The Cologne Carnival is one of many costume parties that ... out of the need to consume winter larders. The events feature dance groups or floats comprising members who enter as official participants.

While the world typically celebrates Carnival in February, a few German Carnival strongholds actually get an early start at ...

Traditionally Carnival is celebrated with the greatest passion in the Rhineland where cities like Cologne, Dusseldorf and Mainz host massive festivals, and in Southwest Germany, home to ...

In Cologne, the carnival gala called "Stunksitzung" is particularly ... choirs and orchestras, as well as dance groups. In Mainz, these events are rather political and literary.