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GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – The 2013 carnaval season is upon us. Brace yourself for the never-ending brass band parades, Guggen (masked performers) and cow bells (no bikini-clad dancers here).

Although there is no Carnival in Geneva, a number of towns around Lake Geneva have scheduled carnivals for late February and early March, including a Venetian carnival in Annecy.

The Basel Fasnacht is billed as the largest in Switzerland, starting at 04:00 the Monday after Ash Wednesday and lasting “exactly 72 hours”. Read GenevaLunch’s ultimate survival guide before heading to Basel (you’ll need it).

Carnival in Switzerland is all about the brass – Photo Ellen Wallace

Here is the ultimate 2013 carnival, carnevale, carnaval, karneval or fasnacht list: get your Guggen on!

• 8 January-31 March, canton Ticino (Schedule for all towns in Ticino including Lugano and Locarno)
• 31 January-3 February, Schaffhausen
• 1-3 February, Bulle (FR)
• 2 February, Lotschental (VS)
• 2-10 February, Pfäfers, (SG)
• 3-16 February, Sargans (St. Gallen)
• 6-12 February, Kerns (LZ)
• 6-10 February, Wil (St. Gallen-SG)
• 6-12 February, Leukerbad (VS)
• 7 February, Altstatten (St. Gallen)
• 7-9 February, Appenzell (SG)
• 7-11 February, Flums (St. Gallen)
• 7-11 February, Le carnaval de Sion (VS)
• 7-12 February, Zug
• 7-15 February, Lucerne
• 7-12 February, Stans (LZ)
• 7-12 February, Le carnaval de Monthey
• 7-12 February, Monthey (Valais)
• 7-12 February, St. Gallen
• 7-12 February, Baden
• 7-12 February, Carnaval d’Evolène (VS)
• 7-12 February, Carnaval en Anniviers (VS)
• 7-12 February, Carnaval d’Evolène (VS)
• 7-12 February, Carnaval en Anniviers (VS)
• 7-12 February, Chur (GR)
• 7-12 February, Wurenlingen (Aargau)
• 7-15 February, Lucerne (LZ)
• 8-12 February, Le carnaval du Jura à Bassecourt (JU)
• 8-12 February, Bolzes (FR)
• 8-12 February, Broc (FR)
• 8-12 February, Fribourg (FR)
• 10 February, Solothurn
• 10 February, Carnival de Sindiez et Nendaz (VS)
• 11 February, Bad Ragaz (SG)
• 12 February, Brunnen (LZ)
• 12 February, Mels (St. Gallen)
• 12 February, Schwyz (SZ)
• 12 February, Zinal (VS)
• 13-17 February, Biel/Bienne
• 14-16 February, Rapperswil (Lake Zurich)
• 14-16 February, Wartau (SG)
• 14-15 February, Bern (BE)
• 14-17 February, Brugg/Zurzach (AG)
• 15-16 February, Winterthur
• 15-17 February, Arbon (Thurgau)
• 15-17 February, Zurich
• 15-18 February, Carnaval de Payerne (VD)
• 15-17 February, Carnaval de Sainte-Croix (VD)
• 17-18 February, Overnight carnival train (from Swiss Romande to Basel)
• 18-21 February, Basel Fasnacht 
• 21-23 February, Estavayer-le-Lac
• 23-24 February, Venetian Carnival, Annecy (France)
• 28 February-3 March, Les Brandons de Moudon (VD)
• 2-3 March,  Les Brandons de Grandson (Lake Geneva region)
• 8-10 March, Les Brandons d’Yverdon-Les-Bains (VD)
• 16-17 March, Savognin (Graubunden)
• 16 March, La Chaux-de-Fonds (NE)
• 15-17 March, Orbe (Vaud)
• 2-5 May, Lausanne

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