Jecke Meile Leverkusen

Carnival in Summer – The Jecke Meile Concept

In Leverkusen – as in the entire Rhineland – Carnival is not just a pre-Lenten season, but an all-year-round club culture. The Jecke Meile, which will celebrate its 2nd edition in 2026, is a format that makes this fact visible: a Carnival street festival in summer. The Festausschuss Leverkusener Karneval (FLK) – the umbrella organization of 22 carnival societies from all city districts – uses the event to bring citizens into contact with the tradition between seasons.

Schlebusch as the Venue

The stage is the Schlebusch pedestrian zone in the Leverkusen district of Schlebusch (City District II). With its Bürgerbusch-Allee, historic town center, and pedestrian zone, Schlebusch is Leverkusen's most charming district, where traditional club life and a small-town flair have been preserved. The Jecke Meile utilizes the closed pedestrian zone for stalls, stages, and events – an urban format based on club activities.

22 Carnival Societies Present Themselves

The core of the Jecke Meile consists of the information booths of the affiliated carnival societies. The 22 clubs range from the traditional KG Wiesdorf and the Schlebusch Carnival Societies to district clubs from Hitdorf, Lützenkirchen, and Opladen. Each society presents its float models, gala program posters, traditional costumes, and cultural artifacts. Dance groups perform, princely guards showcase their choreography, and the reigning Carnival Prince of the current season is usually present in person.

Hands-on Program and Rhenish Tradition

In addition to the information booths, there is an interactive program: costume workshops for children, face painting stations, prop-making activities (folding candy bags, tying flower bouquets), and Carnival music workshops. Rhenish Carnival music will be played on stage – Bläck Fööss, Brings, Kasalla, Höhner, and many smaller bands from the Leverkusen Carnival scene. The famous Carnival greeting "Lev Alaaf!" (a variation of the Kölsch Alaaf) will once again be heard throughout Schlebusch.

Schlebusch Schützenfest and Schlebusch Volksfest

Parallel to the Jecke Meile, the 608th Schlebusch Schützenfest and the Schlebusch Schützen- und Volksfest will take place from June 4 to 8, 2026 – a traditional folk festival with a festival tent, amusement park rides, a parade, and a king's shooting competition. Schlebusch citizens will experience an extended weekend with three traditional events simultaneously: Carnival (Jecke Meile), Schützenfest (608th anniversary), and Volksfest.

FLK – The Umbrella Organization

The Festausschuss Leverkusener Karneval (FLK) is the umbrella organization of Leverkusen's street carnival and coordinates not only the carnival parades in the five city districts but also the galas, balls, prince proclamations, and – since 2025 – the Jecke Meile. The patron is Stefan Hebbel, one of Leverkusen's prominent personalities. Contact for participation: [email protected].