Eupen Karneval (Rosenmontag Parade)Karneval in Eupen

The Eupen Carnival is a traditional Rhenish-style pre-Lent celebration (Karneval) featuring colorful parades and costumes. It culminates on Rosenmontag (Rose Monday) when dozens of floats and hundreds of local carnival clubs (KGs) parade through Eupen, chanting the carnival greeting "Alaaf!" and throwing candy into the crowd 1 2. This centuries-old festival transforms the town into a nonstop party of music, dancing and satire, reflecting local folklore and community pride.

As part of the Rhineland carnival tradition (shared with Cologne and the surrounding regions), Eupen's celebration includes a Carnival Prince, novelty groups, and the exchange of power (the city key) to women on 'Altweiberfastnacht'. The carnival can be traced back at least to 1213, when local cloth merchants began making costumes from scrap fabric 1. Today, enthusiastically costumed residents and visitors gather in the sunshine to sing, dance, and enjoy the communal spirit, continuing an unbroken custom that defines Eupen's cultural calendar 2 3.