Rosenmontagszug Rietberg – Die Grafschaftler Karnevalsgesellschaft

Carnival in Westphalian Ostwestfalen – Rietberg's Special Case

Ostwestfalen is not a carnival region. While Cologne and Düsseldorf celebrate carnival, most towns between Bielefeld, Paderborn, and Gütersloh remain quietly reserved. But Rietberg is the grand exception. The small town in the former county of Rietberg, now part of the Gütersloh district, has cultivated its own distinct Westphalian-Rhineland carnival since 1934 – and with considerable success. The Rosenmontagszug is now one of the largest in Ostwestfalen-Lippe and attracts over 15,000 visitors to the historic old town every year.

The Grafschaftler Karnevalsgesellschaft

The organizer of Rietberg's carnival is the Grafschaftler Karnevalsgesellschaft, founded in 1934. The name refers to the County of Rietberg, which existed until secularization in 1803. The society stages the entire carnival season from Weiberfastnacht to Ash Wednesday: gala sessions, ladies' session, gala ball, children's session, old ladies' day, and of course, the grand Rosenmontagszug.

What You'll Experience on Rosenmontag

The Rietberg Rosenmontagszug is classically Westphalian-Rhineland in character:

• Grand Rosenmontagszug in the afternoon with floats, walking groups, and music bands
• Over 15,000 carnival-goers line the route through the city center
• Route – Start Westerwieher Straße, finish Heinrich-Kuper-Straße, right through the red-brick old town
• Motorized floats with political and social satire
• Uniformed guards, walking groups, music bands from Rietberg and the region

The Children's Parade – Morning Highlight

A special feature of Rietberg's carnival is the large children's parade on Rosenmontag morning at 10:11 AM. In 2026, around 888 children in costumes will march through the city center – a remarkably high number for a town of 30,000 inhabitants. The children's parade is organized independently and is considered one of the largest children's parades in Ostwestfalen.

Rietberg – A Town of Half-Timbers and Carnival

Rietberg is located in the Gütersloh district in southern Ostwestfalen-Lippe. With its historic old town around the market square, characteristic half-timbered houses, and the monastery gate, the town is one of the most beautiful small towns in Ostwestfalen. The combination of rural Westphalian character and Rhineland-influenced carnival is Rietberg's trademark – and the reason why carnival buses from Bielefeld, Gütersloh, Verl, and Paderborn roll into town on Rosenmontag.