Every winter, a special time begins in Germany—the carnival season, which Germans call Fasching, Fastnacht, or Karneval. It’s not just a parade or a party, but a real “fifth season”—an ancient tradition rooted in European history and associated with the festivities preceding Lent.
For those who live in Germany, and especially for families with children, this is a great opportunity to get to know the country’s culture, take a break from everyday life, have fun, and even join in the celebrations with the locals. Children love costumes, candy (Kamelle), and street parades, while adults enjoy the music, jokes, and friendly atmosphere.
Carnival doesn't start suddenly – traditionally, November 11 at 11:11 a.m. marks the start of the season, but the most important holidays take place in February:
February 12 – Weiberfastnacht – women “take over”: In some cities, they symbolically storm the town halls and even cut the men's ties.
February 13–15 – Parade and family days, street festivals, and costume parades.
February 16 – Rosenmontag – the most important carnival parade in 2026.
February 17 – Veilchendienstag (Violet Tuesday).
February 18 – Ash Wednesday – the celebrations end and Lent begins.
Important: Many schools are on vacation at this time, especially if Carnival is actively celebrated in the region. This makes the holiday ideal for a family vacation with children.
The most important carnival centers in Germany:
Cologne: The Cologne Carnival is one of the largest and best known in Germany. For a whole week, there are celebrations with street parades, costumes, and music, culminating in the Rose Monday parade with huge floats and thousands of participants. Over a million people flock to the streets.
Mainz: The parade in Mainz is one of the most colorful: around 10,000 participants, huge figures, music, and satirical floats. This carnival is interesting because of its history (first mentioned in the 19th century) and its atmosphere.
Düsseldorf: The carnival in Düsseldorf is characterized by satire and humorous platforms – the tradition of poking fun at politics, events, and urban legends is very strong here.
Other cities: Bonn, Aachen, Kaiserslautern, and smaller towns also hold their own local parades and children's carnivals – all of which are part of Germany's diverse carnival culture.
Why should immigrants visit Carnival?
✔ It's a chance to get to know authentic German culture and traditions – Carnival is different from the usual European festivals.
✔ It's suitable for families with children – costume parades, sweets, music, and fun create a festive atmosphere.
✔ It's easy to participate! Many events are free and take place on the streets.
✔ It's a great opportunity to meet locals and feel the community spirit—we are all different, but Carnival brings us together.
What to bring:
*Costumes for yourself and your children are almost a must to have fun.
*Comfortable clothes and shoes – the parades take place outdoors.
*A good mood and a camera – the impressions will stay with you for a long time!
Carnival in Germany is not compulsory and is not an “integration test.” If you don't like the noise and crowds, you can skip it anytime. But if you give yourself the chance to watch a carnival parade at least once, to feel this mixture of music, costumes, and the children's enthusiasm for the flying candy, it becomes clear why this tradition is so important to the locals. It is a part of the culture that is interesting to see with your own eyes, especially if you live here.
Cologne Carnival 2025 | Photo: AP/Martin Meissner
