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Impressionen von Köln

Professional Guided City Tours in Cologne for travel groups.


» Homepage » Entertainment in Cologne » Street Parties & Open Air Events

Carnival in Cologne

Karneval is Cologne’s largest festival. Each session begins, traditio- nally, on the 11th of November and is called to session on stage at 11:11am! At Weiberfastnacht, the thursday before Rosenmontag, the street carnival is officially open. To begin the insane days, the Mayor gives the keys of the city (and the administrative force) over to the three stars, consisting of the Karneval Prince, Farmer and Virgin. Du- ring the entire session the new “super powers” reside for weeks in
The Rosenmontag's parade. Photo: Wagner their “court in waiting.” Up until now, they have always chosen the Dorint Hotel. From here out begins the journey of the trium- virate to hundreds of ceremonies in many festival halls throughout Cologne and its surroundings. As of recent, the Cologne Prince travels to Duesseldorf (despite the stiff inter-city rivalry) and appears at one  
of the splendorous balls there. The highpoint of each session is in Cologne (as if anywhere else!) is Rosenmontag. More than 2 million people stand along the 6.3km parade canal to view the parade. Above all, thrown from the main wagon in the parade are tones of little candies (Kamelle) stem flowers (Strüsjer) and whole bars of chocolate to the large masses of people. Whomever doesn’t want to stand for hours can reserve grandstand seating, of which are partly rented privately. Information of the above and hotle rooms is offered through KölnTourismus (Traffic Department of the City of Cologne).
info

More about Carnival at the festival committee of Cologne’s Karneval (tel.) 57 40 00 or www.koelnerkarneval.de. Info about grandstand seting at tel. 221-30 400.

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Festivals & open air events
 

CHRISTOPHER 
STREET DAY
Five days lasts the spectacle involving the self-portrayal of the gay and lesbian com- munity, whom travel from in and out of Cologne. In the scene clubs and on stage in the Altstadt (old town) there is a colorful program. The highlight of the session is the CSD-Parade, in which 35,000 gays and lesbians participated on foot and in 120 floats in part donning lascivious get-ups. There's always a good million on-lookers. More info at (tel.) 47 478 99. more 
 

"THE LONGEST TABLE OF COLOGNE"
"Dä längste Desch vun Kölle" - that's Kölsch dialect and means "The longest table of Cologne". It's a very famous Cologne folk-festival. Each year in September come just about all specialties from Cologne: Kölsch beer, hearty meals and music. The Seve- rin's Quarter trans- forms for an entire weekend into a giant bazar with dozens of stands on Severin- strasse. In front of the Severin's Church local prominents and musicians are on the large stage. 
 

FOUR LARGE CHRISTMAS MARKETS
Four beautiful Christmas Markets are found in the city of Cologne. At the Alter Markt near the town hall and in front of the nice old houses, the market is really plea- sing. The market at the Dom with the uni- formed little houses, festooned with lights, is quite charming, too. At the Neumarkt you'll find the largest mar- ket with the most stands and largest offerings. At Rudolf- platz, next to the city tower, there's a fairy tale market with a handcrafted manger.

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C/o pop and Ringfest

Not only as a media city, but also in the music industry does Cologne put its strong foot forward. This becomes apparent each year in Au- gust when more than 2 million people make a pilgrimage to Cologne for the weekend of Ringfest that is said to be the one of the largest spectacles of the free and open air music spekacles. It's the climax of the new festival named "C/o pop" that means one week with dozens
One of the 10 large stages on the Ringfest. Photo: Wagner of groups and artists in the business of electronic pop who play live on stage of Cologne's music and night clubs. Anyone who wants to join most of these concerts and events only has to buy one ticket to get access to the clubs. And that ticket permits to use the shuttle bus system the management operates for the event. 

Those performances of established and newcomer bands and solists in electronic pop take place in near 50 clubs in Cologne. On Friday night, the Ringfest starts, and the city of Cologne will change into a 2 km long concert area. Along the Ring streets and onto the squares of Neumarkt, Rudolfplatz and Friesenplatz there are about 10 large stages built. German broadcasting companies like EinsLive, RTL, Viva and other sponsors operate these stages until Sunday evening when about 200 performances are on them.

 

info

More info about Popkomm at www.copop.de and on the Ringfest at the websites www.musikfest-am-ring.de or www.ringfestkoeln.de.

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Hotel rooms in Cologne 

HOTELS IN COLOGNE I. Using  internet booking machines it's very easy searching for a hotel room in Cologne. One of these special search engines is HRS - Hotel Reservation Service with its many offers. Click the logo for starting.

