A great masquerade in Geneva

Want a short break in Switzerland suitable for all the family? Try flying to Geneva for the city's annual Winter Carnival in February.

This event sees children and adults alike take part in the age-old tradition of spending several days celebrating the end of the winter.

In the days leading up to the grand finale, families enjoy the numerous funfairs, food stalls and performances that line the streets of the city.

Children wander around in spectacular masked costumes, with the final day's carnival procession providing an excellent opportunity to view the weird and wonderful creations of the young people of Geneva.

This procession generally runs from 14:30 local time to midnight, beginning at the Bridge of Bergues and ending with participants howling goodbye at the winter in anticipation of the spring months to come.

While the carnival was originally intended to run for three days, its immense popularity has seen it last for a week in recent years.

For more information, see the Geneva Tourism website.

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