Euskirchen Rosenmontagszug

Rhenish Carnival in the Voreifel

While Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Mainz are the major carnival strongholds, the Voreifel region also has its own venerable carnival tradition. Euskirchen, the district town in the Euskirchen district on the edge of the Eifel, is one of the established venues for regional carnival — and the Rosenmontagszug is its highest highlight. Organised by the Festausschuß Euskirchener Karneval (FEuKa) e.V., it marks the annual highlight of the Euskirchen carnival year, which traditionally begins on November 11th with the opening of the season and ends on Ash Wednesday.

February 16, 2026 — The Schedule

Rose Monday follows a clearly defined schedule:

• from 11:00 am — Gathering of all parade participants in Frauenberger Straße: Carnival floats are decorated, dance groups assemble, marching bands tune their instruments, carnival societies arrive
• 1:00 pm — Start of the parade from Frauenberger Straße, route through the city centre with the main assembly at the market square
• After the parade ends — Continuation of the carnival festivities in the city centre pubs, club events, and dance halls

What to Expect in the Parade

As is customary at Rhenish Rosenmontagszüge, the parade consists of several components:

• Floats — decorated and thematic floats from carnival societies, often with political-satirical motifs of the season
• Dance Groups — Mariechen dancers, Funken (sparklers), show dance guards
• Marching Bands and Carnival Orchestras — Live music throughout the parade
• Carnival Prince and Princess of the season on the main float
• Clubs and Groups from Euskirchen and the surrounding area
• Kamelle, Strüssjer, and Bützchen (kisses) — Sweets, flowers, and kisses for the spectators

FEuKa — The Festival Committee

Behind the parade is the Festausschuß Euskirchener Karneval (FEuKa) e.V. — the umbrella organisation of Euskirchen's carnival societies. It coordinates not only the Rosenmontagszug but also the city's entire carnival programme: season opening, prince crowning, carnival sessions, children's carnival, Sunday parade, and the Ash Wednesday herring salad.

Euskirchen — The Rhenish Voreifel Town

The town of Euskirchen, with around 60,000 inhabitants, is located about 30 km southwest of Cologne and 25 km northwest of Bonn — administratively part of the Cologne region, geographically already in the Voreifel. The compact city centre with its market square, parish church, and cobbled alleys forms the stage for the carnival festivities. Those who want to experience the parade are best advised to combine it with a full day in Euskirchen — an evening session or masked ball the night before, the parade and pub crawl on Rose Monday, and a relaxed end on Shrove Tuesday.