Nachtumzug Fastnacht Merzalben (11th Night Parade)
11th edition of the spectacular Fasnacht night parade through Merzalben with illuminated floats and after-party on the Kerweplatz
About Nachtumzug Merzalben 2026
A Night Parade with its Own Character
There are many daytime parades in the Palatinate – the Merzalwer Nachtumzug has established itself since its first edition as one of the few purely evening formats in the region. It is precisely this staging in the darkness that makes it special: the elaborately decorated floats are fully illuminated, light effects, LED costumes, pyrotechnic elements, and sound systems transform the procession into a moving show.
Merzalwer Burgnarre e.V. as Organizer
Behind the parade is the association Merzalwer Burgnarre, which organizes an entire carnival season in Merzalben – gala sessions, hall carnival, children's carnival, and the night parade as the annual highlight. The Burgnarre follow the tradition of Palatinate carnival associations and maintain the connection to the nearby Gräfenstein Castle ruins, one of the most beautiful Staufen castles in the Westpfalz.
Start 7:11 PM Main Street
The symbolic starting time of 7:11 PM is a Palatinate carnival tradition – the number eleven is the 'foolish number' in carnival. The procession moves along Merzalben's main street, past densely packed crowds, to the Kerweplatz, which serves as the endpoint and festival grounds. Road closures will be communicated in advance.
After-Party on the Kerweplatz
Following the parade, the after-party starts on the Kerweplatz. Catering stands run by associations, a DJ stage, and heated pavilions ensure a lively atmosphere until late into the night. Carnival hits, Palatinate Schlager, and party music combine to create a classic Fasching mood – just outdoors and in the Palatinate Forest.
Attraction of the Westpfalz
With tens of thousands of visitors in recent years, the Merzalwer Nachtumzug is one of the most popular Fasching dates in the Westpfalz. Fools travel from Pirmasens, Kaiserslautern, the Dahn Felsenland, and the neighboring Saarland by special buses and carpools.
Nachtumzug Merzalben 2026 — edition 2026
The date of February 14, 2026, falls on the classic Faschingssamstag and thus the traditional weekend kick-off of the hot carnival days between "Schmotziger Donnerstag" (Fat Thursday) and Ash Wednesday. For the Merzalwer Burgnarre, it is the most important day of the season: weeks in advance, floats are built, lighting technology is installed, and logistics and catering are organized.
The exact program for 2026, including the list of parade numbers, route, and closure times, will be published by the association in January/February 2026 via merzalwer-burgnarre.de.
Programme Nachtumzug Merzalben 2026 2026
Program February 14, 2026
The exact program for 2026 will be published by the organizer shortly before the date. The structure follows the proven key points of previous years:
- From the afternoon: Assembly of the floats on the outskirts of the village, setup of catering on the Kerweplatz, final tests of the lighting technology.
- 7:11 PM: Start of the 11th Night Parade through Merzalben's main street.
- Parade route: Illuminated floats, LED walking groups, music bands, Guggemusik (street bands) from the Westpfalz.
- Afterwards: After-party on the Kerweplatz with DJ music, catering stands from associations, and Palatinate carnival classics until well after midnight.
Highlights Nachtumzug Merzalben 2026 2026
- 11th edition of the Merzalwer Nachtumzug
- Illuminated floats and LED effects
- After-party on the Kerweplatz
- Highlight event of the Westpfalz Fasching
Prices Nachtumzug Merzalben 2026 2026
Practical information — Nachtumzug Merzalben 2026
Getting to Merzalben
By Car: Via the B270/B10 towards Pirmasens, then follow signs for Merzalben. Park-and-Ride facilities and meadow parking areas on the outskirts will be designated.
Special Transport: On Carnival Saturdays, there are often special buses from Pirmasens and the Palatinate Forest – information available from the Merzalwer Burgnarre.
Road Closures
The main street is closed to through traffic from the afternoon. Diversions will be signposted.
Notes
Free admission. Food and after-party are subject to charge. Warm clothing and a flashlight recommended. Families with small children: due to the volume (music, pyrotechnics), it is more suitable for older children.
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
Max. 5 photos, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Each suggestion is reviewed by our team before being published.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.