Freudenstädter Großer Fasnetumzug 2026
Grand Saturday Afternoon Parade of the Narrenzunft Freudenstadt
About Fasnetumzug Freudenstadt
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Fasnetumzug Freudenstadt al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
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.
Fasnetumzug Freudenstadt — edition 2026
Grand Parade 2026
The Saturday afternoon parade in 2026 starts at noon at the Oberer Marktplatz and leads through the main streets of the city center. Over 55 carnival groups and guilds from Freudenstadt, as well as friendly guilds from the Black Forest, Lake Constance, and the Upper Rhine, will participate. A total of over 2,500 active Hästräger in traditional Häs.
The parade is accompanied by Guggenmusiken and Narrenkapellen. The parade lineup is available as a PDF on the website of Narrenzunft Freudenstadt e.V. (nz-fds.de).
Programme Fasnetumzug Freudenstadt 2026
Freudenstadt Fasnet Days 2026
- February 5 (Schmutziger Donnerstag / Dirty Thursday): Town hall storming, Hemdglonker procession
- February 6 (Fasnetsfreitag / Carnival Friday): Witch dance, civic balls
- February 7 (Fasnetssamstag / Carnival Saturday) — HIGHLIGHT: Grand Saturday Afternoon Parade
- February 8 (Fasnetssonntag / Carnival Sunday): Children's parade, well cleaning ceremony
- February 9 (Rosenmontag / Rose Monday): Jester balls, Häs gathering
Parade Figures of Narrenzunft Freudenstadt (Selection)
- Bergmännle — Referencing mining tradition
- Keaberg Hex — Witch figure
- Bärenfänger & Bär — Hunter and bear pair
- Belzebua — Devil figure
Route (Typical)
- Assembly: Oberer Marktplatz
- Start: approx. 1:30 PM
- Route: Main street through the city center
- Finish: Stadthalle
- Duration: approx. 2.5 hours
Highlights Fasnetumzug Freudenstadt 2026
- Over 55 carnival groups and 2,500 Hästräger
- 4,000 to 5,000 spectators along the route
- Oberer Marktplatz — one of Germany's largest market squares
- Bergmännle, Keaberg Hex, and other traditional figures
- UNESCO intangible cultural heritage: Swabian-Alemannic Fasnet
Prices Fasnetumzug Freudenstadt 2026
Free admission. Confetti and candy are part of the tradition. Be careful with your eyes when throwing confetti. Food and drinks are available at stalls along the route and in the city center's restaurants at usual festival prices.
Practical information — Fasnetumzug Freudenstadt
Getting There
Freudenstadt in the Northern Black Forest is located on the B 28 federal highway and the Hausach–Stuttgart railway line. From Freudenstadt Hauptbahnhof (main station), it's about a 15-minute walk to the city center; from Freudenstadt Stadt station, it's about 5 minutes. By car, take the B 28 or B 462. Parking in the city center is limited on the day of the parade — early arrival is recommended.
Admission
Viewing the parade is free. Throwing confetti is encouraged; snowballs are forbidden. Do not touch the Hästräger — the wooden masks are sacred and sometimes generations old.
Eve of the Parade
The Hemdglonkerumzug (a traditional pre-parade procession) takes place on Friday evening, February 6. Sunday and Rosenmontag (Rose Monday) are further central Fasnet days with witch balls, well cleaning ceremonies, and children's programs.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
Max. 5 photos, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Each suggestion is reviewed by our team before being published.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Fasnetumzug Freudenstadt al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Where it takes place Fasnetumzug Freudenstadt
Oberer Marktplatz Freudenstadt
Oberer Marktplatz, 72250 Freudenstadt