
Visit the Fröschenzunft Meggen website for more information.
Sursee: 27th February – 4th March
Less than 30 minutes by train or car to the north of Lucerne, Sursee is another great town to consider joining the Fasnacht celebrations in. The town embraces the meaning of Fasnacht and celebrates between the 27th February to the 4th March. The agenda includes a childrens carnival, Guuggenmusic, and a unique tradition of ‘Narrenlaufen’/’Nusslen’. Locals dressed in costumes visit restaurants playing tricks and causing mischief. According to the city’s website, the mayor of Sursee is ‘removed’ and replaced by the ‘father of the guild Heini von Uri’ for the duration of Fasnacht. It is a town filled with lots of traditions and history.
Learn more on the website here.
Brunnen: 27th February – 4th March
Reachable by car in 35 minutes, train in 50 minutes, or even boat, the town of Brunnen also sits on the shores of Lake Lucerne. Brunnen is yet another town in Central Switzerland filled with Fasnacht history. The ‘Bartligesellschaft’, the Bartli Society, is over 100 years old, and according to a local website, is ‘one of the oldest carnival associations in central Switzerland’. Fasnacht history in Brunnen can even be traced back to 1508!
The Bartligesellschaft ensure another year of Fasnacht fun is on its way. Schmutziger Donnerstag, on the 27th February, will also begin at 5.00am, followed by meet-ups and a process from 14.00pm. Of course, celebrations will run late into the evening and will continue over the weekend. This is a special Fasnacht celebration, so make sure you add it to your list!
Visit the Fasnacht website for information about the upcoming celebrations.
