Best time to go to Bavaria

Carnival Season 2024

This unique tradition passed through generations attracts people to Bavaria's villages

Dates: February 4–13, 2024

Carnival Season
Carnival Season
Carnival Season
Carnival Season
Carnival Season
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Although the Carnival season or ‘Fasching’ is celebrated all over Germany, there are places where you can observe some especially unique and authentic traditions. Such places include Mittenwald, Krün, Oberau, and Wallgau in the south of Bavaria. Old customs and traditions play an important role in the life of the mentioned villages. Every year the central squares become the main focus for the Fasching celebration. Also, carnival parades take place around Altmühltal in central Bavaria, namely in Kinding (Sunday), Enkering (Monday), and Kipfenberg (Tuesday). Markt Indersdorf in Upper Bavaria is likewise spectacular during the season.

Carnival Parades

The main highlight of Fasching festivities is the Maschera parade. This custom dates back 500 years and annually attracts thousands of visitors. Twelve bell ringers, called "Schellenruehrer", march through the streets wearing scary costumes and hand-carved wooden masks and carrying heavy cowbells. They symbolise the twelve months of the year. These characters are also accompanied by whip performers ‘Goaslschnalzer’ and panhandlers ‘Pfannenziacher.’ These men form a long line and dance along the streets. Their performance is said to drive out winter and wake up the spirit of spring. All the hand-carved masks and costumes are handed from one generation to another, which makes them so unique.

Munich Carnival (February 4–13, 2024)

Though many tourists prefer to discover unique charm of small Bavarian villages, the capital city of the region doesn't fall behind during the season. Make sure to see the splendid opening of the festival during Munich Carnival Parade of silly knights, led by Duke Kasimir throughout the city's pedestrian zones. Also, check out the legendary Dance of the Market Women at Viktualienmarkt and you'll realize that the end of the festivities is not less exuberant. Lots of Carnival events also take place across Marienplatz (main square) and Karlsplatz-Stachus.

Carnival season all over Bavaria

The Carnival season lasts for over a month, but the culmination falls on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday (Faschingssonntag ) and on Shrove Tuesday (Faschingsdienstag). On Ash Wednesday, Munich restaurants offer fish specialities to symbolize the beginning of Lent.

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Last updated: by Eleonora Provozin