Solothurn CarnivalSolothurner Fasnacht

Solothurner Fasnacht (Solothurn Carnival) is the city’s annual pre-Lenten festival. Held roughly in mid-February, it fills Solothurn’s old town with music, masks and parades for several days. In that period the city seemingly goes into a festive ‘state of emergency’: roughly 30,000 people attend each year for the two main parades plus the children’s parade and the traditional “Chesslete” fight 1. About 1,400 locals participate in costumes. Events include costume competitions, Guggenmusik brass bands and floats satirizing current events. The festival is free to attend and takes place mainly in the pedestrian old town, with crowds in the Market Square (Marktplatz) and along Hauptgasse 2 1.

Fasnacht is rooted in Catholic pre-Lenten tradition as the “fifth season” of the year. In Solothurn it is observed with local guild processions and street parties. Festivities begin on Saint Hilarius’s day (13 January) and culminate with parades on the Sunday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. The city club Narrenzunft Honolulu leads the Hilari procession, and the town playfully calls itself “Honolulu” during carnival week 1. A highlight is the Giuliniense strike (“Chesslete”), where chalk-filled goodies are thrown through the streets. Overall the event emphasizes Swiss-German carnival customs and community participation. 2 1