SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Fasching, Germany’s “Fifth Season” or “Silly Season” is coming up and Eifel communities will be hosting a large number of parades and party events now through the beginning of March.
Although Ladies’ Fasching officially kicks of the “Silly Season” Feb. 28, with the tradition of “Storming Local City Halls”, many communities are currently planning and already hosting activities, which will continue through midnight, Mar. 6, the day before Ash Wednesday.
Many events kick off at 11 minutes past the hour on Fasching.
Among Fasching celebrations are Kappensitzung events, including comedy sketches in the German language as well as show and dancing performances. Attending such an event can be a lot of fun. Entry to a Kappensitzung runs between 5-8 Euros per seat.
People may ask their landlords, mayors, neighbors or friends for dates and times of any highlight events in their community, if not listed below.
Fasching parades are popular throughout the Rhineland area and in the Eifel. Entry to Fasching parades is free. People stand along the roads, cheering and watching the colorful floats go by. Children bring bags to collect candy.
For Fasching, people are encouraged to wear costumes, similar to Halloween, however, a colorful shirt or hat will be fine.
People consume alcoholic beverages during Fasching events and German police controls are often enforced.
The following is a list of Fasching activities to happen in the local area this year:
Fat Thursday or Ladies’ Fasching – Storming of City halls
Feb. 28, 11:11 a.m., Storming of the Bitburg City Hall with celebration: follow an invitation by the city mayor of Bitburg, Joachim Kandels and observe “the capturing of the Rathaus,” enjoy traditional Fasching music, treats and refreshments at the Bitburg city hall’s ballroom afterwards. Take photos.
Feb. 28, 11:11 a.m. Storming of the City Hall in Wittlich with the “ Moehnen” old ladies as they climb up the building with a leader and get into the city hall through a window. People gather in the market square to observe the spectacle. Food and beverages will be offered.
Feb. 28, 2:11 p.m., Storming of the Speicher City Hall, see the local ladies “take over” the Rathaus for the day with music and celebrations.
Feb. 28, “Apres Ski” meets Fasching at 8:11 p.m. at the Preis Kelten hall; the California Dreams band offers dance music afterwards. There is a 7 Euro entry fee.
Feb. 28, a so called “Moehnensitzung” or Ladies’ event with sketches, dancing performances and other entertain takes place at 2:30 p.m. at the Hetzerath community hall
Feb. 28, the Moehnen Fasching Ladies of Klausen will serve traditional pea soup at 11:11 a.m. on Ladies’ Day at the Klausen community hall
Feb. 28, a Ladies’ entertainment show with fun speeches, sketches and dancing performances takes place at 4:11 p.m. at the Grosslittgen Littcher Hof Landhotel.
Feb. 28, a Ladies’ and entertainment show with sketches, fun speeches and dancing performances takes place 5:11-7:11 p.m. at the Klausen community hall. Fasching tunes will follow.
Feb. 28, Ladies from the community of Rivenich will offer coffee and cake for purchase at 4 p.m. in the community
Upcoming, local parades
Feb. 23, 3:33 through the streets of Grosslittgen
Feb. 23, 3:11 p.m. through the community of Zemmer
Feb. 23, 3:11 p.m. through the community of Leiwen
Feb. 24, 1:11 p.m. through the community of Manderscheid
Feb. 24, 1:11 p.m. through the streets of Konz
March 1, a large parade takes place at 6:33 p.m. through the streets of Osann-Monzel.
A DJ will entertain visitors with entertainment music afterwards at the Osann-Monzel Oestelbach community hall.
