Helau or Alaaf? The main thing is to relax!

The excitement is building: Carnival is just a few weeks away! Especially in the strongholds of Cologne, Bonn and Düsseldorf, there will once again be plenty of celebrations. The highlight is, of course, the colourful Rose Monday parades, where decorated, funny and political floats and foot groups parade through the streets. But it's not just Cologne, Bonn and Düsseldorf that have wonderful parades that are worth a visit. In many places in the Rhineland, carnival parades and smaller children's and neighbourhood parades attract families in particular who want to watch the colourful goings-on in a more relaxed atmosphere. We'll tell you where! We also recommend a special kind of carnival parade in which you can even actively take part.

Incidentally, one of 32 youth hostels in the Rhineland is always close by, offering affordable and cosy accommodation for families with a longer journey.

Aachen

The children's costume parade takes place in Aachen on Sunday, 3 March, which is ideal for anyone who doesn't have time off on Rose Monday. Numerous kindergartens and school groups with colourful costumes and floats parade through Aachen's city centre and offer a wonderful opportunity to experience carnival in a somewhat quieter and more cheerful atmosphere. The parade starts at 11.11 am.

Further information
Youth hostel nearby: Aachen Youth Hostel with the 3 and 5-day family break

Neuss

The so-called Kappessonntagszug also takes place in Neuss on 2 March. The procession, consisting of foot groups, dance guards, music bands and around 30 floats and floats, starts at 1.11 pm and then moves through Neuss city centre.

Further information
Youth hostel nearby: Neuss Youth Hostel with special price 3-for-2 and 3 and 5-day family breaks

Food

The city of Essen proves that carnival is also celebrated in the Ruhr region. Two parades will be travelling through the city on Rose Monday. The Rüttenscheider Rosenmontag parade with around 50 floats and foot groups starts at 1.11 pm on Rüttenscheider Straße (near Wittekindstraße), then leads through the district of Rüttenscheid and ends at around 3.30 pm at the VIP grandstand on Admiral-Scheer-Straße. At 4.11 p.m., the parade will continue in the Kupferdreh district of Essen. Here, too, the organisers are expecting around 50 floats and parade groups to parade from the corner of Kupferdreher Straße/Hinsbecker Berg to the banks of the Deilbach in the late afternoon, creating a great atmosphere and raining carnival sweets on the spectators.

Further information
Youth hostel nearby: Essen Youth Hostel with the 3-day family break

Blankenheim

Every year on Carnival Saturday, a particularly unusual tradition takes place in this pretty little Eifel town and you are invited to take part. All you need is a white sheet, the ends of which are knotted at the forehead to form two ears, and a pitch torch. Dressed up as ghosts, you follow the Blankenheim chief ghost on his horse through the town and drive away the evil winter demons. The procession ends at the Weiherhalle, where the ghost party is held afterwards. It starts on 1 March at 19:11 at the town hall.

Further information
Youth hostel nearby: Blankenheim Castle Youth Hostel