Frankfurt Carnival Parade

The Fifth Season on the Main

When the first floats start moving at 12:21 PM on Fastnachtssonntag (Carnival Sunday) at Untermainkai, Frankfurt transforms into a different city for a day. The Frankfurter Fastnachtszug is the largest carnival parade in Hesse and one of the oldest street processions in the Main metropolis. The organizer has always been the Großer Rat der Karnevalvereine Frankfurt am Main e. V., an association of Frankfurt's carnival societies.

A Route Across the City Centre

The route leads from Untermainkai via Neue Mainzer Straße, Roßmarkt, and Töngesgasse to the grand finale at Römerberg. Tens of thousands of spectators line the barriers along the approximately four-kilometer route—Frankfurt's equivalent to Cologne, Mainz, and Düsseldorf. The parade usually lasts about four hours, reaching Römerberg in the late afternoon.

Around 90 Clubs and Associations

Around 90 clubs and associations present themed floats, walking groups, dance corps, and music bands. Political float builders work for months on satirical caricatures of current events; the dance corps members, 'Funken', and prince/princess couples from Frankfurt's clubs march along, interspersed with schools, sports clubs, and friendly associations from the Rhine-Main region.

Before the Parade: Party at Römerberg

The "Vor dem Zug" (Before the Parade) party starts at Römerberg as early as 11 AM: music, food stalls, costumed visitors from the Rhine-Main region. If you want a good spot along the route, it's best to come by S-Bahn—the city center is completely closed to car traffic from 7 AM to 7 PM, even for residents.

Frankfurt's Peculiarities

Unlike the Rhineland's carnival strongholds, Frankfurt cultivates a more urban, cosmopolitan version of Fastnacht. The language of the parade is German and Hessian dialect, and the speeches at Römerberg oscillate between local political satire and self-irony. The parade is family-friendly, free, and open to all.