SLIDESHOW_D_EN
SLIDESHOW_D_EN
SLIDESHOW_D_EN
SLIDESHOW_D_EN
PlayPause
previous arrow
next arrow

Carnival Düsseldorf

D_KKE_Karneval_1290_160

When Düsseldorf´s Hoppeditz crawls out of his barrel of mustard at 11.11 am on Nov. 11, and launches into an acid-tongued verbal duel with the mayor before the crowd gathered in front of city hall, it´s that time again. The "fifth season of the year" has found its way into the Rhineland and will turn the city upside down for duration of the carnival season. The colorful street carnival is the highlight of the activities, the true "crazy days." It traditionally begins in February on Women´s Carnival Day (the Thursday before Shrove Monday) and catapults the city into a state of chaos until Ash Wednesday, with costume balls, processions and all kinds of comical figures on the streets!

As a resident you have the choice of either fleeing town or letting the "normal" madness of these mega-events take hold of you and partying for all your worth. When you put on your fancy-dress costume things start happening during the street parades known as "Zoch." Besides the many parades and carnival highlights such as the queen run on carnival Saturday, in which the Königsallee becomes a raceway for the city´s hottest drag queens, the actual high point of the street carnival is the traditional Shrove Monday parade, with its provocatively designed floats, establishing the Düsseldorf carnival as the "cheekiest party in the world!"

This monster gets rolling on the Joseph Beuys embankment and makes its way through the center city with 70 floats in tow, reaching up to 6.5 km in length. About 1 million revelers join in along its path, enthusiastically shouting "Helau," drinking Alt beer, and displaying an insane zest for life. But even the craziest days have to end. On Ash Wednesday, when comedy finally takes holiday, the Hoppeditz is ceremoniously relegated to his grave unti his next resurrection, and the last reveler has put aside his masquerade, many Düsseldorf people almost go into mourning. But this actually doesn´t last long because the bulging events calendars of this metropolis on the Rhine herald the next highlights – like the grandiosely staged Japan Day – and, to be honest, who can live permanently in a state of revelry?


›› Back

Düsseldorf´s annual events


January

boot10_4161Jboot Düsseldorf
International Boat Exhibition with all manner of information on water sports.
›› 9 days, Messegelände, www.boot.de

›› Back

February

IMG_1391Karneval
When the street carnival begins on “Women’s Carnival Day,” the entire city is turned upside down. Highlights of this crazy time include the queen run on the Königsallee on carnival Saturday and the Shrove Monday parade through the city center. Parties, balls and still more parades complete the scene.
›› www.comitee-duesseldorfer-carneval.de, www.duesseldorf.de

›› Back

March

WeinProWein
All the trends from the world of wine and fine spirits in one fair.
›› 3 days, Messegelände, www.prowein.de


›› Back

April

fmt_riesenradOsterkirmes
Roller coaster, ferris wheel, and the like all go round at the Easter fairground.
›› 9 days, Grafenberg, Staufenplatz, www.oster-kirmes.de


›› Back

May


Nacht der Museen
37 museums and galleries open their doors from 7 pm to 2 am, including many special events and parties.
›› 1 evening, www.nacht-der-museen.de

D_Sport_Rollnacht_4825Rollnacht
Düsseldorf on wheels. Skaters team up for a tour of the city on 9 evenings.
›› May to September, www.rollnacht.de


Metro Group Marathon
City marathon with interesting course, a supporting program and local joie de vivre.
›› 1 day, Rheinufer-Promenade, www.metro-group-marathon.de

D_KKE_Japantag_faechertanz2Japan-Tag
Day trip to the Land of the Rising Sun. It’s possible with Düsseldorf’s Japan Day, offering sushi and tempura, concerts and a spectacular fireworks display at 11 pm. As a one-off, the event takes place in October in 2011.
›› 1 day, Rheinufer-Promenade, www.japantag-duesseldorf.de

›› Back

June

Jazz Rally
During its jazz festival, Düsseldorf is transformed into a mecca for music lovers. 400 musicians perform in about 70 concerts over 3 days.
›› 3 days, www.duesseldorfer-jazzrally.de

SBMF2Schloss Benrath Musikfestival
As if by magic, this event draws visitors to the festively illuminated garden at Benrath Castle for classical music, water fountain displays and musical fireworks.
›› 2 days, Benrather Schlosspark, www.kkg-duesseldorf.de

BunteBuecher_IMG_2376Literaturtage
More than 40 literary events attract bookworms to the state capital. Numerous readings and book signings.
›› 2 weeks, www.duesseldorfer-literaturtage.de 

Christopher Street Day
Gays and lesbians celebrate and demonstrate all around Johannes-Rau-Platz.
›› 3 days, Johannes-Rau-Platz, www.csd-d.de

Mittsommernacht
The summer festival along the Rhine promenade offers great atmosphere, along with fine cuisine, art, culture and shopping.
›› 1 day, Rheinuferpromenade

KBücherbummel auf der Kö
Colorful literature bazaar, covering everything about books, on Düsseldorf’s magnificent mile.
›› 4 days, Stadtmitte, Königsallee/Bahnstraße, www.buecherbummel-auf-der-koe.de


094Dragon Boat Cup
The Medienhafen becomes a showplace for the popular dragon boat regatta for one day in June.
›› 1 day, Medienhafen, www.dragonboat-cup.de

Ballonfestival
Precisely on midsummer’s night, the most beautiful and colorful hot air balloons lift off over the Rheinwiesen (rhine meadows) and provide a great atmosphere, and not just in the sky.
›› Every 2nd year, 3 days (2012), Rheinufer, www.duesseldorfer-ballonfestival.de

