Integrative Carnival Parade Nordkirchen on Nelkendienstag

Carnival that truly includes everyone

Nordkirchen holds a very special place in the carnival calendar of the Münsterland region: While the big hustle and bustle takes place elsewhere on Rosenmontag (Rose Monday), the idyllic castle village in the Coesfeld district postpones its highlight to Nelkendienstag (Carnation Tuesday). This is when the Integrative Carnival Parade starts, the only one of its kind in all of North Rhine-Westphalia. Here, people with and without disabilities march side by side through the streets — a matter of course that still has to be fought for elsewhere.

The three pillars behind the parade

The parade is jointly organized by the municipality of Nordkirchen, the Kinderheilstätte Nordkirchen, and the Caritas-Werkstätten (Caritas workshops). This trio gives the parade its special character: not a folkloric showpiece event, but lived inclusion on the street. For decades, the Kinderheilstätte has been a cornerstone of medical and educational care in the Coesfeld district, and the Caritas-Werkstätten provide meaningful work for people with disabilities. During carnival, residents, employees, schoolchildren, and villagers come together.

Schedule on Nelkendienstag

Precisely at 1:11 PM, the spectacle begins with the traditional key handover in the square at the Maximilian-Kolbe-Schule. The mayor and guest of honor Andreas Pelster open the jester's reign. At the head of the parade are Princess Dhana (representing the ill Princess Leonie) and Prince Maarten — the rulers of the current session. Afterward, the parade with 25 floats and walking groups sets off.

The route through the castle village

The route leads from the starting point through Wagnerstraße, then via Lüdinghauser Straße, through Zum Flothfeld and Lämmerstraße, over Bergstraße past the town hall, through Bohlenstraße, Schloßstraße, and Mühlenstraße to the final stop at the community center "Am Gorbach". For those coming with children, a central meeting point for children will be available for the first time in 2026 at the Tourist Information center.

Nordkirchen — home of the "Westphalian Versailles"

Nordkirchen, the largest water castle complex in Westphalia, is actually known for its baroque castle architecture. But on Nelkendienstag, the town shows a different facet: a village that celebrates its diversity. The castle sits silently in the background, while in the town center, drums and trumpets, dance troupes, and walking groups celebrate carnival as it should be — loud, colorful, and for everyone.