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What’s on: Do you know of any English-language events around Switzerland?

We are looking for your help in creating a new monthly what's on page covering events in Switzerland that are aimed at English speakers.

Published: 14 November 2018 10:38 CET
Updated: 15 November 2018 19:11 CET

What's on: Do you know of any English-language events around Switzerland?

File photo: Depositphotos

There are all sorts of events for English-speakers in Switzerland: from language exchange evenings in Geneva to theatre groups in Bern or parent’s meet-ups in Zurich.

If you are organizing or know of a local event near you in Switzerland that you would like to inform people of, we would love to add it to our what's on list and publish it on The Local. But please let us know advance. For example: to guarantee inclusion in our inaugral December guide, email us before the end of November.

You can email details (see below for what info to include) to [email protected]

We are looking for events that are geared towards English speakers. They don't necessarily have to be for native speakers, but it should be possible to get by if you speak some English.

Just let us know the following:

What's on: name of event

Where: city/town/village/venue/address

Date and time

Event by: who is hosting the event

Description: two or three lines about the event and the group hosting it

Link to a page/group/site so people can find more information or book a place

If you have any questions, please email [email protected]

How Cologne is preparing for the start of Carnival on Friday

Dubbed Germany’s “fifth season” by locals, the event starts every year on November 11th at 11:11 am, and typically stretches into February or March, when colourful parades spill into the streets.

Carnival stronghold Cologne in particular is preparing for the onslaught of tens of thousands of people who will flock to its Altstadt (old town), and especially to the student quarter, starting early Friday morning.

READ ALSO: 10 unmissable events in Germany this November

“Far too many people want to celebrate in far too small a space,” city director Andrea Blome told DPA. “We can’t stop anyone from coming to Cologne now.”

More security this year

In the popular Kwartier Latäng student quarter, there have been regular bouts of drinking by young partygoers in the past, who crowded into a confined space, leaving litter everywhere and publicly peeing on the corners of buildings.

Google Maps shows the location of the so-called Kwartier Latäng part of Cologne.

But with a new security plan, the city and police hope to keep the situation under control.

Several checkpoints and road closures have been set up to secure the safety of the revelers and relieve the burden on worried residents, according to Blome. Visitors will only be able to enter the closed-off area around Zülpicher Straße via a single access point.

On Friday, Cologne is also set to send a total of 150 employees from the Ordnungsamt (public order office) onto the streets, who will be supported by 520 private security guards.

A glass ban will again apply in the celebration zones, and several hundred toilets will be set up at the hotspots, “which nevertheless will probably not be used by all visitors,” Blome predicted.

READ ALSO: 10 words you need to know at Cologne’s Carnival

Up to 1,100 police officers are expected to be on duty on the day – about 200 fewer than last year, said head of operations Rüdiger Fink. But he expected to keep the situation “under control with a new security plan.”

What to expect

On Cologne’s Heumarkt, there will be a stage program all day with bands such as the Bläck Fööss, the Paveiern and Brings.

Google Maps shows Cologne’s Heumarkt along the Rhine River.

According to the Willi Ostermann Society, about 10,000 tickets were sold in advance for the event, which will be aired by German WDR for several hours.

Meanwhile, in Düsseldorf, the day will start at 11:11 a.m. with the “Hoppeditz Awakening” in front of City Hall.

According to a spokesman, the police will be adequately prepared for the start of the season, with a particular focus on the Altstadt, where there will certainly be celebrations.

“But 11.11. is a very different event here in Düsseldorf than in Cologne,” he said, referring to a more orderly start and fewer guests.

READ ALSO: What you need to know about celebrating Carnival in Germany

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