The highlight of the 'fools' season'  is the Rosenmontag Parade, more than  two and a half kilometres long, with around 60 floats decorated with great ingenuity, and any amount of  groups on foot winding  their way through the city. Every year again,  about a million 'fools' line the pavements, shouting 'Helau' (the local carnival greeting) and hoping to catch plenty of  'Kamelle' (sweets thrown from the various floats).

Possibly even more popular with Düsseldorf womenfolk is the 'Altweiberfastnacht',  when  women storm the townhall in order to show the town fathers who is really master of the house. Tradition demands that lots of ties get  cut in the process!

The Sunday before the big parade has an almost Venetian atmosphere. On Königsallee, citizens in costume meet to dance, sing or simply have fun.

Düsseldorf's carnival has a longstanding tradition. As early as in 1825, the first prince was elected and the first Rose Monday Parade organised.

This annual colourful medley is organised by the Düsseldorf Carnival Committee which combines  about 60 carnival clubs. The committee elects the prince, coordinates the numerous  events and naturally also organises the Rosenmontag Parade.

And this parade, lasting for four to five hours, does need some organisation! Uncountable policemen and medical attendants are on duty along the parade's  path, to name just one aspect.

On Ash Wednesday, it is all over. The fools get together to burn and mourn 'Hoppeditz',  the local figure of an eloquent jester,  hoping that the waiting time till next carnival will not be too long.

The highlights

Hoppeditz' Erwachen
(11th November, 11.11 hrs)
Start of the carnival season in front of the town hall with Hoppeditz, the jester, wittily scolding those in charge of the city.

Altweiberfastnacht
(31st January 2009)
Women take over town hall
Street carnival in the Altstadt

Carnival Sunday
(22th February 2009)
Street carnival on Königsallee

Rosenmontag Parade
(23rd February 2009)
A gigantic parade with decorated floats and groups on foot winds its way through the city centre.

Further informations:
Comitee Düsseldorfer Carneval
Phone: +49 (0) 211 / 33 01 01/02
Fax: +49 (0) 211 / 31 80 418
www.comitee-duesseldorfer-carneval.de