   

HOTELS IN COLOGNE II: Looking for a hotel room in Germany there are some other good booking machines on the net such as HOTEL.de. They also often have some cheap offers given by good hotels in Cologne. Using the service is free, too.

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Open air sport events
 
HORSE RACE
In 1898 the first race at Cologne’s horse track in the suburb of Weidenpesch was star- ted. Since then, 20 of the most important German horse races are held here from March until November each year like the Ger- ling Price in April, the Mehl-Mülhens Race in May and the Price of Europe in September, that is one of the highest paying races in Germany. Entry fee for visitors ranges from €3 to €21 depending on the day and seat or standing place. Info at (tel.) 974 50 50. more 
 

BIKE RACE
Early each year the international elite bike race to Cologne be- gins. 25 teams with 250 bikers measure out 200 km with the best racers from Bel- gium, France, Germa- ny, Holland or Italy. The route is very stre- nous for the racers because oft the moun- tainous area east from Cologne. The direction towards the finish line finally goes into the inner city of Cologne where thousands of people line the tracks. For further info call phone 02237 659 540 or click this link: more
 

COLOGNE MARATHON
About 15,000 runners show up each year in October and draw a long breath before they embark on a run exactly 42.195 km in and out of the city. Du- ring the race, the run- ners are cheered on from thousands of on-lookers. The track leads pass Cologne’s most beautiful points: the Dom, churches and the parks in the city. Those reaching the fi- nish line within six hours get a medal. To participate between €36 and €56 is due. At best, sign up by calling 94 94 222. more

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Copyright 2005 - NICE CITY! Cologne

You've got to see this!

February 

STREET CARNIVAL
Cologne’s Street Karne- val over 6 days. On Ash Wednesday it’s all over. Kick off is on Weiber- fastnacht at 11:11am at Alter Markt. For more, please see left. 

May

PROCESSION ON THE RHINE TO MÜLHEIM
Very worth seeing, also for those of little church orientation, is the ship procession on Corpus Christi Day. At the dock near the St. Clement church, a ship shoves off and carries the ordained bishop, the youngest confirmed and acolytes up stream in direction of the Dom (cathedral). They turn around at the Zoo Bridge and go back to Mülheim. During the Rhine trip, the bishop blesses land and river. The St. Sebastian rifle assocation the ship and gives a rifle salute. The tickets to join the pro- cession cost €5, €2.50 for children. Information at (tel.) 221-13 34 5. more

July

CHRISTOPHER STREET DAY
Thousands of homo- sexuals and lesbians enter the city to join a colorful program outside in the Altstadt (old town) and inside many clubs. The highpoint is the CSD-Parade on the last day. For more, please see left “Festivals and Open-Air Events”. more

August

C/O POP & RINGFEST
This double event is a new combination of an electronic pop festival with numerous concerts of young pop groups and the open air music festival with music for free on 10 stages in the inner city of Cologne. "C/o pop" means "Cologne on pop" and that's exactly what it is when dozens of artists in the business of electronic pop music conquer the stages in Cologne's music and night clubs for even one week. The "Ringfest" takes place at the last weekend of "c/o pop". Starting on friday evening the whole city and here espacially on the Ring Street around the inner city is crowed by people who walk from one stage to another along the beer or snack stands and other points of entertainment that have been installed by companies for electronic devices. more

September

THE LONGEST TABLE OF COLOGNE
An acient Cologne festi- val in the Severin’s quar- ter along Severinstrasse. All Cologne specialties, a colorful programme on stage in front of the Severin’s Church is what you’ll find. For more, please see left und “Festivals and Open-Air Events.”  

PRICE OF EUROPE
One the horse track in Cologne's suburb Weidenpesch the fine society fever with their jockies for space and victory. For more info, please see left under “Open-Air Sporting Events.” more

September

KÖLN FORD MARATHON Running that 42 km across the city, more than 15,000 jogger and 5,000 inline skater prove their long breath after starting at Ottoplatz in the suburb Deutz (near the train station there). Finish is also in front of the old station building in Deutz. Learn more about the Köln Ford Marathon on the left at "open air sport events". more

November

BEGIN OF THE CARNIVAL'S SESSION 
 The new session of carnival ending at Ash Wednesday is beginning on 11th of November at 11.11 am. It's funny and quite easy to remember, isn't it?

December

CHRISTMAS MARKETS Four large and beautiful christmas markets are open in the city from the end of each November until Christmas: at the Dom, on the Alter Markt, on Neumarkt and on Ru- dolfplatz. They are all worth visiting. Learn more about these worth-seeing places on the left at "Festivals and open air events".

Note: All information given on this page is subject to change by the the managing personel of the mentioned events. Therefore, we are not responsible if some of the facts have meanwhile been changed without being corrected on this page.