Dammer Carneval

412 Years of Carnival Tradition

The Dammer Carneval was founded as early as 1614 – centuries before the start of the modern carnival movement in the Rhineland. This makes it not only the oldest but also the largest carnival in Northern Germany and a true specialty in the German carnival landscape. The 412th session in 2026 continues this exceptionally long tradition and attracts hundreds of thousands of revellers to the town in the Oldenburg Münsterland region every year.

Northern German Carnival — A Specialty

Carnival is commonly considered a Rhenish and Southern German affair. The Dammer Carneval proves the opposite: Even in Northern Germany, in the predominantly Catholic Oldenburg Münsterland, carnival is celebrated with great dedication. The town of Damme in the district of Vechta is a true carnival stronghold with its own culture, its own songs, its own traditional costumes, and a carnival society that has preserved this custom for over four centuries.

Four Days of Merriment

The main session in 2026 runs from February 6th to 9th. Four days of carnival, during which public life in Damme largely comes to a standstill, and everything is dedicated to tradition. Schools, shops, and authorities adjust their opening hours, residents dress up, and the city center fills with carnival-goers from across the region.

Dammer Sunday Parade

A first highlight is the Sunday parade, which winds its way through the city center for several kilometers. Floats from clubs, carnival societies, dance groups, and music bands pass by the cheering crowd. Confetti is thrown, candy is distributed, and carnival calls are shouted (in Damme, typically Damme Allaaf!). The parade is the largest public event of the session.

Dammer Rosenmontag

The outstanding event is the Dammer Rosenmontag – the actual climax of the session. Unlike in many other carnival strongholds, Damme celebrates its own Rosenmontag with its own parade, which is even more extensive and spectacular than the Sunday parade. Over a hundred floats, thousands of participants, a breathtaking atmosphere – the Dammer Rosenmontag is an experience that delights every carnival enthusiast.

Numerous Festival Tents

Throughout the city center, there are festival tents run by various carnival clubs. Here, people celebrate, dance, sing, and drink. Carnival songs ring out, jesters deliver their speeches, guards perform their dances, and the audience joins in. From afternoon until late into the night – the festival tents are the heart of the tradition.

Carnival as Identity

For Damme, carnival is a lived identity. Many families have been active in carnival clubs for generations, carnival medals are worn with pride, and the session dictates the annual calendar. Those from Damme who live elsewhere return home for the session. A tradition that keeps the custom alive and strengthens the community.