The main carnival events begin on Thursday before lent. In Cologne and other cities, women symbolically storm the town hall and take over the government. Six days of wild parties ensue.

The Monday procession is the climax of celebrations in Mainz. Floats parade through the city center before some 500,000 onlookers.

Rottweil's "Fools' Leap" is one of the most colorful parades in southern Germany. Around 4,000 masked participants dance, jump and leap through the historic old town.