BMW-Renntag
The grand horse-race at the Grafenberg course is one of the great public attractions among Düsseldorf’s sporting events.
›› 1 Tag, Rennbahn, www.duesseldorf-galopp.de

›› Back

July

foto_schiko3Open Source Festival
The festival for all music fans. Current music across 3 stages, a diverse program, and a stage for up-and-coming talent create an exuberant atmosphere at the racetrack.
›› 1 day, Rennbahn, www.open-source-festival.de

Duesseldorf_KKE_radschlgerturnierRadschlägerturnier
At this traditional event, hundreds of children display their cartwheeling skills.
›› 1 day, Untere Werft

DSC_0285Größte Kirmes am Rhein
Over 10 days, more than 4 million visitors are intoxicated by the colorful fair goings-on, shaken apart in daredevil rides, and seduced by the aroma of almonds and cotton candy.
›› 10 days, Oberkassel, Rheinwiesen, www.duesseldorf-kirmes.de

T3 Triathlon
A new sports highlight: Swimming, running and cycling at the Düsseldorf Medienhafen.
›› 1 day, www.t3-duesseldorf.de

WeinWeinfest
A wonderful wine festival with noble libations from the Rhineland and Palatinate.
›› 4 days, www.weinsommer.de

zakk Straßenfest
This traditional street celebration takes place amid live music, a flea market, info stands, and tempting cuisine.
›› 1 days, Fichtenstraße, www.zakk.de

›› Back

August

Duesseldorf_Stadtteile_Medienhafen_5401Hafenspiele
The popular movie event by the Filmwerkstatt takes place in good weather at Uecker-Platz, otherwise screenings are in the KAI 10, Raum für Kunst. There’s no charge for admission.
›› 8 days, Medienhafen, Uecker-Platz

Kunstpunkte
Look over artists’ shoulders as they work throughout two weekends in August. Art studios are open to all interested visitors; with shuttle service.
›› 2 weekends, www.kunstpunkte.de

›› Back

September

Duesseldorf_Events_Altstadtherbst_0929PhilippeGenty-PascalFrancois1altstadtherbst kulturfestival
At various locations in and around the old town, artists of all kinds, including theater, concerts and artistry, offer fantastic entertainment.
›› 19 days, Altstadt, www.altstadtherbst.de

Kö-Lauf
Popular fun run along the Königsallee, extra running events for children, various course lengths up to 10 km.
›› 1 day, Königsallee, www.stadtwerkeduesseldorf-koelauf.de

Weltkindertag
The Rhine promenade becomes a lively kids’ zone with lots of action, fun and games every year on World Children´s Day.
›› 1 day, Rheinuferpromenade in der Innenstadt

SBMF2Schloss Benrath Musikfestival
As if by magic, this event draws visitors to the festively illuminated garden at Benrath Castle for classical music, water fountain displays and musical fireworks.
›› 1 day, Benrather Schlosspark, www.kkg-duesseldorf.de

›› Back

October

Erntedankfest
Traditional harvest thanksgiving festival and parade, with a village atmosphere in idyllic Urdenbach on the Rhine.
›› 1 day, Urdenbach, www.abvu.de

Duesseldorf_Events_ido_Festival_DSC_3187ido-festival
International organ music festival with more than 100 concerts and a very diverse program for young and old.
›› 5 weeks, www.ido-festival.de

D_KKE_Japantag_faechertanz2Japan-Tag
Day trip to the Land of the Rising Sun. It’s possible with Düsseldorf’s Japan Day, offering sushi and tempura, concerts and a spectacular fireworks display at 11 pm. As a one-off, the event takes place in October in 2011.
›› 1 day, Rheinufer-Promenade, www.japantag-duesseldorf.de

›› Back

November

St. Martins-Umzug
Large lantern-lit parade through Düsseldorf’s old town for children and many spectators, to celebrate St. Martin’s Day.
›› 1 day, Altstadt, Sitftsplatz

IMG_1483Hoppeditz Erwachen
Official opening of the fifth season of the year, at 11:11 am, on Nov. 11, by the Düsseldorf arch-prankster Hoppeditz.
›› 1 day, Altstadt, Rathausplatz

Märchenwoche
Once upon a time… so it starts every year when the story-tellers with faces from all over the world light up the eyes of children and lure adults into their thrall with fairy tales about love.
›› 1 week, www.maerchenwoche.com

›› Back

December

D_KKE_Weihnachtsmarkt-am-SchauspielhausChristmas markets
Magical pre-Christmas atmosphere, hot mulled wine and the aroma of almonds transforms Düsseldorf’s city center into a winter fairy tale for the entire family, complete with ice rink.
›› 1 month, Altstadt, Marktplatz
›› Engelchenmarkt, Stadtmitte, Heinrich-Heine-Platz
›› Altstadt/Stadtmitte, Flingerstraße
›› Sternchenmarkt, Stadtmitte, Stadtbrückchen
›› Stadtmitte, Schadowplatz
›› Stadtmitte, Gustaf-Gründgens-Platz
›› www.duesseldorf-weihnachtsmarkt.de

skiFIS Skilanglauf Weltcup
Plenty of artificial snow on the Düsseldorf Rhine embankment provides a winter sport scene with a cross-country ski run where world-class skiers make their rounds.
›› 2 days, Rheinufer-Promenade, www.worldcup-duesseldorf.de

›› Back


 

New in Düsseldorf?

Download eBook here for free!

cover muenchen

Available as print issue & eBook
›› To the shop!
 

Latest articles