Wolfacher Fasnet — Wohlauf und Nasenzug

Wolfacher Fasnet — arguably the most idiosyncratic carnival in the Black Forest

The Wolfacher Fasnet is one of the most distinctive events of the Swabian-Alemannic carnival. The small town of Wolfach (around 5,800 inhabitants) at the confluence of the Kinzig and Wolfbach rivers in the Ortenau district hosts twelve independent parades during carnival week — a concentration not found in any other town in the region. The organizer is the Freie Narrenzunft Wolfach 1937 e.V., one of the three largest guilds in the VSAN (Association of Swabian-Alemannic Carnival Guilds).

Wohlauf — the jesters' awakening on Schellenmontag

The Wohlauf is Wolfach's signature tradition: On Schellenmontag (February 16th, 2026) at 5:30 AM, the "Wohlauf-Man" parades through the sleeping town on a rolling bed. He sings the Wohlauf song at the spots where the night watchman once sang — accompanied by hundreds of carnival-goers in white nightgowns, pointed hats, and with rattles, trumpets, and anything that makes noise. A surreal experience in the winter morning darkness that attracts thousands of visitors every year. In the afternoon of the same day, a grand parade of the guilds follows at 2 PM.

Nasenzug — the men in reversed jackets

On Fastnachtsdienstag (February 17th, 2026) at 5 PM, the historic Nasenzug takes place — one of the oldest forms of Wolfach carnival. The men of Wolfach march in reversed jackets, with wood-shaving beards and hats full of wooden curls, in a goose-step through the old town, from the city gate through the alleys, inns, and small squares out to the outskirts. The procession is intended as a jest against the long noses of the mockers — the participating men enter a purely male world for one night, reminiscent of the town's centuries-old artisanal and agricultural past.

Motto 2026: "Wolfach hebt ab"

Every Wolfach carnival is under a new annual motto, announced at the traditional Martini meeting in November. The motto for 2026 is "Wolfach hebt ab" — an invitation for the guilds and float builders to play with the theme of flight, height, and departure. This gives the parades a new thematic touch each year without altering the basic figures and rituals.

Wolfach and the Kinzigtal Valley

Wolfach is located in the middle Kinzigtal valley between the Black Forest and the Upper Rhine Plain and was historically an important rafting town — timber trade on the Rhine to the Netherlands shaped the town's culture. The Wolfach castle complex and the old town with its half-timbered houses form the backdrop for the parades. During carnival week, thousands of visitors come to Wolfach from all over the Ortenau district, the Black Forest, Ortenau, and Alsace.