Now you’re ready to participate in Fasnacht

Together with the Fasnacht Committee, the junior sections of the carnival groups have launched the "Now you’re ready to participate in Fasnacht" campaign. The aim is to show children, young people and interested adults that Basel Carnival has more to offer than just the most beautiful three days of the year. It is also aimed at teachers who want to address the colorful goings-on in the classroom and provides them with practical tools.

Young talent

Children & teenagers

Carnival fever from an early age

Would you like to play the piccolo or learn to play the drums? Or stand in the ranks of a Guggenmusik band and join in the music? Here you will find various ways to get started.

With over 40 junior sections, the choice is huge. The Cliquomat and our list with an overview will help you find your carnival group!

Come by and get to know your piccolo and drum band

During Carnival, you can get to know many cliques in person. Discover all the clique activities in the overview.

Overview

Cliquomat

Which carnival group suits you?

With Cliquomat , you find out which piccolo and drum band is rehearsing around the corner from you and on which day of the week.

To the Cliquomat

Overview

All junior sections at a glance

Here you'll find a list of all 40 junior sections.

To the list

Carnival is coming soon

Mrs. Fasnacht invites all first graders in Basel to carnival and gives them a copper badge.

To the invitation

Adults

Carnival knows no age limit

You are a bit older and have caught carnival fever? Some piccolo and drum bands and various piccolo and drum schools offer courses for beginners.

School carnival & bsfidi

Basel Carnival for schools and kindergartens

The Basel Carnival captivates – from early childhood on. No wonder it is also a popular topic in the classroom. The Fasnacht Committee organizes the Basel school carnival in the city center (BSFIDI) every five years, is the point of contact for teachers and provides various teaching aids.

Learn more

BSFIDI: Basel school carnival in the city center

Next event:
Thursday, February 28, 2030

Frequently asked questions

Should you rather play the piccolo or the drums? How long does it take to master an instrument? What happens before, during and after carnival in a piccolo and drum band, how much does it all cost and where can you register? Answers to the frequently asked questions about carnival youth can be found here.

Where do you learn?
The best way to learn is to join the junior section of a piccolo and drum band. Not only will you learn to play the drums or the piccolo, but you will also make new friends. Together with them, you can get to know and cultivate traditions. They don't want to train you to be a star, but simply to become a good carnival participant.

In this sense, the junior sections and the carnival groups perform an important social and societal task.

How do you learn?
In general you go to drum or piccolo lessons once a week. These usually last one hour and take place on different days and at different times in different venues. You are sure to find a suitable option near you on a day of the week that suits you. Experienced instructors with an understanding for young people will ensure that your enjoyment and enthusiasm is maintained.

How long?
You never stop learning. At the beginning, you should practise for half an hour every day. Very talented and hard-working piccolo players can take their instrument to the carnival after just one or two years. Drummers need two to three years.

Some piccolo and drum bands have a Binggis (dialect expression for small children) group with a small repertoire to make it easier for the youngest to get started. Those who are not yet drumming or playing the piccolo at the carnival act as space makers and hand out Zeedel (leaflets with satirical verses).

Playing the piccolo or the drum?
In most piccolo and drum bands today, girls or boys can learn to play the drum or the piccolo together and at the age of 18 they can join the adult section.

Some piccolo and drum bands are exclusively for males and only welcome boys into their junior and men into their adult section. There are also piccolo and drum bands that are reserved for women only.

Before the carnival
The carnival is prepared together with your new friends. You discuss which theme to choose. The larvae are made and painted. Poems are written for the lantern. Props are built. All in a cozy, homely and tingly pre-carnival atmosphere.

At the carnival
Carnival is the special festival where the pent-up and creative energy of the preparations is released. It has different faces - from the Morgestraich, the Cortège, the "Gässle" (strolling through the alleys) in the evening, kids carnival, Guggenmusik band concerts, Schnitzelbänke (satirical carnival songs) to the Endstreich - so that there is something for everyone. Above all, the carnival participants enjoy the shared experience of the three days and the hours of fun spent together.

After the carnival
Life in a piccolo and drum band is more or less intense throughout the year. Soon after carnival, you go on "Bummel", i.e. you go on a Sunday outing somewhere in the region, play the piccolo and the drums together again to your heart's content. Many carnival groups go on further excursions or trips in spring and fall. There are also many other events throughout the year.

What does it cost?
Not much when you consider all that is on offer. The course fee varies from CHF 50 to CHF 150 per year, depending on the carnival group. The costs for the carnival also vary greatly and range from CHF 150 to around CHF 250 per year.

A piccolo costs around CHF 400 and a drum around CHF 900. Most piccolo and drum bands provide piccolos and drums in the initial phase or make a contribution to the purchase price.

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