Düsseldorf – Stronghold of Rhineland Carnival

  Düsseldorf – alongside Cologne and Mainz – is one of the three strongholds of the annual Rhineland carnival. In the period between Hoppeditz' “awakening” on 11th November 2010 and Ash Wednesday (9 March 2011) over 300 carnival events and fancy-dress balls take place in Düsseldorf.

Street carnival in Düsseldorf is kicked off by “Weiberfastnachtstag” – Fat Thursday (3 March 2011) where women charge the City Hall and cut off men’s neckties.
Düsseldorf still honours the tradition on this so-called “Women’s Carnival” whereby women dressed as old ladies “Möhnen” take the city hall by storm and arrest the Mayor. This is followed by the symbolic handing over of the city hall keys. As a rule, some bottles of wine are paid as a ransom for the Mayor who frees himself by swaying massively to the music.

“Möhnen” conquer Düsseldorf City Hall
In the early hours of the morning the Düsseldorf city centre already becomes a real epicentre of festivities. From 11.11 am “Möhnen” take over the rule for one day. They storm the city hall, capture the Major, occupy the Karlplatz weekly market and end up partying in the surrounding Old Town pubs until the small hours of the morning.

  “Tuntenlauf” – Drag Queen Race at Bürgersaal
A special delight awaits visitors at the Henkel-Saal on Ratinger Straße on Saturday, 5 March 2011, from 4.00 pm: “Tuntenlauf” – drag queens trying to cut a fine figure on high heels while trying to master an obstacle course as fast as possible. Registrations will even be accepted last minute. The proceeds go the Düsseldorf Aids Relief Centre.

On Sunday the “Kö” Avenue is in the Hands of the Carnival “Jesters”
Prior to the actual climax of Carnival in Düsseldorf (Rose Monday on 7 March 2011) several hundred thousands of people will again be promenading on Königsallee on Sunday (6 March 2011). Traditionally, this magnificent boulevard is the meeting place for Düsseldorf locals and their guests from the region to party from 11.11 am. Open end – with musical and culinary needs fully catered to...

Rose Monday Parade on 7 March 2011
One of the highlights of Düsseldorf’s Carnival season will be the Rose Monday Parade on 7 March 2011, as depicted in this photo from 2010. Weather permitting, over a million guests are expected to line the streets of the North Rhine-Westphalian capital. The parade of floats dubbed the "Zoch" starts moving at 1.35 pm.
And by Ash Wednesday (9 March 2011) after “Hoppeditz” is dead and buried the night before everything will finally be over for another year! - More Information