Rosenmontagszug Hellenthal

Hellenthal — Carnival in the North Eifel

Hellenthal is located on the western edge of North Rhine-Westphalia in the Euskirchen district, directly on the border with Belgium. The municipality belongs to the North Eifel Nature Park and is surrounded by extensive forests, valleys, and the Olef dam. Despite its rural, border-close location, Hellenthal maintains a lively Karneval tradition – supported by KG Ruet Jold Hellenthal, whose club premises are located at Flachsland 15 and which organizes the Rose Monday parade every year.

KG Ruet Jold Hellenthal — the village's carnival club

KG Ruet Jold (Kölsch for "red gold", alluding to the club's color) is the carnival heart of Hellenthal. It organizes the sessions during the carnival season, the ladies' cap sessions, the children's carnival, and the grand Rose Monday parade. The club works closely with surrounding local clubs and shooting clubs – carnival in the Eifel is a joint effort of the village community.

The Parade — Starts at 2 PM

The Rose Monday Parade 2026 starts on Monday, February 16 at 2:00 PM. The traditional assembly point is the center of Hellenthal; from there, the parade proceeds through the village streets of Hellenthal. Participating: carnival clubs, dance troupes, music bands, marching bands, walking groups, and floats – built with local themes, municipal political allusions, and plenty of Eifel humor. From the floats, the usual Kamelle (sweets) and Strüßjer (small bouquets of flowers) are thrown.

Free Admission — The Parade Belongs to Everyone

The parade is free – locals and visitors from the region line the streets, catch Kamelle, and applaud the floats. Families, kindergarten groups, and schools are an important target audience – Eifel carnival remains family-friendly, without the excessive alcohol consumption of some big city parades.

Rose Monday Ball in the Grenzlandhalle

After the parade, the festivities move from the late afternoon onwards to the Grenzlandhalle at Aachener Straße 8 – Hellenthal's central event hall. Here, KG Ruet Jold hosts the Rose Monday Ball. Admission: €5 for adults and young people aged 16 and over, €1 for children. Live music, dancing, carnival songs, and meeting the float groups who are still wearing their costumes after the parade – a fitting end to the day.

Carnival in the Euskirchen District

Hellenthal is just one of several carnival strongholds in the Euskirchen district – Schleiden, Mechernich, Kall, Euskirchen itself, and nearby Bad Münstereifel also have their own parades. Those planning a carnival day in the region can experience several parades in succession – on Rose Monday, Carnival Sunday, and Shrove Tuesday.

Hellenthal as a Day Trip Destination

For those who want to extend their day in Hellenthal: Hellenthal Bird of Prey Centre with flight shows, the Olef Dam for walks, Reifferscheid Castle as a sight. Hellenthal is located 80 km southwest of Cologne and is accessible via the B 51 / B 258.