MCC Närrische Zwischenmahlzeit 2026

The Mainz Carnival season officially runs from November 11th to Ash Wednesday, but the intensive phase of the grand hall sessions only begins in mid-January. The weeks in between are traditionally marked by balls, board meetings, and smaller events within the club. With the Närrische Zwischenmahlzeit, the Mainzer Carneval Club 1899 e.V. has established its own format, filling this interim period with a high-caliber gala dinner—an evening consciously seeking a different form than the classic hall session in the palace or the Rheingoldhalle.

The venue is the Hofgut Laubenheimer Höhe, a historic wine estate high above the Mainz district of Laubenheim, offering views over the vineyards to the Rhine valley and the city. The estate's festive hall provides the intimate yet elegant atmosphere demanded by the character of a Närrische Zwischenmahlzeit. It begins at 7:11 PM—the typical carnival time, which, even within the exclusive gala setting, marks the format's roots in the Mainz Carnival tradition.

The evening follows the structure of a multi-course menu interspersed with stage performances. While guests are seated at festively set tables and the menu is served, MCC singing groups present classics of the Mainz Carnival and new original compositions, 'Büttenredner' comment on current political events with their characteristic blend of sharpness and wit, and guard dancers from the MCC dance formations showcase show dances and committee marches. Between courses, there is time for conversations, encounters, and club-internal exchange—the Närrische Zwischenmahlzeit also serves as a social platform for the Mainz Carnival scene.

With its combination of culinary delights, stage performances, and club life, the Närrische Zwischenmahlzeit represents a particularly refined form of the Mainz Carnival. Those who obtain a ticket become part of an evening that transfers the carnival experience from the grand hall into a more intimate, culinary-focused format—making it one of the most unusual events of the entire campaign.