Exhibition

Basel Carnival

July 6, 2022

July 11, 2024 | 10:00 - 17:00 Uhr
Opening hours
Monday closed
Tuesday to Sunday
10:00 - 17:00 Uhr
A harlequin dressed in purple, a carnival figure, sits on a bench holding a pole lantern in his hands
Rechts guckt eine Waggislarve mit riesiger roter Nase und wilden orangen Haaren aus dem Bild Dahinter sieht man in ein Larvenatelier
Basel Fasnacht (carnival) is a large festival of sounds and dreams, of colour and fantasy, but also of criticism and mockery. It has been evolving over the last 100 years. Since then, and now, this carnival has inspired the population and artists of this city into active participation, not only during carnival time but also all year round. The city's population uses this festival to vent their real opinions in a humorous and colourful way and to act and behave differently from their normal day to day lives. For three days a year Basel lives in a different world.
This exhibition provides a multimedia overview of Basel Fasnacht (carnival) in historic and atmospheric rooms: Costumes, masks, musical instruments, historical documents and a reproduction of a typical carnival premise. It is a cooperation between the Museum der Kulturen Basel and the association Basler Fasnachts-Welt