Beckinger Gaudiwurm and Faasendball

Faasend instead of Karneval

In Saarland, carnival is called 'Faasend' (or 'Fasend') – a distinct Rhenish-Saarlandic version that differs from Cologne's Karneval and the Alemannic Fasnet. A little less flashy, a bit more village sovereignty, but with cult status in the region. In Beckingen, a community of 15,000 inhabitants in the Merzig-Wadern district, Faasend is a highlight of the annual program.

When does Faasend take place?

The 'crazy days' (peak of Faasend) of the 2026 season fall on:

• Thursday, February 12, 2026: 'Fetter Donnerstag' (Women's Carnival Day) – Children's town hall storming, 10 AM–1 PM
• Friday, February 13, 2026: Honzrath Parade
• Saturday, February 14, 2026: Hargarten Parade
• Sunday, February 15, 2026: Beckinger Gaudiwurm – Main parade starting at 2:11 PM, followed by Faasend-Ball in the Deutschherrenhalle
• Sunday, February 15, 2026: Oppen-Reimsbach Parade (concurrent)

The Town Hall Storming – Fetter Donnerstag

On February 12, 2026, starting at 10 AM, children 'storm' the Beckingen town hall, symbolically taking over municipal power for three hours, capturing the mayor, and 'looting' the municipal treasury. A cheerful tradition with its own set rules in the Catholic Saarland.

The Gaudiwurm – Main Attraction

The procession starts punctually at 2:11 PM (a classic carnival reference to November 11th) at Fa. Nedschroef on Talstraße. The route leads through Talstraße, Schweizer Straße, Waldstraße, and Bergstraße to Rathausplatz, where the procession dissolves around 5 PM. Decorated floats from local clubs, dance groups, music bands, and walking groups – the parade is substantial, and the crowd is dense.

Faasend-Ball in the Deutschherrenhalle

After the parade, half of the audience moves into the Deutschherrenhalle, Beckingen's central festival hall. The party begins there with a DJ, live band, or cover acts and continues late into the night. Admission is usually inexpensive; costumes are highly recommended.

Parades in the Districts

Beckingen consists of several districts, some of which organize their own Faasend parades. In 2026, the order is:

• Honzrath (February 13): Medium-sized parade
• Hargarten (February 14): Medium-sized parade
• Beckingen-Mitte (February 15): The big Gaudiwurm
• Oppen-Reimsbach (February 15): Own parade on Sunday

Those who want to experience the full Faasend week can combine several parades – everything is reachable in a maximum of 15 minutes by Saarbahn train or car.

Significance in Saarland

After the major parades in Saarbrücken and the Saarlouis carnival, the Beckinger Gaudiwurm is considered one of the three most important carnival parades in Saarland. If you want to get to know the real Saarland in its playful side, this is the place to be.