Rosenmontagszug Hennef

Rhenish Carnival in Hennef

The Rosenmontagszug Hennef is one of the traditional carnival parades in the Rhein-Sieg district and is part of the Rhenish tradition of carnival strongholds between Bonn, Cologne, and Siegburg. On Rosenmontag, February 16, 2026, the parade starts punctually at 1:11 PM — the traditional carnival season (11 = the "jecke" or crazy number). The assembly point is An der Brölbahn, the classic pre-start point for carnival clubs, dance groups, floats, and music bands.

The Parade Route through Hennef Town Centre

The parade follows a fixed route through the town centre:

1. Assembly An der Brölbahn
2. Frankfurter Straße
3. Königstraße
4. Theodor-Heuss-Allee
5. Geistinger Kreisverkehr
6. Bonner Straße
7. Stoßdorfer Straße
8. Conclusion Geistinger Platz

The route is easily accessible for spectators — along the main streets, revellers in costume stand by the roadside, waiting for the famous "Kamelle" (sweets) and "Strüssjer" (small bouquets of flowers).

Other Carnival Parades in the Town

Besides the main parade on Rosenmontag, other parades take place in the neighbouring districts of Hennef:

• Sunday, February 15, 2026 — Parade in the district of Bröl
• Monday, February 16, 2026, 2:00 PM — Parade in the district of Uckerath (one hour after the main parade)

This creates a two-day carnival spectacle spread across the entire Hennef municipal area — with the main parade on Rosenmontag as the emotional highlight.

What is Rosenmontag?

Rosenmontag is the highlight of the Rhenish carnival — the day before Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday (the start of Lent). In the carnival strongholds of the Rhineland (Cologne, Düsseldorf, Mainz, Aachen, Bonn), the largest parades take place in the city centres on this day. Hennef is a smaller, but traditional counterpart to this tradition in the Rhein-Sieg district.

The Komitee Hennefer Karneval

The parade is organised by the Komitee Hennefer Karneval (KHK), the city's central carnival association. The committee coordinates the participating groups — carnival societies, dance groups, schools, music bands, clubs, and commercial groups. Preparations traditionally begin with the carnival opening on November 11 of the previous year.

Atmosphere and Tradition

Anyone visiting the Hennef Rosenmontagszug will experience classic Rhineland: Costumes are mandatory (from a simple hat to elaborate outfits), Kamelle-throwing from the floats, "Kölsche Tön" (Cologne tunes) from the music bands, and "Bützen" (little kisses) are carnival customs. The mood is elevated, exuberant, but mostly family-friendly — many families stand by the roadside with children.