Freudenstädter Großer Fasnetumzug 2026

Swabian-Alemannic Fasnet in the Black Forest

The Freudenstadt Fasnet is one of the major stages of the Swabian-Alemannic Fastnacht (carnival) in the Black Forest. The organizer is the Narrenzunft Freudenstadt e.V., whose tradition is deeply rooted in the city. The highlight of every Fasnet season is the Grand Saturday Afternoon Parade — in 2026, on February 7.

Route and Program

The parade starts at noon at the Oberer Marktplatz and leads through the main streets of the Freudenstadt city center to the Stadthalle. Over 55 carnival groups from Freudenstadt itself and from other guilds in the Black Forest, the Upper Rhine, and Lake Constance will participate. A total of around 2,500 Hästräger (costumed participants) in hand-carved wooden masks and traditional Häs (costumes) will move through the city center. The parade is accompanied by Guggenmusiken (brass bands) and Narrenkapellen (jesters' bands).

The Fasnet Figures of the Narrenzunft

The Narrenzunft Freudenstadt cultivates several traditional Fasnet figures with their own Häs and Larve (masks). Among the most important are Bergmännle (referencing the region's mining tradition), Keaberg Hex (one of the witch figures), Bärenfänger & Bär (a hunter and bear pair), and Belzebua (a devil figure). Each figure wears a hand-carved wooden mask, often passed down through generations.

Over 2,500 Hästräger, 4,000–5,000 Spectators

With over 2,500 active participants and an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 spectators along the route, the Freudenstadt Fasnet parade is one of the largest parades in the Northern Black Forest. The city center atmosphere is intense — the rectangular layout of the historic market square from 1599, with its 4.8 hectares, one of the largest market squares in Germany, provides an excellent stage.

Tradition and Customs

The Swabian-Alemannic Fasnet is UNESCO intangible cultural heritage of Germany (since 2014). It differs fundamentally from the Rhenish Carnival — not colorful parades with political satire, but a traditional spirit invocation with Häs and wooden masks, whose roots sometimes go back to the Middle Ages.