Rathaussturm Frankenthal

A Tradition Since 1820

The Frankenthaler Carneval Verein von 1820 e.V. — FCV for short — is one of the oldest Carnival clubs in Southern Germany, with over 200 years of tradition. Its roots go back to the period after the Napoleonic Wars, when organized Carnival clubs formed in the Rhenish and Palatinate cities. Frankenthal in the Vorderpfalz has since maintained a Fastnacht tradition that has gained renown far beyond regional borders.

Rathaussturm — The Handover of Power

The Rathaussturm is the spectacular opening of the peak season. On Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 11:11 AM, representatives of the FCV, the guard, and Carnival friends gather in front of the town hall. The Lord Mayor symbolically hands over the city keys to the city key club — in 2026, again the FCV — and thus the sovereignty over the city to the Carnival participants. This symbolic act marks the beginning of the peak season, during which the Frankenthal Carnival people take charge.

Ecumenical Service

An ecumenical service takes place at 10 AM in the Zwölf-Apostel-Kirche. This contemplative start is in the spirit of a Fastnacht tradition rooted in preparation for Lent — Carnival as a communal balance before the Easter penitential season. The ecumenical format reflects the reality of a multiconfessional urban society today.

New Year's Reception at the CongressForum

Following the Rathaussturm, Frankenthal society gathers for the New Year's reception with a subsequent festival at the CongressForum. Representatives from politics, business, clubs, and culture come together to toast the year 2026. The FCV uses the occasion to unveil the new Strohhutfest button for the first time — a direct connection to the big summer festival, which takes place in June and is also supported by the city key club.

Frankenthal Fastnacht Today

The Frankenthal Fastnacht in the Vorderpfalz is part of the Baden-Palatinate Carnival tradition. It differs from the Rhenish Carnival of Cologne and Düsseldorf with its own distinct tone: a little less boisterous, with drier humor, and its own tradition of stage performances (Bütt).