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ANSBACH, Germany (Feb. 17, 2017) – “Was ist los in Franken?” details off-post community events and activities occurring throughout Middle, Lower and Upper Franconia.
Fasching time is crazy time (Photo: Faschingsgesellschaft Cyrenesia)
Night Market Nürnberg
The next Nürnberg night market, a flea market that starts at 6 p.m. and lasts well into the night, supported by a Thai food kitchen, takes place at the Parks on Berliner Platz 9 Feb. 17. Admission is 1 euro. Visit Nightmarket to learn more.
Kinderfasching in Fürth
The Stadthalle Fürth (Rosenstraße 50) is site for a Fasching party for kids Feb. 19 from 2 to 5 p.m. The motto this year is “Superheroes,” and songs, dancing and games are planned. To learn more, visit Kinderfasching
Fasching Parade in Wolframs-Eschenbach
A carnival parade takes place in Wolframs-Eschenbach Feb. 19, starting at Steingrubenweg towards the downtown area at 2 p.m. A party follows at a local restaurant. To learn more, visit Faschingsumzug
Tour de Castle – Stein
The Faber-Castell castle in Stein is open for visitors every third Sunday of the month from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can tour the castle and the museum for an admission fee, and enjoy coffee and cake in the enclosed sun room. The next open house is on Feb. 19; the castle is located on Rednitzstrasse 2a in Stein, on the corner of the B14 road towards Nürnberg. To learn more, visit Stein castle
Sing-along in Ansbach
„Rudelsingen,“ a karaoke sing-along with German and English songs takes place at the Ansbach Kammerspiele (Maximilianstr. 29) Feb. 21, starting at 7:30 p.m. To learn more, visit http://www.kammerspiele.com/stuecke/5-ansbacher-rudelsingen/
Fasching Parade in Ornbau
A traditional Fasching parade takes place in Ornbau on Feb. 26, starting at 1 p.m. at “Am Kalkofen” and moving through town to the Stadthalle. More than 30 decorated wagons and music groups are participating in the event. To learn more, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1553105925000495/
Rosenmontag Fasching Party in Ansbach
The Kammerspiele Ansbach (Maximilianstr. 29) are hosting a Fasching party (dress up in a costume!) with DJ music Feb. 27, starting at 9 p.m. To learn more, visit http://www.kammerspiele.com/stuecke/rosenmontag2017/
Sing-along in Ansbach
„Rudelsingen,“ a karaoke sing-along with German and English songs takes place at the Ansbach Kammerspiele (Maximilianstr. 29) Feb. 21, starting at 7:30 p.m. To learn more, visit http://www.kammerspiele.com/stuecke/5-ansbacher-rudelsingen/
Five crazy days – Zirndorf
Zirndorf is hosting “five crazy days” at the end of the Fasching season Feb. 24 through 28 with a street market, food booths and lots of carnival activities. To learn more, visit http://www.cyrenesia.de/Veranstaltung/eroeffnung-5-tolle-tage/
Nürnberg Fasching parade
The Nürnberg Fasching parade, the oldest of its kind in the world, leads 49 decorated wagons and more than 3000 participants through the city on Sunday, Feb. 26, beginning at 1 p.m. The route takes the parade from Am Stadtpark to Pirckheimerstrasse, Bayreuther Strasse, Rathenauplatz, Laufer Tor, Innere Laufer Gasse, Theresienplatz, Obstmarkt, Museumsbrücke, Königstrasse, Kaiserstrasse, Josephsplatz and finally Vordere Ledergasse. The best strategy to watch the parade is to pick a spot along the route and wait for the fun to come to you. For more details, go to www.fnf-nbg.de
Fasching Parade in Ornbau
A traditional Fasching parade takes place in Ornbau on Feb. 26, starting at 1 p.m. at “Am Kalkofen” and moving through town to the Stadthalle. More than 30 decorated wagons and music groups are participating in the event. To learn more, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1553105925000495/
Rosenmontag Fasching Party in Ansbach
The Kammerspiele Ansbach (Maximilianstr. 29) are hosting a Fasching party (dress up in a costume!) with DJ music Feb. 27, starting at 9 p.m. To learn more, visit http://www.kammerspiele.com/stuecke/rosenmontag2017/
Fasching at the Zoo
The Nürnberg Tiergarten celebrates Fasching Feb. 27 and 28 during normal opening hours. Every child (up to 14) dressed as a zoo animal enters for free. Children under 14 years must be accompanied by an adult. To learn more, go to www.tiergarten.nuernberg.de
Fasching in Fun Park Zirndorf
The Playmobil Fun Park in Zirndorf is hosting Fasching fun with face painting and games Feb. 27 and 28. To learn more, go to www.playmobil-funpark.de
Fastnacht Jahrmarkt in Ansbach
A Fastnacht market is hosted downtown Ansbach with many vendors on Feb. 27 through March 3; opening hours are 9 a.m. through 6 p.m. (closes at 4 p.m. on last day).
Kinderfasching in Tucherland
A Kinder party takes place at Tucherland (Marienbergstr. 102) with face painting and games Feb. 28, starting at 3 p.m. To learn more, visit www.tucherland.de
Fasching, Fastnacht & Karneval
The Fasching season, also known as the “fifth season” in Germany, has a long tradition in Europe; it originates in the preparation for the six-week fasting time during lent, which ends on Easter. Fasching, Fastnacht, or Karneval is a time when Germans loosen up a little, dress up in funny costumes and party. Karneval is especially popular in the Rhine region; cities like Cologne, Mainz or Düsseldorf more or less shut down to party during the high season. The date of the long Fasching weekend varies, depending on the church calendar; while the official start of the season is always on the 11th day of the 11th month at 11:11 a.m., the revelers stay mostly dormant during the Advent and Christmas season until the actual high Fasenacht season in the following spring. In the time between New Year’s and the high Fasching season many towns and villages host balls, parties and parades. Party goers typically dress up as a character, similar to Halloween. German police are cruising the streets more frequently at night to catch those who drink and drive.
For children, many communities host parties called “Kinderfasching,” usually taking place in a community center or gym. These events involve dress-up for the kids, a lot of loud music and dancing, games, face painting and food. They are quite popular with the kids, while the parents go along as chaperones (ear plugs recommended!).
The high season starts with Altweiberfasnacht, or crazy Thursday (Feb. 23), when traditionally in many towns the women take over the city’s courthouse and cut off the tie of any man who dares to wear one. After attending parties all weekend long, people flock to the large cities like Cologne or Mainz to watch the Rosenmontag (“Rose Monday”) parades (Feb. 27), or stay local and enjoy smaller parades, often with folklore background.
Faschingsdienstag (Feb. 28) – Shrove Tuesday – offers one last chance to party hard and then “bury” the carnival at midnight until following year. Aschermittwoch (Ash Wednesday) marks the beginning of Fastenzeit (“fasting time“- lent); the weeks before Easter are often used as a time for reflection and renunciation of certain personal vices (like smoking, alcohol or candy).
