Gaudiwurm Töpen

A Carnival Parade of Considerable Size

Töpen is a municipality with just under 740 inhabitants in the Hof district, on the border between Bavaria and Thuringia. One of the smallest villages in the region — but with one of the largest carnival parades. The Gaudiwurm Töpen is regionally known and attracts carnival societies from all over the Upper Franconian and Thuringian surroundings every year. 500 participants in 31 groups are standard — an extraordinary mobilization for a community of this size.

The Carnival Society (KaGe) Töpen

The organizer is the Carnival Society (KaGe) Töpen, a traditional carnival society that organizes events throughout the year. The highlight, however, is Carnival Sunday with the grand parade, which winds its way through Königshofstraße and culminates in a carnival party in front of the gymnasium (Königshofstraße 1).

Creative Costumes as a Trademark

What makes the Gaudiwurm Töpen special is the creative originality of the costumes and floats. According to reports, walking cocktails, flame outfits, poker aces, and dozens of other elaborate themed groups were spotted at the 2026 parade. Unlike many larger carnival parades where mass costumes dominate, the Töpener Gaudiwurm focuses on handmade, unique productions. Floats are individually built and decorated by clubs and families in the weeks leading up to the parade.

Upper Franconian Carnival Tradition

The Upper Franconian carnival is different from the Cologne or Mainz Carnival — smaller, more village-like, more traditional. In the Hof district villages, Carnival Sunday is organized by families and clubs, less so by professional carnival societies. The Gaudiwurm Töpen is a perfect representative of this tradition — grassroots, creative, and supported by volunteers. Admission to the parade is free, followed by a carnival party in the gymnasium.

Töpen and the Northern Franconian Forest

Töpen is located in the extreme north of the Hof district, directly on the former inner-German border with Thuringia. The landscape here is rugged, hilly, crisscrossed by forests and small streams. Visitors to the Gaudiwurm can combine the day with a hike in the Franconian Forest or a visit to Hof. In February, the weather is usually wintry — the carnival joy against a snow-covered backdrop has a special charm.