Night parades
Feb. 23, 6:30 p.m., Rivenich
March 2, 6:11 p.m. in Bernkastel
March 2, 7:11 p.m., the Ghost parade through Blankenheim is a unique event
March 2, 6:30 p.m. through Trier-Euren
March 3, 7:11 p.m. through Graach/Mosel
March 2 – Saturday parades
2:11 p.m ., through the streets of Speicher
3:11 p.m., through the community of Klausen
4:11 p.m. through the streets of Meerfeld
2:11 p.m. through the city of Saarburg
3:11 p.m. through Zeltingen-Rachtig
2:11 p.m. through Oberkail, followed by a party featuring live music and a Schnitzelstube in the community hall
March 3- Sunday parades
1:11 p.m. through the streets of Bettenfeld
2:11 p.m. through the center of Bitburg
2:11 p.m. through the streets of Wittlich
2:11-5:11 p.m. through the streets of Kordel
2:11 p.m. through the community of Preist
2:11 p.m. through the streets of Bruch
2:11 p.m. through the streets of Landscheid-Burg/Salm
2:11 through the community of Landscheid-Niederkail
2:11 p.m. through Salmrohr and Doerbach
2:11 p.m. through the streets of Longkamp; “Just Fun” will play dance music afterwards
2:11 p.m. through the streets of Hetzerath
2:11 p.m. through Plein
2:11 p.m. through the Salmtal community
3:11 p.m. through the streets of Platten
2:11 p.m. through Biersdorf am See
2:11 p.m. through the streets of Schalkenmehren
March 4 - Rose Monday parades
12:11-5 p.m. p.m. through the streets of Trier, starting from the Southern part of the city, from Medardstrasse through the center of town, to the Northern part of the city, on Herzogenbuscherstrasse. The floats will end in front of the Trier Arena. A Fasching celebration will take place at the Arena in the afternoon. There is an entry fee into the party area.
12:11 p.m., through the streets of Koblenz
1:11 p.m., through the streets of Pruem
2:11 p.m. through the streets of Trier-Ehrang
2:11 p.m. through the city of Speicher
2:11 p.m. through the streets of Orenhofen
2:11 p.m. through the community of Dreis
2:11 p.m. through the streets of Landscheid
2:11 p.m. through the community of Gladbach
2:11 p.m. through Hupperath with Minderlittgen
2:11 p.m. in Hupperath
2:11 p.m. in Niederoefflingen
2:11 p.m. through the streets of Foehren
March – 5, Shrove Tuesday parades
2:11 p.m. through Sehlem-Esch
2:11-5 p.m. through Trier-Ruwer
2:11 p.m. through Welschbillig
Kappensitzung events, featuring comedy, joke poking, sketches and show dances
Feb. 23, 7:11 p.m. at the Binsfeld community hall
Feb. 23, 7 :30 p.m. at the Speicher Pfarrheim parish home
Feb. 23, 8:11 p.m. at the Bruch hall
Feb. 23, 8:11 p.m. at the Altrich community hall
Feb. 23, 7:33 at the Hasborn Turnhalle or gymnastics hall
Feb. 23, 8:11 p.m. in Osann-Monzel
March 2, 7:11 p.m. at the Hetzerath hall
Kids’ Fasching parties:
Feb. 23, 3:11 p.m. at the Manderscheid Kurhaus
Feb. 23, 2:11 p.m. at the Eckfeld community hall
Feb. 23, 4:11 p.m. at the Niederoefflingen hall, free entry for children; 2.50 Euro for adults
Feb. 24, 2:11 p.m. at the Arenrath community hall
Feb. 24, 2:11 at the Hasborn Turnhalle or gymnastics hall
Feb. 24, 3:11 p.m. at the Dreis community hall
Feb. 24., 2:11 p.m. – Kappensitzung, presented by children with sketches, dances and speeches at the Klausen community hall
Feb. 24, 2:11 p.m. – Childrens’ Fun Session at the Bitburg Haus der Jugend
Feb. 24, 2:11 p.m. at the Hetzerath hall
March 2, 2:11 at the Buergerhaus Niersbach village hall
March 2, 2:11 p.m. at the Hupperath community hall
March 2, 4:11 p.m. in Rivenich
March 4, 4:11 to 7:30 p.m. in Sehlem Esch
March 5, 3:11 p.m. Childrens’ Fun event, featuring dances and sketches, a few speeches. People can purchase coffee and cake at the event.
Dance Festivals and Fasching parties
Feb. 20, 3 p.m. A Fasching event for seniors takes place at the Salmtal-Doerbach hall
Feb. 22, 8:11 p.m., 9th Dance Festival of Klausen at the community hall.
Feb. 22, 8:11 p.m., 19th Mens’ Ballet festival and music with the Nonstop band
Feb. 23, 7:11 p.m. an oriental Fasching party takes place in Ayl
March 1, 8:11 p.m., 25th Welschbillig Mens’ Ballet Festival at the Welschbillig Kultur- and Marktscheune hall
March 4, 4:33 p.m. A Rose Monday party takes place at the Osann-Monzel Oestelbach hall