My first experience with Luzern’s Winter Carnival was in February 1992 when I was the VP Sales for North America for the Palace Hotel in Luzern, Switzerland. My wife and I traveled to Luzern with a retired couple, Jack and Maralynn King from Golf, Illinois, and we were all staying at the Palace for an entire week. We arrived the day before Carnival began and I had heard from various people in Luzern that this would be an exciting week. And they were correct.
As usual, the seven hour time difference from Chicago to Switzerland made it difficult to get a full night’s sleep, and for once this turned out to be a blessing. I was awake by around 4:00 AM and with nothing else to do but look outside the window, I was shocked to witness the migration of several hundred, or perhaps, even thousands of people, all walking silently down the street towards the “old town”. People of all ages were arriving by car, bus, train and boat in the pre-dawn hours in order to celebrate what they hoped would be the end of the winter.
Sometime just before daybreak a loud boom was heard and Carnival officially began with parades, marching bands, floats, citizens wearing elaborate costumes with everyone enjoying some good-natured fun. Certainly there was beer and wine drinking but it was primarily a family celebration, unlike what you would experience in Rio or New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Everyone was welcome and they behaved like the usual responsible, law-abiding Swiss citizens.
Well, the week went by way too fast and we enjoyed it so much that we were back again the next year with my wife’s nephews and three retired ladies from the Chicago area. Both boys were about 14 years old and they too had a great time. We never worried about them or the older women for a minute because it is always a G-rated party.
Truly experiencing Europe is not just about seeing the famous buildings, or sampling the local cuisine, or dutifully visiting the world-class museums and churches. It is also about witnessing and participating in the annual festivals, as well as meeting the local people. So, we invite everyone of you to a most beautiful corner of Europe to enjoy that area’s favorite celebration. At Luzern’s Carnival, everyone’s welcome and everyone always talks about going back again.
My first experience with Luzern’s Winter Carnival was in February 1992 when I was the VP Sales for North America for the Palace Hotel in Luzern, Switzerland. My wife and I traveled to Luzern with a retired couple, Jack and Maralynn King from Golf, Illinois, and we were all staying at the Palace for an entire week. We arrived the day before Carnival began and I had heard from various people in Luzern that this would be an exciting week. And they were correct.
