KiBo Carnival – Gala Sessions

KiBo Carnival Society since 1948

The KiBo Carnival Society was founded in 1948 in Kirchheimbolanden and has since been one of the defining pillars of Palatinate Fastnacht. The association cultivates the Rhenish-Palatinate carnival tradition with sessions, guard dances, speeches (Bütt), and show acts. Over more than 75 years, the association has built a tradition that is deeply rooted in Kirchheimbolanden.

The Gala Session as the Main Event

The gala session is the classic format of the pre-carnival season. Members and guests gather in the festively decorated hall, and the stage is filled with speakers (Büttner), dance guards, show acts, and music groups. The session president and the council of eleven (Elferrat) lead through the program, which lasts several hours. The KiBo KG hosts several sessions annually, the attendance of which is a Palatinate carnival highlight.

Stadthalle an der Orangerie

The Stadthalle an der Orangerie is the central event venue in Kirchheimbolanden. It is located in the area of the baroque Orangery, one of the city's historical landmarks. The hall can accommodate several hundred guests, has a professional stage, and a festive atmosphere that is ideal for the sessions.

Program Elements

A classic Palatinate gala session includes: Speeches (Bütt-Reden) with humorous contributions in dialect or standard German, guard dances with choreographic performances by the dance groups, show dances with modern dance elements, musical performances with carnival hits or dialect bands, and "Stehung" (communal singing). The sessions are opened, closed, and repeatedly interrupted with "Helau" shouts.