Ziegenbockmontag Wolbeck — ZiBoMo Karnevalsumzug

Münster's Largest Carnival Parade

ZiBoMo — short for Ziegenbockmontag — has been the highlight of Carnival in Münster's Wolbeck district for decades and is one of the largest Carnival parades in the entire Münsterland region. On Monday, February 9, 2026 (a classic "Rosenmontag" precursor, as Münsterland celebrates with its own choreography), the parade winds through the streets of Wolbeck's town center. The spectacle is organized by the Festausschuss ZiBoMo Wolbeck — an association of local Carnival clubs, societies, and citizens' initiatives that have been organizing the event voluntarily for decades.

"Hipp-Hipp! Meck-Meck!" Instead of "Helau"

What makes Wolbeck Carnival unique: here, instead of the Rhenish "Helau" or the Kölsch "Alaaf", the characteristic battle cry "Hipp-Hipp! Meck-Meck!" rings out — honoring the Ziegenbock (goat) as the Carnival mascot. The people of Wolbeck see themselves as their own Carnival stronghold within Münsterland and proudly maintain this identity. The goat is omnipresent — on floats, in costumes, on posters, and of course, as the large mascot that opens the parade.

2026 Program — Monday, February 9

• 10:49 AM — Children's Parade through Wolbeck (child-friendly route, parents and children participate actively)
• 2:11 PM — Grand Main Parade with around 60 groups, floats, music bands, dance guards, and guest groups from Münsterland
• Afterwards: Carnival celebration in the Wolbeck Festival Tent and in the pubs of the town center late into the night

The times 10:49 and 14:11 are classic Carnival insider numbers (referencing the Carnival motto "11 in 11") — those familiar with Wolbeck Carnival know them by heart.

Hippenmajor and Court

The ceremonial head of Wolbeck Carnival is the Hippenmajor — a kind of Carnival prince in Wolbeck's attire. The current Hippenmajor for the 2025/26 session, according to sources, is the quartet leading the sessions and the parade. The Hippenmajor is accompanied by a court of Wolbeck residents who embody the district's club life.

What Makes the Parade Special

With around 60 registered groups — from Carnival societies and dance groups from Wolbeck to guest clubs from all over Münsterland, bordering Westphalia, and the Lower Rhine — the ZiBoMo parade is a massive spectacle. Elaborately decorated floats, political allusions, Carnival costumes ranging from ghosts and sunflowers to clowns and construction workers, candy throws from the floats, music bands, and float loudspeakers characterize the scene. The atmospheric visitor numbers from the entire region make Wolbeck the most crowded district of Münster on Rosenmontag.

Wolbeck — The Carnival Stronghold District in Eastern Münsterland

Wolbeck, with around 9,500 inhabitants, is one of the easternmost districts of Münster, characterized by the historic Drostenhof (Renaissance moated castle) and a lively town center with a parish church, market square, and many pubs. Outside of Carnival days, Wolbeck is a quiet residential area — but on ZiBoMo, the town center becomes a stage, and tens of thousands come from Münsterland, Tecklenburger Land, and the Ruhr area to celebrate.