In NRW, not everything is over on Ash Wednesday. Even if the carnival then takes a break until 11 November, nobody has to do without the Rhenish cheerfulness for quite so long: The special feeling of joy and community can be awakened in many different ways, with typical carnival sweets, Cologne carnival hits, a visit to a carnival museum or at a carnival festival in the summer.
Foolish non-stopCarnival for the whole year
Tip 1Confetti rain in the summer sun
Every year, the "Jeck im Sunnesching" festival invites you to a costume festival in the sunshine. On 20 June 2026, there will be live music with kölsche Tön and confetti bombs at Cologne's Tanzbrunnen. But there will also be singing, swaying and dancing in pubs, bars and beer gardens. There is now even a family version for parents with children and the summer carnival is also expanding geographically: "Jeck im Sunnesching" is also celebrated in Bonn's Rheinaue and on the CHIO showgrounds in Aachen.
Tip 2Jecke museums
Tradition and customs on various levels can be marvelled at in the Narrenmühle in Viersen-Dülken in the Lower Rhine region: on the one hand, carnival curiosities and the eleven secrets of the Viersener Narrenakademie can be discovered in an exhibition, which claims to be one of the oldest carnival associations in Germany still in existence today. On the other hand, historical mill technology reminds visitors of the former life of a miller at the Bock windmill, which was shut down in 1906. Guided tours are offered from May to September on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 12 noon and by appointment.
Tip 3Our playlist: Carnival
What's the most important thing about carnival? The music. And you can turn it up loud, sing along and dance out of turn anytime and anywhere. We have put together a very personal carnival playlist for you with our favourite Cologne classics. Including: Cat Ballou, Miljö, Kasalla, Querbeat and of course Bläck Fööss and Brings.
