Carnival, or Mardi Gras if you prefer, is one of the World’s Great Party Events.
The dates for Carnival vary, from February to April depending on the year, but if you just can’t wait for Carnival than go to… wait for it … Germany!
Yes, Deutschland. Now before you protest and say “but Oktoberfest ended back in October,” just grab a hold of your 1-liter beer stein and keep reading.
Two German cities, Cologne and Dusseldorf, have massive Carnival celebrations long before even the Krewe du Vieux parade kicks of the wild party in New Orleans. They begin on – get this – Nov. 11!
At 11:11 in the morning, people gather in the town squares and officially kick off Carnival.
In Dusseldorf, it’s for the “Joker’s Scolding” in the Marketplatz. After this, you just can’t stop and go back to work (locals) or the hotel room (tourists) so it’s an ideal time to hit any number of the city’s 250 bars located within a single kilometer. (This is actually quite hard to imagine. And this Bar Blogger has quite the imagination!)
In Cologne they call it – appropriately enough – The Crazy Days. Tens thousands of people turn out for a ceremony, then spend the rest of the day filling the city’s streets drinking beer.
This actually happens throughout the country; Dusseldorf and Cologne just happen to be two of the biggest party places. It’s known as Germany’s “fifth season.”
Cologne, by the way is #3 on PubClub.com’s Top Places to Party For Carnival list, and Dusseldorf is #4. Click here to see the entire list.
Oh, and if you go for this fifth season, be sure and bring your beads.
Cheers!